close your eyes and hope for the best

Man with decorated teeth, India. (click image to enlarge)

The people I met day in and day out radiated a pride and dignity I have not encountered elsewhere… Maybe this pride and dignity derive in part from the act of being singled-out, one in a country of a billion, to be noticed and appreciated.

I went to India looking for both inspiration and a challenge. I got both in spades. I spent the first three days trying to find a hotel room that didn’t call to mind a prison cell. When I finally settled on a place where I could bear to use the shower, I ventured out to take photos, with portraits predominantly in mind. I had no idea how people would react to me. Would they refuse to have their photo taken? Would they be shy? Would this first foray be the litmus test for how the rest of the trip would go?

I walked all of fifty feet from my hotel and started shooting. Within seconds, I had plenty of willing participants wanting their portraits taken. In the span of a half hour, I had lots of fabulous portraits, including one of my favorite photos of the entire two-month trip (which is included in this blog - the one of the young man smoking). The people were extremely photogenic and I was channeling some serious photo-magic through the lens. It would prove to be a very encouraging litmus test indeed.

Young man smoking. India. (click image to enlarge)

Some photographers say that showing up is most of the work. Others say that patience is key to nailing a killer shot. I would say that having a photogenic subject (i.e. willing and enthusiastic) is essential. There is nothing more discouraging than a reluctant or distrusting subject. Conversely, there is nothing more gratifying and encouraging than photographing someone beaming with pride and self-confidence.

The people I met day in and day out radiated a pride and dignity I have not encountered elsewhere in my travels (including and especially here in North America). Maybe this pride and dignity derive in part from the act of being singled-out, one in a country of a billion, to be noticed and appreciated. Is it a pride of self? Is it a pride of nation? Both?

Girls in doorway, India. (click image to enlarge)

Sometimes I find myself making a choice between living a moment and photographing it. (It’s why I rarely photograph parties and birthdays). In India, I never felt like I had to make this choice; photographing was an integral part of my appreciation of and connection with the country and its people. Rather than being a barrier to experience, the camera was a passport to communing with people. In fact, I was able to engage with people much more and for much longer than I might have otherwise. I could stop and admire their beauty and joy, record it (often, engaging with them further by showing them the images on the back of the camera) and then later re-savor what was captured when reviewing the images on my own.

India. (click image to enlarge)

I’m hooked on Asia now, and look forward to returning soon. A photographer once said to me, “You travel to Asia for the people.” I didn’t fully understand what he meant until I went. He could not have put it more directly or succinctly.

© Elizabeth Knox

This entry was posted on Monday, July 23rd, 2007 at 11:03 am and is filed under Elizabeth Knox. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.