A man peers from a bus window, Bangalore India 1987. It was forty years later when I realized the woman was making eye contact with me through the lens, which brought a whole new perspective to this image for me. Nikon N2000, Kodachrome 100.
My contribution to this week's #blueskyartshow (theme is windows). #incredibleindia #india #indiaportraitseries "Man on Bus" 1987, Bangalore India. #kodachrome
My #IndiaPortraitSeries continues with this woman in a yellow sari. She stood out to me in sharp contrast, not only against the light wall but also as the sole woman waiting along the road that evening. #incredibleindia #portrait #streetphotography
While we waited for the fog to burn off along the banks of the Yamuna River (across from the Taj Mahal), this young man approached us offering camel rides. He was just such a kind human being - I believe this photo captured his very essence. Portrait photography is so difficult, until or unless the subject is in their environment. Once they are 'at home,' everything changes.
Continuing with my #IndiaPortraitSeries, we met this young man waiting for sunrise behind the Taj. He had a kind heart and loads of enthusiasm! Story in alt text #incredibleindia #streetphotograohy #portrait #taj #tajmahal #india #agra #travelphotograpjy #utahphotographer
Prepping for a regional holiday, these two boys were selling kites in a marketplace. For religious reasons, they will never receive a traditional education but they already spoke English well at a young age, and were convincing merchants in my book!
These two young boys were selling kites as part of a major festival in #Hyderbad Read the story in alt text #India #indiaportraitseries #streetphotography
India abuses all five senses, with a cacophony of color, smell, noise, textures, and tastes. Sometimes you miss the details in all of that. While this man and I didn’t connect, I felt drawn to him as his bus passed through a roundabout. Where was he going? Was someone waiting for him? Was he on his way home, or just leaving? Only decades later did I realize the woman sitting behind him saw me. How often as humans are we so distracted that we miss connecting? When do we put down our guard and reach out to others, to show they have value in our eyes? When do we connect, and share our humanity?
A third in my #IndiaPortraitSeries is ‘Man On Bus,’ taken in Bangalore. We never locked eyes, and it was only decades later when I saw the woman behind him looking at me. How many times do we miss connecting like this? Alt text for story…
#IncredibleIndia #streetphotography #portrait #kodachrome
I have been blessed to not just travel in India, but to live there extensively several times. In the 80’s I would shoot rolls and rolls of film, not knowing if my photos came out until long after the shutter click. There are a few, though, that I remember making. That’s because there was a connection in that brief but intimate moment. “Spice Man” is one of those photos. As humans we have more in common than we have different. Who is this man? Is he the proprietor or an employee? Who does he go home to each night? Do his grandchildren bring him joy like mine do me? In 2025, I see evidence all around that we have forgotten our humanity. It’s my hope that photos like this inspire us to slow down and make connections, as equals. Let’s see one another, really SEE each other.
While living in India decades ago, I came across this spice merchant outside of the Ameer Fort in #Jaipur. It’s the #humanconnection that makes photography so powerful. Read the story in the alt text!
#IncredibleIndia #IndiaPortraitSeries #soiceman #portrait #streetphotography
I saw this man as we were transiting in India. I gestured with my camera, he nodded in approval, I snapped this photo and off we drove. I often think of him along with the other two men in my 3-part mini series (Man in Doorway, Man in Bus, and Spice Man). I wonder what their dreams are, what they were thinking about that make them look so pensive. Do they have families? What joys are theirs in life?
The eyes are the window to the soul. I encountered this man in a doorway during transit in #Kerala #India. What is his story? What are his dreams?
See my other two most powerful portraits using the hashtag #IndiaPortraitSeries
#IncredibleIndia #streetphotography #candid #colorful
