F A C E . I N . T H E . C R O W D, a photo from Rajasthan, West

Photographer's Note

I was recently on a short trip to Rajasthan, exploring some of the largely unchartered territories of Kishangarh, Roopangarh and Kuchaman - all erstwhile independent royal kingdoms. Rajasthan is one of the most colourful places in the country and the people here are no exception. Infact, I found out that the older person always chose more colourful attire. This old man, with his colourful turban really stood out from the crowd. This picture was taken in the bazaar (market) area of Roopangarh. Like most small towns in Rajasthan, life moves at a snails pace, people (I mean men, beacuse women are mostly restricted to indoors) of all ages gather around tea shops, have a smoke and discuss anything from the weather, to politics, to cricket.
Built in AD 1648 and called after himself, the town and Fort of Roopangarh was constructed by Maharaja Roop Singh of Kishangarh. Originally a nine turreted Fort, it has been built over and added on by several generations and the different styles can still be seen in the structure. Now beautifully restored and renovated into a very affordable hotel, it is the first 'War-Fort' to have been done so. Only 2 hours drive from Jaipur, I would strongly recommend this place to anyone planning to visit Rajasthan for a taste of its true ethnic culture.

This is my first post in more than a year. During my self-imposed exile, I have received numerous mails from my friends here on TE - standing by me when I lost my father, enquiring about my well being, asking when I would be back. I have not been able to thank you all, so I dedicate this photo to all my friends here on TE.

serp2000, yquem46, delkoo, Budapestman, achakladar, nirajsinha, Angshu, liviu, Wanda1, saylan-cb, isabela_sor, bostankorkulugu, pauloog, lucasgalodoido, goodwill, besnard, Cretense, Bruno40, patdeph, hispic, edytungkal, partha, indoka28, jaywalker, bhaskarc has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

yquem46 (38752) 2009-03-09 5:44

namaste sabyasachi
Aap kaise hai ?
Quite a long time you've been away from TE. Your last post was 1.5 years ago! I have you in my favorites owing to some old posts but I thought you had retired from TE? I just read your note, sorry for your father
Nice to have you back with this colorful turban and old fashioned glasses.
regards
patrick

delkoo (68) 2009-03-09 5:50

welcome back, Sabyasachi, Very colourful and sharp portrait with excellent blurred background to avoid all distractions.

best regards
didier

Budapestman (82620) 2009-03-09 5:51

Hi Sabyasachi,
What a surprise. I am glad that I may see your superb photos again. I much regret it, I have to read bad news in connection with you...
You recurred with a beautiful portrait, the photo composed wonderfully. The colours and the details are fantastic. Suggestive work. Congratulations. Have a nice week!
George

achakladar (786) 2009-03-09 5:59

Lovely image, love the DoF !

serp2000 (47063) 2009-03-09 6:02

Privet, Sabyasachi,
My congratulations on your big return!
Fine portrait, excellent colours and good detailos, TFS!
See you tomorrow here, I hope.
Regards from Russia,
Serghei

Angshu (56760) 2009-03-09 6:07

Dear Sabyasachi
Welcome back & hope this would not be the last post for quite a while again. Colourful, gorgeous, his near vision thick glasses do it for me...clarity is superb...we can see every strand of hair on his beard & moustache. Look fwd.
Best Regards
Angshuman

liviu (600) 2009-03-09 6:27

welcome back! I discovered your gallery not a long time ago and immediately I added to my favorites. I didn't expect you'll be back, but just to learn from your old shots. now I'm very happy you're here!
good work sabyasachi!
liviu

vincz (19113) 2009-03-09 6:41

What a great surprise! I was thinking of you last week when I came back here after a 9 months break myself, hoping to see you back! But you were not back yet then. Great typical Sabyasachi portrait but with even more quality than before. Perfect natural colors, total mastering of light, great choice of DOF of couse. So glad to see you back my friend.

nirajsinha (857) 2009-03-09 6:46

Hi Sabya Da,

Nice to see you back on TE. Incidently, yesterday onl I also posted a picture after long time. Superb portrait of old man. The colour of turban, light falling on his face is key in this picture..

Regards

Niraj Sinha

Wanda1 (15142) 2009-03-09 7:09

Hi Sabyasachi,
So glad to see you back! and you present us with a super portrait of this old man with a face full of character. I especially love his glasses and his colourful turban, really photogenic. And even though they are blurred I like the colourful turbans we can see in the background too.
Best Regards
Wanda

saylan-cb (12738) 2009-03-09 7:38

Hi Sabyasachi,
Superb portrait!The image and details are very wonderful.I really like the background and presentation.
Excellent work!
TFS/Regards,
Have a nice day.

everlasting (19680) 2009-03-09 7:44

Well you are not just another face in the crowd Sabyasachi. welcome back your uploads were missed.
Apart from the clarity and colour here his thick glasses with the misty reflections hit the spot here.

photographer123 (6248) 2009-03-09 9:29

hi sabya.
as usual good shot,but I think its almost middle of the frame..is not it?best wishes..and continue post ur new shot..subir

gilou530 (34) 2009-03-09 9:57

salut sabyasachi
un tr駸 beau portrait plein d'authenticit� et une nettet� impeccable, excellent travail
amiti駸
gilbert

Focales (22) 2009-03-09 10:34

An excellent portrait.

imtiyaz (1005) 2009-03-09 10:36

Perfect one. Sabyasachi !
sorry for your father ...

Welcome BACK.

Regards,
Imtiyaz Basha

isabela_sor (47748) 2009-03-09 11:33 [Comment]

Show Comment

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2009-03-09 11:55

so happy to have you back around here sabya... you as a person, and your great shots also... what a portrait that is with the glasses and the colourful turban... simply amazing...

all the best... korkut

faubry (35447) 2009-03-09 12:57

what nice and colorful portrait!! superb boked:
congratulations
francine

CLODO (45116) 2009-03-09 13:22

Hi Sabyasachi
Welcome back on TE
Open aperture to get blurred background and nice sharp portrait full of color. I would have cropped the left part not interesting and in order to avoid to have the face right in the middle of the shot.
Nevertheless, a good job
CLODO

pauloog (11751) 2009-03-09 13:47

Hello Sabyasachi,
A wonderful eye-catching portrait because of the colourful joyful headdress combined with the serious pose of the man. Perfectly isolated against the background.
Regards,
Paul

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2009-03-09 14:27

Hi Sabyasachi,
welcome back, my friend, and after long time you return with this beautiful portrait, with good colors capture and quality. Great job!
Regards,
Lucas

besnard (59196) 2009-03-09 23:49

Bonjour Sabiasachi
Un superbe portrait riche en couleur et en authenticit�. Excellent travail.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journ馥.
Nicole

Graal (103040) 2009-03-10 1:01

Welcome back Sabyasachi after long break!
Amazing portrait. Unusual face, nice colours and DOF. Good photojob. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

Cretense (68709) 2009-03-10 1:21

Hello Sabyasachi! So glad to see you back, you are one of the greatest photographers ever participated in Trekearth and your absences was a big loss for this comunity! So sad to read those bad news, but life goes on, my dear friend!

With this one, you remind us, who is the best portrait photographer in TE! Excellent tight framing, simple but great composition, perfect focus and depth of field, perfect light managment! Congratulations!

With greetings from Greece,
Hercules

brevbrev14 (140) 2009-03-10 7:40

Oh dear Sabya!! W E L C O M E BACK!!!
i am very happy to hear news by you!
i hope you are fine!
Ohh...I now read in the note that you have lost your father and I am really sorry about this terrible news, I hope you are fine now.

I am not so active in TE...but from time to time i send an image...
really a pleasure to see your name in my critiques! :))
the image is strong as usual, a very good portrait

Welcome back again!
ciao
Valeria

Bruno40 (6662) 2009-03-10 7:57

Hi Sabyasachi
I was happily surprised today when I saw your critique to my latest post from Easter Island. I thought the master is back.
But I am sorry to read your note, my condolences.
Hope to see you often here with more beautiful portraits like this one.
warm regards
Jorge

patdeph (35750) 2009-03-10 13:20

namasre Sabyasachi
nice to see that you are come back,maybe you don't remember me but you are in my favorites for a long time!I like your beautiful and colourful portrait of this old man,whose face is superbly standing out the nice,colourful and blurred background!And this is truly well enhanced by the sunny light!
regards
Pascale

hispic (9658) 2009-03-10 20:13

Welcome back, Sabyasachi,
An amazing portrait from Rajasthan through and through, powerful color in an excellent contrast and gentle large blur. he has truely a good face with attractive glasses.
Regards, Hisashi

edytungkal (4551) 2009-03-11 19:51

Of course its a nice welcome back picture...
I saw many great pictures of your and very inspired, this one another great from you and the colours and sharpness just perfect. tfs

daniel

bodobose (104) 2009-03-12 6:26

Sabyasachi'da...many condolences for your loss. I had also thought that you had left TE forever. Good to get you back. A WARM WELCOME SIR! :-) obosyo ami nijeo khub ekta nei, sab purono upload muchhe diyechhi. But I shall come back to see your photos many time, that is sure.

partha (14023) 2009-03-12 6:38

Hi Dada,
Its a great time for us that You have come back to TE with a nice portrait.
The typical "Pagri" symbolises the culture, the place where he lives. The blurred background make it prominent and u have spotted it nicely.
Partha

scalerman (26900) 2009-03-14 15:07

S: I too have been away for some time. Reading your entire note - especially the postscript says it all. Welcome back. Btw, the bokeh here is tops in separating your host from the crowd. c

Benedict (7076) 2009-03-18 20:48

tho late, my deepest condolences on your loss.
and, yes, welcome back!
Benedict

indoka28 (5261) 2009-03-24 4:09

Welcome back dada,

Its just great to have u back again..!!!! We missed u and yr shots very much here..!!!! Nothing to say about this image....a brilliant shot from every respect..!!! the colours of the turban are just awesome..!!!!

Aaro photo daao..!!!!

Regards,
Indro

sagar (2410) 2009-03-24 12:56

Hi Sabyasachida,
Amazing portrait!!! Thats all I can say..Perfect in all aspects.
Regards,
Sagarneel.

jaywalker (16105) 2009-05-22 10:41

Hi Sabyasachi, A truly great portrait with amazing detail & the striking colours of the turban are beautiful, excellent shallow DOF & what a great expression, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

Urs (14082) 2009-10-05 0:41

Namaste Sabyasachi

I do not know how many Rajasthani I have seen, dressed with their turban. This one sticks out of the BG due to your choice of aperture. It's a crystal clear shot with a well balanced light. Well done

Best regards
Urs

sid_sn (171) 2009-11-26 22:15

Really sharp photo.. to good

Siddhartha

barrufeto_77 (28888) 2010-12-14 16:16

Hi Sabyasachi.

Excellent and funny picture! The details and the colours are impressive.

Well done!

Xalkida (11744) 2011-05-26 4:37

Excellent straight portrait full of the colors of your fine country. Magnificent work!

adidas5nb (5743) 2012-07-20 19:33

Superb portrait!The old man is somehow cute.The image and details are very wonderful.I like the colors of the pagri and the glasses, and also really like the background and presentation.
Excellent work!

goodwill (4274) 2013-09-12 8:34

Hello Sachin Tendulkar,
Remember this .............dear.
When Sachin Tendulkar lost his father, he was sent by his mother to play for India in the world cup, and he played in the matcg against Kenya, scored a ton, and raised his head and bat towards heaven thanking his father.
The loss is irreparable and leaves a permanent scar on the heart, which never fades with the memories but remains green.
With this permanent scar, one has to carry on, what one loves the most.
My regards for the great soul.
Rajeev