He Has All That He Needs And More, a photo from Azarbayjan-e Khavari, West

Photographer's Note

One of my fondest memories from Iran was of my meeting with this shepherd. It was in Kandovan in East Azerbaijan that I first saw him in a quiet valley opposite the Laleh Rocky Hotel. About the hotel later. As I walked down the road, in the opposite direction from the troglodyte town of Kandovan, I noticed a few sheep grazing on the downward slopping terrain. As I approached them and started negotiating a winding track which led to the walnut orchards below, I noticed this man sitting on his donkey, quietly watching me from amongst the trees of his orchard. Behind him flowed a babbling brook on both sides of which the green carpet of grass had been clipped by the sheep.
I shouted to him, 的lya bilam aks salaam?� which in Azeri meant May I take a photo please? He nodded in consent. I took a few shots but he was far away and in the shade. Soon he noticed that a sheep or two had slowly made their way up the track and were getting too close to the road. So up he came on his donkey and redirected their trajectory. This necessitated that he came right up to where I was standing. I pointed to the scenery before us and said in Turkish that it was a very beautiful spot. He was pleased and somewhat surprised that someone from afar admired his little haven.
The following day I took another walk and this time had the intention of photographing the walnut trees in their autumnal splendour. I walked past his land and went down towards the brook, negotiating rows of stone wall terraces with their rows of trees, when I noticed down below towards the left the same shepherd leaning against a tree, in front of him his loyal donkey grazed quietly, behind him his small flock grazed amongst the trees. I took a shot before I had seen the donkey. I planed to take another but he noticed my presence, so I left him in peace.
The last morning in Kandovan I walked along the same stretch of road and saw him below, far away, again sitting down and enjoying the morning sun, his donkey nibbling at the grass beside him. He heard me with his excellent hearing and turned his head. I lifted my hand high in greeting and he did the same.
He is most probably there this morning as he had been for innumerable mornings before I met him. His days are spent in his walnut grove, watching over his sheep, listening to the brook and the many birds sing , with his donkey for company.
When I had mentioned to him initially that I was from Australia, he had looked at me blankly, probably having never heard of that distant land, probably never having been to school. But then he had achieved a different knowledge- one that brought him peace of mind and contentment in that quiet and pure world in which he lived.
He reminded me of the shepherds and peasants from my childhood whom my father praised for their honesty and open hearts.

Workshop:
1) I saw him far down near the creek.
2) He made his way up to stop the sheep from grazing to close to the road.

ourania, dta, holmertz, aliabazari, ktanska, COSTANTINO, SnapRJW, omid266, shevchenko, Angshu, cagla, macjake, gildasjan, adores has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ourania (51103) 2014-11-08 3:33

Hello Klaudio,
I like very much both your photo and the description that accompanies it. We get an interesting and rewarding view of a very different lifestyle which you have approached in a straightforward and admiring way, as if you were allowed into a sanctuary. Besides the lovely colours and excellent quality of your photo, there's a fine intimate atmosphere and the shepherd is perfectly integrated in this peaceful and lovely environment. There's mutual acceptance between them. I like the complementary scenes from his daily life too. I've met people who live like this on Leros too, it's so important when this lifestyle is a choice. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely weekend,
Ourania

swapankumarroy (3769) 2014-11-08 6:01

Hello Klaudio,

Very interesting and attractive details, the old man with his horse was coming from the jungle, I think the season was autumn so the whole ambiance was very much attractive and colorful, nice composition with fine detailing.

warm regards,

swapankumarroy

dta (98848) 2014-11-08 6:40

Hello Kaludio ,
Beautiful portaeit of this sheppard on his donkey , in the superb autumn colors in the BG .
But also a very interesting note . Sometimes , traelers as we are are a little jealous of the simple life of simple people , in places that looks like little paradise . Not sure that the life kere is easy everyday , but the rythm is so different than in modern cities .
Regards

holmertz (102732) 2014-11-08 7:11

Hello Klaudio,
The light may have been a bit challenging, but you managed a fine exposure of his shaded face as well as the brightly lit trees in the background. It's a kind of street-shot in an environment far away from the usual city streets. This is a kind of encounter that you could probably still have in Afghanistan but even more likely in Turkey and most of the Balkans. "Donkey culture" is still widely spread.
Kind regards,
Gert

aliabazari (22233) 2014-11-08 21:23

Hi dear Klaudio
A good portrait of this man, a shepherd from the hive. Comprehensive and friendly source. Thanks for sharing

Regards ...

ktanska (44788) 2014-11-09 7:14

Hi Klaudio,
Wow, autumn coloured foliage gives this view golden framing. Good direct portrait of this man moving on one of the most traditional methods of transport.
Kari

COSTANTINO (116542) 2014-11-09 8:06

Hello my dear friend
your useful notes describe everything in detail
very interesting and attractive details
the whole ambiance was very much attractive
and colorful superb autumn colors and the
man on the horde in the middle
great inspiration
regards
Costantino

SnapRJW (31631) 2014-11-09 8:19

Hello Klaudio - I'm not sure which I prefer; your excellent note or your photograph(s). Together they make a really good TE upload and I feel as if I accompanied you on your walks to the Walnut Grove. You have transported me to another world where life is so different to my own and it is with a certain amount of envy that I contemplate the shepherd's life.

A wonderful shot taken under tricky light but how beautifully the golden tints of autumn glow behind the man and his donkey.

Have a good week ahead.

Rosemary

mesutilgim (0) 2014-11-09 14:17

Hello Klaudio,
Nice capture of this old donkeyrider with a nice and bright background.
Many interesting notes and nice framing.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

omid266 (6816) 2014-11-09 20:54

Klaudio,

Another excellent and spectacular post for all visitors as for me as an Iranian and Persian,

it is really interesting to see your country and culture in vision of Tourists and foreigner,

Here the shot from old man , with excellent note and text,

Very well done and Thanks!

shevchenko (20560) 2014-11-10 20:17

Hi Klaudio,

Good vertical format to frame a rider with his donkey that passing through the clump, nice autumn color under bright sunlight, nice to see local people that still know how to live in traditional style, interesting composition, thanks for sharing.

Ally

Angshu (56760) 2014-11-11 2:57

Hello Klaudio
Its not very often that we see pictures of this lovely country from non-residents!
A lovly image thanks to your exposure handling and the autumnal leaves as the backdrop.
I guess your speaking that sentence in Azeri was the ice breaker...how much of this language can you speak? I didn't know that they speak Azeri in Iran as well !
A lovely note, which i enjoyed reading....for me the picture took a new meaning post reading your note!
Best Regards
Angshu

No_One (4) 2014-11-13 10:57

Hi Klaudio,
This is a beautiful and timeless portrait, everything about how you have taken this is superb. The mans expression is particularly notable but also your control over the difficult light, and the stunning range of tones and colors. Really nice photo, thanks for sharing. This is a lesson to me as I really want to learn how to do better portraiture.
Best wishes
Noel

macjake (98456) 2014-11-15 13:59

Hi Klaudio
brilliant post!
what a fantastic story and read.
your passion for this group of photos and for this experience really comes through to us, the viewer.

wonderful main post, wonderful story.
glad you were able to experience this and share it with us here too.

thats what TE is all about
cheers
craig

gildasjan (43826) 2014-11-17 6:42

Bonjour Klaudio
L'attitude bien gig馥 de ce personnage sur son 穗e donne une tr鑚 bonne touche � cette r饌lisation.Nous avons ici en prime un paysage tr鑚 agr饌ble avec ces couleurs automnales.
Bonne journ馥
Amicalement
Gildas

adores (46979) 2014-11-22 13:30

Hi Klaudio!
It's this kind of meetings that can make the trips so special sometimes, more than the monuments in my opinion. A really beautiful and sweet scene. You framed him very well riding his donkey. Light is very good and the golden leaves are very nice in background.

silah (2798) 2014-12-28 4:03

Hi Klaudio,

This is very interesting shot for me because it has wonderful fall colurs, light and country life. I also liked the light in photo. TFS my friend. GREETINGS, Salih.

Happy new year.......