Street Portraits in India

 Hindu woman, Madras.

In 1992 the mission/relief organization Compassion International sent me to the Orient to document their work in India and South Korea. We also had a one-day layover in Singapore along the way. Naturally, I was busy checking out everything with my cameras everywhere we went. 

Our first destination was Madras, India, I had a good bit of free time there, so I hit the streets to see what I could see. The Indian people were friendly and open, so I was able to make quite a few portraits that I liked.

The Hindu lady in the top photograph was with several men who were working on some kind of addition to the church we attended. She didn't appear to be doing anything -- perhaps she was waiting one one of the workers. Anyway, she gave assent when I indicated I would like to make a picture of her. Like many of the people I photographed, she regarded me with great seriousness. I wish I could have showed her the picture, but in those pre-digital days it just wasn't possible.

Shopkeeper, Madras.

 I saw the same seriousness in the face of the man who had a small grocery shop on one of the streets near the mission house.

Young family, Madras.

 However, this family, which I think may have been a fisherman's family, since we were close to Madras Beach, were quite pleased to pose for a picture. 

Wherever I went I found the Indian people to be friendly and open. I never encountered suspicion or resentment. I think most were somewhat flattered that I considered them interesting enough to want to make a photograph of them.

The photos were made with Olympus film camera bodies and various Olympus Zuiko lenses. I carried four of them on this trip -- 24mm f2.8, 35mm f2, 85mm f2, and 180mm f2.8. No zooms. The film was Fujichrome 100D.

See my October 3rd post for information about ordering original prints from the Rock City Barns book.

 

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Photography and text copyright 2025 David B.Jenkins.

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Tags:   photography    film photography     Olympus film cameras   Olympus Zuiko lenses        Fujichrome 100D film     Madras     India     street portraits