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.

 

If you like my pictures, visit my online gallery at https://davejenkins.pixels.com/  

Signed copies of my book Backroads and Byways of Georgia are available. The price is $22.95 plus $4.95 shipping. My PayPal address is djphoto@vol.com (which is also my email). Or you can mail a check to 8943 Wesley Place, Knoxville, TN 37922. Include your address and tell me how you would like your book inscribed.

Photography and text copyright 2025 David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.

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

I'm Back . . .

 Civil War reenactor, Chickamauga Battlefield National Military Park, Georgia.

 . . . with a new blog design, courtesy of my granddaughter, Jennifer Jenkins Steinmetz.

I didn't intend to stay away so long, but frankly, after nearly 800 posts since 2019, I was written out. But now I'm back at my keyboard and will try to post new blogs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as before. But I'm not promising anything.

Part of my problem is that I'm not making any new pictures. I've had persistent trouble with my back and legs since I had a bad fall in August, 2024. I can walk, (with a cane) but it isn't much fun, and it's difficult to do the kind of photography I like to do if I can't walk freely.  

Jennifer, my oldest grandchild, grew up in the Atlanta area but went to college in Idaho. She met a really fine young man there, married him, and has been there ever since, producing five beautiful children along the way. She has always wanted to return to Georgia, and now it's happening. Her husband has been offered a good job with a medical firm in a northeast suburb of Atlanta, and they're moving back in December. 

 

 Jennifer

Jennifer is a talented writer with a good eye for design. She blogs at https://peachesandpotatoes.com/.

This redesign of my blog is not yet complete. Some of the links do not work, and we have not yet chosen a background color. However, I've decided to go ahead and use the design. It may take some time to get the bugs worked out, because, as I said, Jennifer is moving and will have little time to work on it.

The photo of the Civil War reenactor was made around 1976 with a Nikkormat Camera, a 100mm Vivitar lens, and Kodachrome film. It was my first prize-winning photograph.

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

 

If you like my pictures, visit my online gallery at https://davejenkins.pixels.com/  

Signed copies of my book Backroads and Byways of Georgia are available. The price is $22.95 plus $4.95 shipping. My PayPal address is djphoto@vol.com (which is also my email). Or you can mail a check to 8943 Wesley Place, Knoxville, TN 37922. Include your address and tell me how you would like your book inscribed.

Photography and text copyright 2025 David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.

Tags:   photography    film photography     Nikkormat camera   Vivitar 100mm lens        Kodachrome film     Civil War reenactments     Chickamaura Battlefield National Military Park     Georgia