Windows of their Soul, a photo from Bagmati, Central

Photographer's Note

I am back from Nepal. It is a very beautiful country. I've taken some of the most beautiful pictures in my lifetime during the trip. The people are so friendly. Everything is so colorful.

This is a quick post. I will post-process this more tediously and post in TL one of these days. This is a simple conversion of a colored picture using a blue channel mixer. Then I used color balance to get this tone. I am posting the COLORED version (slightly desaturated) as a WORKSHOP. Please take a look.

The story:

This was taken in Patan Durbar Square. This mother was begging. I brought along with me some chocolate and ballpens which I gave to the kids. I took a LOT of pictures of them. As a matter of fact, I could spend the whole day just photographing the three of them. So much stories to tell from their beautiful eyes. So much colors. So much life.

I was sick (stomach problem) that day. I was sick for the last two days during my Nepal trip. But after spending sometime with the people there, I feel a lot better. I counted my blessings. For one, I have a good camera. And I am sharing this poignant yet beautiful capture of these people.

I am back home. My mind is still in Nepal.

KevRyan, Rinie_Hoff, gaby, bnallama, Valentia, carper, ALSOM, Galeota, baudinm, verge, eleparc, erthmuffin, klyee75, rajju, lu_muratori, blankar, gelor, mesquens, mpsf, ravinmb heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

alimo3 (6854) 2005-10-29 6:14

hello Manuel,
that's a great picture,
really deap and beautiful,the black and white is ammazing too,i do like this "new" style in your work and how you mamage the quality and sense of composition .
Bravo bravo bravo.

Tom
right to my favorite ;-)

KevRyan (22956) 2005-10-29 6:15

This is a really beautiful soulful image Manny - it brings me immediately to the experience of being with mothers with their children like this on Indian streets and to my feelings around this - once a mother approached me with a very tiny baby who was dead - I had only been in India for a couple of hours.

Photographically this is just wonderful - as a window on the human soul it is really quite profound.

my best wishes Kev

dolin (7369) 2005-10-29 6:16

Hi Manuel.
I like your colorized b/w for this superb scene.
It is very tenderizing, and all these glances with full emotions....beautiful
Very good framing too.
Very nice.
Thank's
Fred

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2005-10-29 6:29

Hi Manny, very impressive picture, her eyes are so strong and beautiful. I can understand that you could take pictures of her the whole day long. I like it how the baby is looking at you straight away, and the woman with a twisted neck. Tough life, Manny

rowanb (864) 2005-10-29 6:39

hi manny
beautiful portrait, full of such emotion and feeling.
very effective b&w conversion
i look forward to seeing more!
rowan =)

Nina_Stevens (0) 2005-10-29 6:49

C'est une photo très poignante. Il y a autant de beauté dans cette image que dans les yeux du photographe, parce qu'il est difficile de capter la beauté de dénuement. Je comprends que ton regard soit toujours tourné vers cette beauté.
Nina

entrelec (8328) 2005-10-29 6:50

A great one, really.good tilt and this silhouette behind in white is a +
The 3 expressions are wonderful and the "almost" BW of a very good quality.
So nice!
Joel

gaby (19819) 2005-10-29 6:51

Hi Manuel - great and very touching shot - I like a lot their looks and big eyes -
Thanks
Gaby

Graal (103040) 2005-10-29 7:32

Hi Manuel,
very good work. I like it. Interesting colourize, natural pose of models, dramatic eyes. Good note. Well done.
Rgs, Aleksander

bnallama (3763) 2005-10-29 9:11

This is simply a stong capture Manny... their eyes tell all the stories. TFS. Bala

bboss (3578) 2005-10-29 9:41

Excellent shot, I love the composition and the feeling, its a powerful image.
I think I prefer the colour version though, the colours seem to make it hang together better somehow.
I am really looking forward to more of your Nepal shots.
cheers, David

Valentia (1522) 2005-10-29 11:29

I felt my eyes welling up looking at this Manny. Extremely powerful and, as Kev says, soulful. There is a story in those eyes. Even the way the children are facing gives a sense of the struggle that they are going through. How easy my life is compared...

Thanks very much for sharing and for your wonderful work.

Danny

kensimage (8563) 2005-10-29 11:38

This is excellent, Manny, and (unusually for me) I think the color version is even better. The particular mix of colors is just somehow harmonious.

Her pride, or at least lack of shame despite her condition as a beggar, shows through clearly in her eyes, and you've caught that well. The slight tilt adds dynamism. Great work! Regards, Ken.

gebala (0) 2005-10-29 12:03

hello Manuerl,welcome back:)exellent shot with amaizing pose of those people,I love tones here, all compo is perfect, wexellent work

have a nice week-end:)

rgs

Cos (1562) 2005-10-29 12:16

Hi Manny
A beautiful portrait. I prefer the B&W version as it allows you to really focus on the people and the depth of feeling that you convey with the shot without distraction. Well captured.
Regards
Sarah

carper (96) 2005-10-29 13:14

what can I say more then Yes Manuel you did make a fantastic portrait here, and yes your choice was a good one to made it black and white, very good job my friend,
gr. jaap

isabela_sor (47748) 2005-10-29 13:23

Wonderful portraits with a lot of naturalness.
Thanks for sharing

flydragon (0) 2005-10-29 15:48

hello Manuel
if your serie about Nepal
it like this picture
it will be great so watch it
this one is great and so strong
a lot life in this picture
in the woman eyes
congratulation
••simon••

ALSOM (6616) 2005-10-29 16:06

Hi Manuel,
this capture is fantastic, 3 great & deep looks, all lookong in different directions. I love the 2 bodies unity here, very strong link between the mum and the kids.
I'm looking fwd other photo from your trip !
Thanks, Al.

greg (2835) 2005-10-29 18:24

Hi manny, all the eyes are great here; I like the b/w conversion as it is. I look forward to your other pictures from Nepal.

kinginexile (2598) 2005-10-29 22:47

very dramatic, quite unusual from you, Nepal seems to have inspired you, but really, I am not surprised. The composition is masterly, this woman in the back, maybe she is the main subject. Very impressed, manny!

AnimeshRay (9089) 2005-10-30 3:06

Astonishing impact. A finely balanced photo with a very human sensibility. Excellent black and white rendition.

Galeota (10352) 2005-10-30 12:07

This is so beautiful Manuel. It's really enraging to read that this is only a quick post of a photograph on which you'll spend some more time later on. This is already so far beyond what I'm able to do... this is certainly one of my prefered photographs in this site.

baudinm (349) 2005-10-30 12:48

Hi Manuel,
Your work on the light is allways excellent.
Amicalement,
Michaël

PeterC (2242) 2005-10-30 13:28

Manny,
Beautifully tragic. A very poerful image. I love your B&W conversion going to try and give your technique a go.
Superb work as always

kclai (2267) 2005-10-30 22:17

Hi Manuel
Love the way you PP your image. It work very well, especially the effect that really make the mood for the picture.
Moreover, the portrait are well captured. That balanced up to a good shot, pal.
Eric Lai

naxius (16685) 2005-10-31 4:12

Hi Mannuel,
Wow! This shot is really strong! The B&W version is perfect, great contrast..
I love their gaze...
Bravo!
Alex

matri (627) 2005-10-31 4:18

kamustaka
namaste manny, i read your story . well i try to find find them. your color adjustment is perfact in this photo, and i like your gallery too

thank you for visit nepal.
matrideep

onmax (849) 2005-10-31 11:30 [Comment]

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coco (30439) 2005-10-31 18:22

And hi again, Manuel.
Colour or black and white? It's difficult. Both versions are fantastic.
Composition, light, subject,... all here is magnific and it deserves a big smile.
Regards.

verge (1242) 2005-10-31 18:53

this is so beautiful portrait, though its a sad photo. I really like the use of B&W, it just emphasize the emotion and really made me realize to count my blessing. very good focus and work Manny Cheers.....rgds

verge

eleparc (24063) 2005-11-01 17:39

extraordinary shot manny! i like both shots, be it b&w or color, although i have a slight preference for the color one. interesting to see that the BG is tilted and the main character is perfectly straight! a gret shot and a great series!
Eric

Sherrish (0) 2005-11-02 9:25

There is magic and mystery and soul in your photos, Manny. Wonderful work!

JMcDowell (655) 2005-11-05 15:17

Manny,
Powerful photo! Their eyes truly seem like a window into their souls (or at least into the kind of life they must live). I really like the choice of "color" and angle the shot was taken at. The color allows you to focus on the faces and the angle represents the challenges of life- not to mention what is "written" on their faces. I really like how half the women's face is in the shadows, while the other is in the light. It is a bit profound, especially when thinking about what their futures hold. I appreciate you sharing this kind of photo with us, a photo of real life, poverty. Hope to see more like this from Nepal or wherever you travel.
James

michel_r (1118) 2005-11-09 21:23

Hi manny. A most impressive one. What a stance, eyes, Beautiful work. The white sihouette in the background gives this final touch to a great picture; Definitely a fav.
amicalement, michel

klyee75 (778) 2006-02-20 19:07

I felt my eyes welling up looking at this Manny. Extremely powerful and, as Kev says, soulful. There is a story in those eyes. Even the way the children are facing gives a sense of the struggle that they are going through. How easy my life is compared...

Very beautiful B+W photo...the expression really emerged from the picture.

rajju (1345) 2006-11-10 12:19

hello manuel,
splendid shot!!! great!!!! one of the best pictures i have even seen in here..
regards,
raj

lu_muratori (618) 2006-12-21 13:46

Manny, this is an awesome shot and your story is just great.I love to read stories like this, thank you somuch for spending time writing. I am sure your mind will always be going back there, such strong places aways do this to us. I love the B&W, it could not be a colour shot.
Regards from NZ,
Luci

gelor (3233) 2007-01-11 8:20

Bonjour Manuel,
Superbe image à côté de laquelle j'étais passé ! La pauvreté n'a jamais été une contrainte pour la tendresse et l'amour. Superbement fait ! Merci.
Gérard

aqueous (55) 2007-02-03 13:21 [Comment]

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Jedenj (275) 2007-02-03 14:03

Amazing, this could not have been any better, those deep eyes, the white figure n the background and the slight inclination of the picture make it so harmonious.Waiting to ee more of those. And yes..agree with wat you said about Nepal.

mesquens (2401) 2007-03-07 22:04

Very nice and reslistic shot. Composition, very good. POV correct and magnificent eyes.
Best wishes
Raimundo

japiey (10163) 2007-03-30 17:10

Hi Manuel.
GREAT IMAGE.
jean paul

mpsf (731) 2007-05-14 15:08

Hola Manuel.Me encanta tu fotografía, la toma la hiciste en el momento oprtuno en el que las caras de las personas lo decían todo, no necesitan comentarios, todo lo dicen con mirarles a los ojos.Y además en blnco y negro se acentúa la tristeza que sus miradas expresan. Excelente!

carpe-diem (4) 2011-09-19 6:25

really real!!