Gallery: people at work in Kerala and Rajasthan
If you enjoy candid photography there is no better country to visit, perhaps, than India. I have never been anywhere else where people are so comfortable to be photographed and that is its one downside, as they can be too eager to pose as soon as they see your camera. However, a posed photo can be as effective as a candid shot if you are photographing people within the setting of their workplace.
Everything is so colourful there that it seems perverse to turn your photos into black and white. But once I started to experiment for Cee’s People at Work CBWC theme, I discovered that these very different versions could be equally effective. I hope you enjoy them!
In the market in Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Market stall in Khimsar, Rajasthan
Shop-keeper in Kovalam, Kerala
Tailor in Narlai, Rajasthan
Tailor in Bundi, Rajasthan
Hauling in the catch, Kovalam Beach, Kerala
Cleaning fish on the beach at Kovalam, Kerala
Sweeper at Amber Fort, Rajasthan
Harvesting in the Rajasthan countryside
Washing clothes in Udaipur, Rajasthan
Traditional ironing at the Dhobi Khana in Fort Cochi, Kerala
I visited Delhi and Rajasthan in 2015; and Kerala in 2017
20 Comments
Dhirendra.S.Chauhan
Although I am from Jaipur but this post had a lot for me too !Sarah ,you have snapped such incredible photographs which speak so much about the lives of people in Kerala & Rajasthan !Thanks for sharing such marvellous pics !
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 I visited Jaipur on our trip through Rajasthan and really liked the city – lots to see and so vibrant!
SJ Butler
These are gorgeous, I especially liked the girl harvesting she has such a lovely smile 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 I completely agree about her smile, although see my comment to Michaela below about that particular photo!
SJ Butler
Haha yes! 🙂
Not really what you wanted lol!
Sarah Wilkie
But it turned out well, as I got a good photo from it AND a good story 😀
Alli Templeton
Superb shot, Sarah, and they capture the character of the people and the place brilliantly. I completely understand why you chose mono, as in my view it can highlight more detail and often makes for a more dramatic statement. It really adds to these people’s stories. 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much Alli 🙂 I’m torn between these mono versions and the original colour images. The colour shows the vibrancy of the country but you’re right that B&W can be more dramatic and I think it brings out the character in some of these people’s faces in particular.
rkrontheroad
My favorites are the sweeper and the harvester. Both images are more than portraits – they are so framed by the rhythms of their work, the broom and the crops.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Ruth – I know what you mean about those photos, they are both very engaging 🙂 I usually prefer more candid shots but these turned out well!
Cee Neuner
Oh your photos Sarah are wonderful for this challenge 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Cee 😊
thehungrytravellers.blog
Love these photos Sarah, look at the smile on the lady harvesting😁 Michaela
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Michaela 😊 I know what you mean about that smile. I love to see it now when I look back but at the time it wasn’t ideal – we’d been trying to photograph a group of women working in the fields but as soon as this one spotted us she flashed us that broad smile, told her friends and they all stood up in a line to pose for us!
margaret21
They are effective – very. But I’d still like to see them in colour!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Margaret 🙂 I think one or two of them do appear in colour elsewhere in my blog, and no doubt others will at some time!
Teresa
Love your captures! I especially like the men facing the sea!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Teresa 😊 I’m quite fond of that shot myself!
Anonymous
Incredible photography Sarah. Candid shots really are the best, though you do have to get them fast.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 Most of these are candids, although you’ll see that the shop-keeper in Bundi spotted me and smiled, as did the girl harvesting. I asked the sweeper at Amber Fort to pose for me and tipped her – they must earn so little!