One of the Many

Varanasi or Benares, India 2006

I was impressed by the rickshaw men of Varanasi, peddling or pushing their heavy loads whether animal, vegetable or mineral through city streets which were slick with a muddy slurry.  They were slender.  What rickshaw man isn’t?  But they were strong… strong physically and mentally. I wondered if I would have the mental strength to get out of bed each morning and face a day of pulling a heavy rickshaw and only earn a pittance.

The Snake Charmer

A handsome young man hurriedly begins his snake charmer routine as we pass him on a city street somewhere in Rajasthan. I hope I gave him some money, but I don’t recall. Indians are not aggressive toward tourists as some other nationalities can be. Usually, if you take a photo, you are expected to give money. In some countries…in Morocco and West African countries especially… you will be treated to some angry words if you don’t pay.  You aren’t obligated to give money but be ready for some harassment.

My rickshaw man is soft in focus. I was in a car stopped at a traffic light when he pushed his load in front of us.  I wasn’t ready.  I know I’m making excuses. It’s my ‘job’ to be ready. If  I’d had my camera set at a high ISO and a wide open f-stop, I’d have been better off. I didn’t know that trick then.

Here is the ‘trick’: Set your ISO at 400 or higher if necessary. Set your f-stop at wide open which means the smallest number. Put your focus cursor in the middle of the frame and shoot on S for single shot. Focus on your subject and instantly re-frame to get the composition you want.

I used a prism to fade the background for the snake charmer. He was crouched near a large truck. The truck itself combined with harsh sunlight and deep shadow detracted from the handsome young man.  Really, this photo is not well executed but who could discard that face?