Photos can be deceiving. I love how peaceful this scene feels but the truth was quite different — he was working under an awning in the middle of a busy square, surrounded by dozens of honking motorbikes, taxis and rickshaws.
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I like the picture a lot.
I love the lighting. He looks so alone and in a dark corner, not surrounded by a busy area. What was he making?
I love this shot. The mouth, open in concentration. The hand, poised to turn the wheel. The reflection of the light in the wall behind his back. The straps hanging down. The sunlight shining on the red poster beyond. The textured evidence of the posters that were there before. The interplay of light and shadow. Beautiful.
Truly a gem, Wes – my favorite travel subject: simple folks quietly going about their day-to-day lives. You captured the moment perfectly and it’s especially interesting to learn the story behind the shot (and there always is one, is there not?) I never would have dreamed it was a anything other than a quiet moment of absorbed concentration.
Thanks, Dyanne. How he concentrated on his work is beyond me. It was noisy and full of exhaust fumes…
Great picture !
I love the silhouette and the light …
Lighting is perfect!
Thanks! Lucky spot — it was very bright outside.
Hi John,
Love this photo! I’m just wondering, if you take photos like this, do you ask for permission to the guy? This is one of my awkwardness when taking ‘essay-like’ pictures
I snuck this one. I like to ask permission but for some shots it’s just not possible to capture the moment if you ask first. In that case, a zoom lens really helps :)
The man looks very content in his work. It must be cold in Kathmandu, right?
Yeah it was pretty chilly. It drops to freezing at night and warms into the 50′s and 60s during the day. But it’s hard to find sunlight and the hotel rooms never warm up — mine was like a meat locker :)
Wow,i like its never.