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                   

Taking a Break

 Clearing Storm over Lookout Mountain.

I'm taking a break. Several days, maybe as much as a week. Meanwhile, I'm posting one of my favorite pictures for you to look at while I'm gone.

As you may have noticed, I've been somewhat sporadic lately.

As I say in the fine print at the bottom of every post "I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way." And right now, life is in the way. I have some things going on that make it difficult to give sufficient attention to my blog. Louise has a broken arm (she fell while walking the dog) and is also in the grip of severe and painful back spasms, so I have been nurse, cook, and housekeeper. We have an appointment with a neurosurgeon on Thursday. I hope we can find out what is going on. 

Also, as a result of a fall I had in August, 2024, (read about it  here) I have my own back problems that hinder my walking. I can walk, but it isn't much fun. I use a cane, and having one more thing in my hands is one thing too many. So I don't carry a camera with me at all times as I have done since 1968.

I hope to be back soon.

The photo: This was made in the '90s with a Canon EOS A2 camera and the wonderful Canon EF 80-200mm f2.8L lens -- the first version, known as "the Magic Drainpipe." The film, as usual, was Fujichrome 100.

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     Canon EOS A2 camera    Canon EF 80-200mmf2.8L lens    Fujichrome 100 film     Georgia     Lookout Mountain     "Magic Drainpipe"  Life

The Informal Portrait

 

Man with hat, Dayton, Tennessee
 

Making photographs of the historic courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee, site of the famous Scopes Trial of 1925, I chanced to meet this jaunty looking older gentleman and asked if it would be okay to photograph him. He seemed happy to oblige, so I made a few exposures, probably with a Canon EOS 10s and the 70-210 f4 Canon EF lens.

Making informal portraits has long been one of my favorite things to do with a camera. I've photographed friends, family members, and total strangers whose faces interested me. It's easy to do, and you don't need to carry a massive load of equipment. One camera body and one lens are all you need, although that lens should be on the longish side (85 to 105mm) for my taste. Personally, I like the 16-80mm (24-120mm equivalent) zoom on my Fuji X-system cameras, but your mileage may vary, as they say. I've made some portraits I like with a 35mm lens, but nothing wider.

Some photographers like to use wide apertures to render a very narrow depth of field, but I've never cared for that effect. I like to use an aperture of f5.6 or f8 to give enough depth to keep both nose and ears in focus.

My brother, Steve, in better days.

Actually, the technical side of making informal portraits is pretty simple. Practice with friends and family until you feel comfortable and have made some portraits you're pleased with. 

Photographing strangers, however, can be a bit intimidating if you let it affect you. It's easy to make good photos of people when they are occupied with something else, and they may not even notice you or care that you're there. The part most people have trouble with is approaching a stranger and asking if you could make their photograph. Sometimes I ask, and sometimes I don't. 

Maylay man, Singapore.

I met this young Malaysian Man as he was crossing a walking bridge into Singapore. I tipped my camera and gave him an inquiring look. He paused and gave me an ironic half smile. I took one photo and then we both moved on.

 

 

Here are a few things I've learned:

1. Be organized: Be ready to shoot quickly without futzing around with your equipment. (This is where what I said about simplifying your equipment comes in.)

2. Be obvious and open: Don't sneak around trying to pick off shots with a long lens. Act as if you have a right to be there and people will soon ignore you. If you're confronted, move on.

3. Be invisible: This simply means you work in an open, straightforward, and businesslike way without calling unnecessary attention to yourself.

4. Be occupied:  Actually, this refers to the subject rather than you. Often, the best time to photograph is when your subject is involved in some activity.

About the photos: The old gentleman in the top picture was captured with a CanonEOS A2 with, probably, the Canon EF 28-105mm lens. My brother, Steve, was photographed with an Olympus OM (film) system camera and the Olympus Zuiko 85mm f2 lens, as was the young man in Singapore. Steve was photographed with Kodachrome 64 film. Fujichrome 100D was used for the other photos.

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     Canon EOS A2 camera    Canon EF 28-105mm lens    Fujichrome 100D film     Singapore     travel photography     Kodachrome 64 film     Olympus OM (film) camera     Olympus Zuiko 85mm f2 lens     Dayton, Tennessee