New Portfolio – India
It takes time to work on such a large collection of images. India was so photogenic and I went a little crazy photographing many people.
It was hard not to. So here is my new portfolio, split into several sections.
And then I wasn’t well. Fatigue from the constant hustling, fighting always against the will of the driver who was receiving back handers from carpet shops we didn’t want to go and see, and hotels we hadn’t arranged to stay at. Everyone wanting my attention, and always for the same outcome – to relieve me of money. Illness set in shortly after our driver had left us. It didn’t take much to wander of the ‘safe’ road of good food stops.
But as much as India is a crazy place, I feel I’ve given it a bit of a bad wrap here. It’s incredibly beautiful in ways you can only experience first hand. Just be on your guard. It’s an overwhelming place to visit and you may seek to find some space for a break (there is no sense of space in India). I was a little worn down by the end of the trip, and I couldn’t face dealing with the mountainous task of working on so many images, so I decided to put them away and let them just sit there.
The portfolio is a ‘representation’ of what I shot. I have too many images to be digested in one sitting on a web site, so I’ve cut them down – I had to.
Anyway, that’s my ‘people’ shots over for a while. I’m back on to Landscapes from this point on, with my workshop to the Scottish island of Eigg coming up in just over a month.
Hope you enjoy the India collection. I’m just glad I’ve finished it.
Just checked out your collection Bruce. Excellent stuff! I’m in India myself right now and only just getting into the groove. Bookmarking you :)
Comment by flaneurbanite — 10 August, 2009 @ 1:54 pm
Sweet set of portaits!
if I may ask; are they all shot with natural/ambient light or did you (occassional) use a strobe for key or fill?
Comment by Marc Ilford — 10 August, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
Nice portfolio Bruce.
I’ve just got back from the very (very) North of India – an area called Ladakh. Amazing place and well worth a visit if you’re ever back over there. (Sometimes called Little Tibet due to the influence from those who fled Tibet).
I thought it was misty at the Taj Mahal when I was last there a few years ago, but you beat me on that. Great to see some creative shots despite the challenging conditions though!
Your portrait shots are also stunning. I wish I had more confidence to approach the locals for photos when I’m travelling!
Comment by nickpotter — 10 August, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
Hi Nick,
Many thanks. I’d love to go to Ladakh – it’s on my list sometime….. I’m friends with David Duchemin who has a workshop there each year. Would love to get an invite, but as yet… i’m still waiting!
Hi Mark,
Many thanks. All images were in natural light, f2 mostly on an 80mm lens, so it was ‘mostly’ hand-holdable. Some of the images are not as sharp as they should be, but I feel the ‘essence’ is there so worth keeping. Further light changes done in the ‘digital-dark-room’.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 10 August, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
Hi Bruce,
India can be a full on experience. It’s difficult to separate those who are genuinely interested in ‘helping’ you from those who have other motives. But there is, as you are now finding, something intangible, and definitely indefinable, that gets inside you and draws you back.
Ladakh is more relaxed, and some say its similar to how Tibet was some years ago. The touts in Leh do understand what No means and its less hassle all round.
I too find it difficult to edit images immediately on my return from a trip. Yes there are the obvious candidates for deletion, but it’s a good idea to sometimes put distance between the trip and making editorial judgement. I frequently look back at my images and see things that I didn’t do before – both good and bad.
Great to see the images.
Comment by DaveT — 10 August, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
Hi Dave,,
Nice to hear from you…. you’ve been quiet of late!
Yes, I’m in 100% agreement with what you say. My blog has been representing that ‘approach’ for sometime Dave.
Well, this is turning out to be a popular blog entry!
Comment by Bruce Percy — 10 August, 2009 @ 5:31 pm
What a wonderful series of images. You’ve really captured the nature of the people.
Very three dimensional look, that 80mm f2 is special.
Comment by jeremy — 12 August, 2009 @ 6:39 am