Kathmandu is a rich haven for the portrait photographer. Despite the often poor living
standards, there is always a genuine smile waiting for the visitor and I find the children
especially delightful. People
What use is having a great depth of field, if there is not an adequate depth of feeling? - W Eugene Smith
A good photograph of a person should say more than merely what they look like. It must capture their character, personality and lifestyle. It can be both a rewarding and a frustrating experience when photographing people in their own environments and there are sometimes occassions when it's best to just put the camera away. We all live together in this ever shrinking world - it's just that we aren't all in the same place at the same time and we often don't understand one another.
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Kathmandu is a rich haven for the portrait photographer. Despite the often poor living
standards, there is always a genuine smile waiting for the visitor and I find the children
especially delightful.
I love the contrasting
expressions of these two Tibetan nomad children - one happy and the other frightened. They
were with their family making their way down from the high plateau for the coming winter
months. It was plain to see they had met few other westerners but after a while we were
laughing and joking with neither of us understanding a word of the others language.
The people of
Tanzania are pretty mercenary when it comes to having their photograph taken. Most will
insist that their palms are crossed with silver beforehand and sometimes it is inevitable
if you really want the shot. The lovely bright colours and peaceful expression of this
woman appeal to me greatly.
During a particularly heavy rain shower in
Zanzibar, I was invited to shelter in this villagers house where we chatted about his
schoolwork and future plans. He showed me some of his treasured family photographs and
asked me to send him a couple of photos to add to his small collection. This I did. Of all
the shots I took, this image evokes a feeling of despair and confinement.
A smile is a universal language
and these beautiful Nepalese girls certainly can speak it.
Despite my best efforts to
put the girl at ease, she was still uneasy about being photographed and clung to her
brother for comfort and reassurance. In the end I think that emotion comes through with
those big eyes talking volumes.
Walking round Kathmandu I came
across this lovely old woman sitting on a doorstep with her friend. Once I'd convinced her
that I really would like to have some photographs, she sat bolt upright, square on to the
camera with a dead pan expression on her face. Soon a group of locals had gathered round
and she started to relax. I love her mischievous expression in this shot.
The Masai people have many
customs and rituals. This boy had been decorated for his initiation rites into manhood and
looks quite menacing. Notice his ears, in common with all masai, have been disfigured.
Religion forms a very important part
in the life of every Tibetan and families are encouraged to send one son to the local
monastery to study for many years about Buddhism and ultimately to try to become a lama.
I came across Souna wandering
along the raod in N Tanzania with her two brothers and not a care in the world, just like
most children of that age. She was a picture of happiness and sometimes when I'm feeling a
little down, I look at her photograph to cheer myself up.