Heir India

Heir India

At a crowded open-air street market, you just never know what visual gems you’re going to encounter.

This was shot in Calcutta, India, in October 2006. Not only was it the Hindu festive season, but the next day was also Id, the Muslim celebration that follows rigorous fasting.

The night was extremely hot and very humid. The street was so crowded that no traffic could get through, but the atmosphere was celebratory. I spotted this stall-holder with his wares displayed under the glow of a single electric light suspended from a bamboo pole – and I asked him if I could take a shot of him.

He gave me permission and I realised that if I fired off a quick frame exactly where I stood, it would give me an interesting perspective. It might look at first glance as if he is wearing a turban, but he was bare-headed.

The foreground is actually a shelf of his wares, but in the hustle and bustle it looks as if he is wearing a golden turban dripping with ancient jewels.

I know it’s not the sharpest image, but I guess it’s a faithful reflection of the prevailing conditions. I had people in front of me, behind me, on either side of me – and a young street urchin no more than about ten years old, who was trying his utmost to get a view of the LCD screen on my camera!

I do not crop, enhance or post-edit my images in any way. Shot with a Pentax K100D, using a Sigma 18-125mm lens. F5.6, 1/8 sec, ISO 800, focal length 125mm.

Featured in SOUTHEAST ASIA, sEPTEMBER 2009.

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