Timeless India
India 2003…The Taj Mahal from the Yamuna River
A man unloads or loads (I don’t know which) his bullock cart on the mud flats of the Yamuna river. Most photographers hire colorfully attired camels and drivers to pose for them, but I was lucky to have this man wander into my photo. He is much more genuine.
Photographers always want a different viewpoint of famous landmarks. That is a daunting assignment as thousands have tried before you. It pays to check the internet to see what other, famous, photographers have done and try to expand on their ideas. That is not easy as they have assistants and are often able to hire models such as the camelmen I mentioned earlier.
I am happy with my humble bullock cart lit up by the rising sun. I didn’t plan it and that makes it more special to me. I know that is not the right attitude. It breaks the old rule, a photographer doesn’t take a picture, he makes a picture. But it’s my attitude. I love serendipity.
This is a great picture – and I prefer serendipity as well. People say that truth is stranger than fiction, and I think that unstaged photos fall into that category too. In this case, the humble cart and ox contract even more spectacularly with the riches of the Taj Mahal. You think of how hard he works, in what we would call such a magnificent location, yet he doesn’t even notice it. He has to keep up with his farming.
Thank you for the pictures. It’s good to have you and the blog back.
Thanks, Mary. I like your remarks about the photo…great insight.