A Steamy Affair, Ladakh

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The Making of A Steamy Affair, Ladakh

Visiting Ladakh in winter is crazy, what with the freezing cold, but that’s exactly what I was doing. I guess that also made the participant who’d requested a winter photography tour to Ladakh, but that’s beside the point.

Given that the people of the region were far more relaxed and open than they are during the tourist season, I found myself having access to places I normally wouldn’t. Many a kind stranger threw open the door to their house to invite me in for a snack. And one monastery was kind enough to throw open the door to their kitchen to me when I came a calling.

So there I was trudging my way down this flight of steps that led to this subterranean kitchen. And what I saw took my breath away.  The light – as it filtered in from overhead – had me spellbound. The effect was further accentuated by the steam rising from the cooking utensils. The cook – and the monks who trooped in – were oblivious to my presence. After a few seconds they did ask me to stop, only to thrust a plate of rice and daal towards me with a stern “Eat!”.

The Photograph

I simply love this photograph because of  the contrast at work – contrast in tones (differences in light and dark) and contrast in colours (yellow and blue). The challenge in taking this shot was to ensure I didn’t blow my highlights out; it’s easy to do that when the scene is as contrasty as this one was. Luckily for me, I know my DSLR camera’s meter like the back of my hand and managed to nail the exposure just right.

There are also several other things that make this image a brilliant one:

– The cook’s face being partly in shadow adds a sense of mystery, while also goes well with the overall contrast theme of the image.

– The gradation of tones from dark below to bright above lead our eyes along that path. Which really helps in our “visceral” understanding of this image considering the steam is going along the same path.

– The slightly visible form of people behind the steam adds to the sense of mystery

– The yellow daal is so small considering the overall size of the image. It it yet so powerful. I cannot imagine this image without it.

– The turn of the cook’s head, the slant of his body… everything is just right.

Post-processing was focused on boosting the blues and yellows and also enhancing contrast.

The Print

This photograph is available in two formats: (a) as a ready-to-hang mounted canvas print, and (b) a framed image printed on either canvas or Fine Art Paper.

The print is available in five style sizes: Decorator, Collector, Connoisseur, Gallery, and Masterpiece. Sizes are in U.S. inches and are approximate.

For purchasing this print, please contact us.

 

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