Theyyams of Malabar: Rosemary Sheel

Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
After the ritual, this Theyyam is no longer inhabited
by the goddess. Pullikunnu, Kerala
The Theyyam of Malabar Photo Expedition was joined by a number of talented full-time and part time photographers, whose primary objective was to photograph the Theyyam religious rituals as well as the Kathakali dance-drama, both indigenous to Kerala.

This is the third of a series of posts which showcase some of the work of the photographers who joined the expedition. The third post features four photographs by Rosemary Sheel, a travel photographer based on the West Coast. Rosemary is a peripatetic globetrotter, who traveled to Tibet, Turkey, Mali, Morocco, China, Laos, Cambodia Egypt and India, and she regaled us with stories of her adventures. She used a Nikon D300 with 28-105 Tamron (f 2.8) and a D200 with a 12-24 Tokina (f 4).

Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
A somnolent Theyyam has his face painted in traditional patterns, Pullikunnu, Kasaragode, North Kerala
Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
Part of the Theyyam ceremony involves the Theyyam
circumnavigating the temple. Pullikunnu, Kerala.
Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
Layers of orange silk cover starched muslin underskirts
for a bouffant look necessary for a Kathakali performance.
Thrissur, Kerala

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Smithsonian 6th Annual Photo Contest

Photo ©Wahid Adnan-All Rights Reserved
The Smithsonian Magazine selected the finalists from their 6th Annual Photo Contest. There are ten for each of the five categories; People, Americana, Altered Imnages, Natural World and Travel. From these 50, five category winners and a grand prize winner will be chosen.

Viewers can determine the winners by voting for their choice. The winning entries, including the chosen winner, will be published in the print edition of Smithsonian magazine during summer 2009.

My choice is the above photograph by Wahid Adnan of Chittagong in Bangladesh. Not to take away anything from Wahid, but G M B Akash won first place in the 2007 Gordon Parks International Photo Competition with a similar photograph of a young girl riding a train in Bangaldesh.

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Theyyams of Malabar: Alia Refaat

Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
Final makeup touches on a Theyyam, Thrikannad Temple, North Kerala
The Theyyam of Malabar Photo Expedition was joined by a number of talented full-time and part time photographers, whose primary objective was to photograph the Theyyam religious rituals as well as the Kathakali dance-drama, both indigenous to Kerala.

This is the second of a series of posts which showcase some of the work of the photographers who joined the expedition. The second post features four photographs by Alia (Coucla) Refaat, a commercial photographer from Cairo, Egypt. Alia studied Mass Communications, and trained at Spéos Paris in commercial, portrait and studio photography. She used a Canon 5D Mark II and a 24-70mm 2.8 on most of her photo shoots during the expedition. It is Alia's first travel photography expedition, and she plans a series of exhibitions in Cairo of her photographs.

Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
A Theyyam ensconced in his costume, Pullikunnu, Kasaragode, North Kerala

Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
A Kathakali performer carefully applying his makeup, Thrissur, Kerala

Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
A Kathakali performer being assisted in his costume, Thrissur, Kerala

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New Blog: Photocrati

I've just joined Photocrati, a unique photographers’ blog consisting of a group of professional photographers from diverse fields; wedding, corporate, travel, humanitarian, nature and wildlife, and specialized studio.

Photocrati is the brainchild of Erick Danzer, who is both its founder and editor, and along with him are Steve Buchanan, John E. Marriott, Bill Millios, Booray Perry , Fred Troilo and myself. More photographers are expected to join this eclectic mix of image professionals.

Photocrati will bring a collection of tips and how-to articles covering everything from photographic technique to gear to starting and running your own photography business, insider knowledge from fellow professionals in your field for dealing with common challenges, knowledgeable commentary about what’s happening in various fields of photography, and random thoughts and ruminations from others who share your love of photography and share the challenge of making a living from it.

I will be posting my personal take on travel photography, and I look forward to read your comments on Photocrati. You can read one of my initial posts here: Kathakali: Dance-Drama

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Theyyams of Malabar: Beverly A. Sanchez

Photo ©Beverly A. Sanchez-All Rights Reserved.
An entranced Theyyam approaching the devotees, Kasaragod, North Kerala
The Theyyam of Malabar Photo Expedition was joined by a number of talented full-time and part time photographers, whose primary objective was to photograph the Theyyam religious rituals as well as the Kathakali dance-drama, both indigenous to Kerala.

This is the first of a series of posts which will showcase some of the work of the photographers who joined the expedition. The first post features four photographs by Beverly A. Sanchez, whose main forte is candid portraits. Over the course of the expedition, Beverly adopted a more journalistic approach to her image making. She works with 2 Canon 5D Mark II bodies, a 70-200mm 2.8, a 24-70mm 2.8, and a 16-35mm 2.8. She has photographed in Puerto Rico, Morocco, Kenya and Papua New Guinea.

Photo ©Beverly A. Sanchez-All Rights Reserved.
Theyyam make up follows age-old traditional patterns, Kasaragode, North Kerala

Photo ©Beverly A. Sanchez-All Rights Reserved.
A Kathakali performer in the Pacha character (hero), Thrissur, Kerala

Photo ©Beverly A. Sanchez-All Rights Reserved.
A Pacha character & the Virtuous Lady in background, Thrissur, Kerala

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RMA: Nagas, Hidden Hill Tribes

The Rubin Museum of Art in New York City's Chelsea area has just announced a new photographic exhibit: Nagas: Hidden Hill People of India by Pablo Bartholomew running from March 13 to September 21, 2009.

The accompanying blurb reads:

Residing in the low Himalayan hills of northeastern India and Myanmar (Burma), the Nagas are a people faced with both tradition and transition. This very diverse community is divided into a number of tribes and sub-tribes and speaks as many as 30 different languages. In Nagas: Hidden Hill People of India photographer Pablo Bartholomew offers a visual anthropology of these historical headhunters, particularly the preservation of their traditional culture and their interaction with and adoption of Western religion and influence.

This is certainly an event I won't miss. Nagaland and the so-called Seven Sisters in north east India is one of the last remaining area of the subcontinent that I haven't visited.

I will report on the exhibition soon.

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Holi: The Festival of Colors

Photo ©REUTERS/K.K. Arora-All Rights Reserved
I've been waiting for the Boston Globe's The Big Picture to feature its choices of large format images of Holi, and I didn't have to wait long.

Holi, which usually falls in the later part of February or March, is a traditional festival celebrated in India and elsewhere such as Nepal and Bangladesh. The main day is observed by people throwing colored powder and colored water at each other, and bonfires are lit the day before to commemorate a religious event.

In the above photograph, women tear off the clothes of men as they play huranga in Dauji temple near the northern Indian town of Mathura during this year's Holi festivities. Huranga is a game played between men and women a day after the Holi festival during which men drench women with liquid colors and women tear off the clothes of the men.

It does look like fun, doesn't it? Potentially damaging to one's camera gear, but certainly fun.

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