Death, Where are you ?, a photo from Tamil Nadu, South

Photographer's Note

Yesterday night i planned to take a portrait of smiling old man, Today I saw this old man sitting on the corner of road alone. I stopped my bike and went near to him asked him " can i take a snap of you" he replied "me?" i said "yes,sir! i want to take a photograph of you... smiling sir." he made me shock.

" My smile and happiness gone along with my Late wife.. my son sleeping disease which doctors told cannot able to cure. my daughter not accepting me and she think I'm a burden for her. Only My Daughter-in-law is only going for work and earning money but its not enough for spending my sick son and for her expenses so i don't want to be a burden for them at home so, I will be sitting here and spending my life by thinking about my life".

He continued " I want to die but I fear of pain because i think enough of pain in my life atleast i don't want to die with Pain, Death - Where are you ? take me with you without pain."

I cannot able to speak any thing..I just asked him could you smile but i never expect this from old man. Name: Mr. Nathan, age 83, two children, Going to home only at night to sleep because he don't want to be a disturbance for his sick son and daughter-in-law.

Whatever, In our conversation he told me he want to die.. but i can see the Fear of Death through his life, would you?

I show his best friend and place where he will spend whole day on next post.

Life will be very difficult, when you start depending on others and when you cannot able to make your own money.

goodwill, papon, DownUnder, xavshot, Sanderson-Brown, syd1946, jmdias, eversmile, isabela_sor, cigdom, kevinos, Angshu, CLODO ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

aadilj (18102) 2008-08-21 3:58

Sad but captured with finesse, elan and sensitivity. The textures and the lights are truly amazing. the look in those eyes is marvellous

dArpAn (499) 2008-08-21 6:04

Very intense portrait with a very catchy title. Gr8 work Senthil.

Rgds,
Darpan

wolf38 (30) 2008-08-21 9:17

Hello Senthil. A Portrait with impressing effect. The intensive view of the man into the camera is indeed like a question. A photo worth seeing. Best regards, Wolfgang.

papon (1487) 2008-08-21 10:52

Hi Senthil!!

What an expression,,,,,,,,
Look into the eyes, will understand what a painful life he is spending…….
Great Capture….and a very good note….

Best regards,
Sunandan.

toto (0) 2008-08-21 12:52

Bonjours,
belle photo de cet homme agé qui vous regarde, grande netteté de ce visage, de ces yeux superbes, de son systhème pilleux très visible, vraiment un beau portrait.
Cette trace claire sur son front me fait penser que la lumière de son Dieu, de quelque façon qu' il le nomme est avec lui.

Amitiés Thomas

DownUnder (1177) 2008-08-21 17:41

Sad story, great capture.. thanks Senthil

aK

xavshot (69835) 2008-08-21 22:43

Bonjour Senthil
l'expression de ce regard est très émouvante. La photo est belle, le n&b superbe... Très bonne note également.
Xavier

Sanderson-Brown (6) 2008-08-21 23:24

HI Senthil,
wow powerful background to the shot. very well captured and its sad to hear people so low. There is always something positive around the corner, you just have to get round it.
Tfs
regards
paul

syd1946 (1167) 2008-08-22 5:16

Hello Senthil,
Very dramatic story behind this shot...which is excellent as a portait shot.His face has all the pain and sense cames of the story he told you.A brave shot for sure!

Greetings,
Thomas

mauro61 (53411) 2008-08-22 7:55

ciao Senthil,
grande ritratto e occhi che sembrano entrarti dentro,tanto sono espressivi.
bravissimo
saluti
maurizio

Fis2 (155519) 2008-08-22 13:55

Witaj Senthil!
Next interesting your portrait. Good frame and depth. The black and white increase this emotion.
Regards
Krzysztof

jmdias (102802) 2008-08-22 17:28

senthil

very strong note, everything you wrote can be read in his eyes. This few minutes attention you gave him was very important for him too. Old people needs someone who hear them and you did that. Congratulations for your photo and for your minutes hearing him

hugs

jorge

eversmile (11636) 2008-08-25 10:24

Hi Senthil

First of all, I want to say there's plenty of pictures from you that I would comment with pleasure. As I didn't know where to start, I just opened the last one... sure I will go quickly to another one, not B & W, because I usually prefer the colors. But I can't! I can't because your story, his story, through your expressive note, is so touching. Because his eyes are filled with tears. Because his fears and his wait, can be so obviously read in his direct look, on his pinched lips...What a hard life, Senthil, and a very good portrait, without indulgence, without concession. A raw, true portrait, much more powerful and meaningful than if he had finally given a smile to you! The way he looks to the camera as if he was waiting the answer to his question from this side, is really outstanding. You made a great job, here! Congratulations,
Marine

isabela_sor (47748) 2008-08-25 11:42 [Comment]

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cigdom (2594) 2008-08-26 10:19

Hi Senthil,
This is very meaningful shot.His expression is very strong and painful.I think , this is great portait! Well done!
Congratulations
Regards.
Cigdem

kevinos (7517) 2008-08-26 15:49

You have produced a moving and very sensitive portrait, Senthil and the it is well framed to reveal the humanity and the pathos. This is the bast kind of portrait,in my view, the sort that presents frankly and honestly the human condition.Your note too, is just right, equally sensitive and revealing. Your note shows a paradox in that you sought to obtain a posed and artificial portrait ( that is smiling to order for you) and you got in fact a totally authentic image in stead. I rarely as people to pose because then you lose the spontaneity and honesty of the shot. I try to take portraits when the people don't know I am there. If that is not possible, I engage them in conversation so as the distract them and get a more natural expression.

albertz (2468) 2008-08-29 21:57

That's really a sad story, and your portrait really carried me. Sad but that's reality. Thanks for sharing.

devimeuxbe (58557) 2008-08-30 3:01

Hi Senthil
this is a very nice portrait. The glance of this old man is interesting. You get a very good sharpness
Well done
Bertrand

Angshu (56760) 2008-09-08 22:09

Hello Senthil
My god...this portrait is so intense! His eyes, turbid, watery shows the pain he's going through. The framing you've done, the contrasts, the B&W tones, all seem to bring out the stark reality which you wrote in your note. Superb work Senthil, but I really do not know what to say when I read your note.
Regards
Angshu

CLODO (45094) 2008-09-22 10:26

A really good portrait (sharp pin, well spotted..) captured in a difficult way. This is not a paparazzi's shot !
Congratulations for your usefull explainations

Regards
CLODO