Portraits: Shaiva Sadhu, Jaipur India

India’s Sadhus are Hindu holy men who give up the material life to seek enlightenment. There are different sects of Sadhus and this man is part of the Shaivas, those who follow Shiva the god of destruction and creation.

Carefully painted on his head in red vermillion is an Om sign. The yellow lines, which were painted with turmeric, are worn by followers of Shiva. His necklace is also an Om sign.

The saffron color of his clothes represents renunciation or the fourth phase of Hindu life after studying, becoming a parent and a religious pilgrim. Saffron represents fire, which burns or eliminates worldly desires.

Portraits: Woman With Control

This woman was spotted in Catrina one of the Los Pueblos Blanco, or white villages, a short ride from Granada, Nicaragua.

The secret to balancing goods on your head besides grace, balance and plenty of practice-a piece of cloth rolled into a coil placed underneath. Give it a try.

Escape From NY Web Travels

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Escape From New York was chosen as a finalist by Tripbase for its Adventure Travel Blog Awards. This blog is in good company and you can check the full list for the Adventure category and many others here.

Earlier this month The Travel Photographer was kind enough to feature my recently revamped photography Web site. Another pleasant surprise. I read TTP daily and wish I were attending the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Manali, India later this month where Tewfic will be an instructor. Don’t miss his beautiful portraits.

And on Monday I was featured in Prêt a Voyager’s Boarding Pass Column. Another must read for me I’ve been reading the column and Prêt a Voyager since inception and it was a delight to take part. I love the way Anne ties together the design world and travel and look forward to following her blog as she moves to Paris in the fall.

Portraits: Water Seller Marrakesh

This man is part of a large ensemble of characters that spend their days in Marrakesh’s Djemma el-Fna. The water sellers in the famed square no longer dispense refreshment for a living. Instead they pose for those willing to shell out a few dirhams to photograph them.

I couldn’t resist but smiled and quickly retreated when two of his buddies came running up.

Previous Posts in this Series:
Healer Marrakesh
Young Boy Varanasi
Maya Woman

Portraits: Healer Djemma el Fna Marrakesh

He was set up in a relatively quiet section of Djemma el Fna in Marrakesh. In front of him herbs, antlers, ostrich eggs and items I could not identify in glass jars were spread out on a blanket. They were the potions of this traditional healer.

Based on his dress he appears to be Tuareg, a nomadic people of the Sahara. He noticed my curiosity and motioned for me to take a look. He did not ask for money after I took his portrait, which is typically the custom for those photographed in Marrakesh’s famed square.

When I showed him this image he smiled and seemed pleased with the results.

Portraits: Patriotic Man, San Juan Puerto Rico

I spotted him getting out of his car in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. His wife looked puzzled when I walked up and asked if I could photograph him. He agreed without question although clearly he had places to go. I couldn’t get him to smile and didn’t want to push my luck. After all he was nice enough to pose for the photograph.

Happy Independence Day to patriots from all nations around the world.

Previous Posts In This Series:
Young Boy Varanasi India
Maya Woman Lake Atitlan Guatemala
Caribbean Man

Portraits: Young Boy Varanasi India

He was playing on the ghats (steps) along the Ganges River in Varanasi, India. In fact he wasn’t far from where the chatting sadhus were sitting.

His friends were flying kites but his interest was in my camera. He volunteered to pose. Clearly this young boy was not a novice subject and was comfortable in front of a lens.

Portraits: Maya Woman Lake Atitlan Guatemala

The portrait of this Maya woman was taken in Santa Catarina a small village on the shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

She was selling beautiful woven textiles, like the ones you see her wearing and was kind enough to pose for this photograph. Many Mayan women make a living selling hand woven textiles. Her clothing is specific to her village. In Santa Catarina the blue and geometric pattern was introduced in the 1980s, replacing a predominantly red design.

Related Reading:

Traditional Mayan Textiles

Portraits: Caribbean Man

The light was perfect. I was engrossed in photographing a cobblestone alley in Old San Juan Puerto Rico when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I was expecting to turn around and see someone trying to get by. Instead this man was standing there smiling.

“What are you doing?” he asked. I explained that I was in town for a few days photographing the city.

He asked if I would mind taking a photograph of him, an offer I couldn’t refuse.

For previous portraits go here.

Portraits: Vampire Mermaid

The Vampire Mermaid was the belle of the ball. She strutted her stuff down Surf Avenue on a warm summer day. Surrounded by her mermaid comrades, a few spare King Neptunes and an endless sea of enthusiastic onlookers she was quite content to pose for photographs.

Not afraid of daylight or land the Vampire Mermaid was a participant in the annual Mermaid Parade held each June in Coney Island Brooklyn. If you are ever in town during the parade or live in the area and have never been I highly recommend attending. The costumes are astounding and the atmosphere one big party.

I’ll write more about the Mermaid Parade later on but for now I’d like to introduce this post as the first in a series of portraits from around the world that will be featured on a regular basis. No matter where you go it’s always the people who make the place.