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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Fifty Six: The bus-bound travel image > Evening of Bonfires, Jaipur, India, 2008
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21-MAR-2008

Evening of Bonfires, Jaipur, India, 2008

I made this photograph from a moving bus while rolling through one of Jaipur's neighborhoods. The eve of Holi, India's spring festival of colors, is known as The Evening of Bonfires. The fire symbolizes the destruction of evil. The next day the ashes from the bonfires are collected and smeared on the limbs of the celebrants. I made this image late in the evening from a side window. It was almost dark outside, and the bus was in motion. I knew the image would be blurred before I made it – I was shooting at the very slow shutter speed of 1/10th of a second. However the resulting camera shake would enhance my idea rather than detract from it. The 28mm wideangle focal length embraces the fire, the crowd, a column of smoke, and the surrounding buildings. The blur puts the scene into motion, and motion is the essence of celebration.

Leica D-Lux 3
1/10s f/2.8 at 6.3mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis25-Apr-2008 19:18
You are right, Jenene -- the Indian's passion for life is certainly expressed through the Holi celebrations. Thanks, Tim, for noting the two children looking at the bus. I never noticed them before. It is flattering to know that we, as tourists, were of as much interest to these children as the celebration itself, at least for the moment, anyway.
Tim May25-Apr-2008 17:30
I notice that while most of the people in the image are looking at the flames, the two young people are looking at the bus. Tourists are often oddities to the people we are seeing.
JSWaters25-Apr-2008 05:18
You've captured the life force of a culture here. Does not matter the particular celebration, but the enthusiasm displayed.
Jenene
Phil Douglis22-Apr-2008 01:04
Thanks, Vera -- breathing life is what photographers can do when they make pictures of energetic scenes with energetic ideas. The motion here says it all -- enthusiasm.
Guest 22-Apr-2008 00:57
The since of motion enables us to imagine a party type atmosphere. So, rather than miss the opportunity to capture a very interesting event, you were able to breath life into it.
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