Udaipur Street Portraits

Look from behind a pole

During last week’s stay in Udaipur I also took the opportunity to go for a 15 minute quick stroll through the old city center. Leaving the PEN-F in my bag in the office, I just took my iPhone 8plus along for the walk. Hoping to make some street portraits.

Man on a cart

Taking in Indian street life is an awesome experience. Colors, smells, sounds, people going about their daily tasks is completely different from what I normally shoot on the Streets of Nuremberg.

As always I signaled my intentions to my subjects, see how they would react prior to lifting up the phone and pressing the on screen shutter. Amazingly, the people in Udaipur absolutely did not mind me making their street portraits. More likely they were just wondering what the guy in the business outfit shooting away with his iPhone was doing there.

Udaipur Threesome

On the contrary, many people even signaled for me to take a picture of them. Like these three guys, sitting in front of their shops. The iPhone, by the way, is a perfect tool for street shooting, because it is unobtrusive. I mean we see people taking pictures with their phones all the time. Due to the wide angle lens, you have to get close though. Which is perfectly fine with me, as I want to interact with my subjects.

Happy Schoolgirls

The highlight was the encounter with these school girls. Attending a private school just opposite our office, they just got off school and where goofing around when I walked out on the street. We started talking, they wanted to check out my badge that I was still wearing around my neck, showing off their school badges as well. And then they absolutely wanted to throw a pose for me, just for the fun of it. This is what I love about street photography. It makes you appreciate life. It makes people smile at each other. And it makes you go out and explore, even if it is just for 15 minutes.

Have a great Sunday!

Marcus

Related Posts:

Street Photography Quick Tip 8 – Capturing Gesture

Street Photography Quick Tip 16 – Capture what captures attention

Instant Inspiration (8) -Make a portrait of a stranger

Instant Inspiration (12) – Playfulness

48 thoughts on “Udaipur Street Portraits”

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  2. I so get your Indian pics, I’m here! Fabulously maddening, my streets. It’s made me what i am with words and paint. Thankyou for that visit, and your joy inspite of stark contrasts.

    Reply

  7. Marcus, your point about the iPhone being a good rig for street photography is very well taken. I take a lot of street shots and I’m edging closer to using my phone as my full time camera. Apple’s newest offerings seem to be pretty damn good.

    Reply

  8. Some great shots on this post, Marcus. Street photography in Rajasthan is every photographers goldmine. I experience it every now and then. I prefer camera because with phone you can’t isolate the subject and there’s always too much action in the background.
    Did you found street photography different dramatically vis a vis the USA and Europe?

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Arv! With my wide angle approach to Street Photography, I want to capture my subjects in the context of their surroundings. So I’m not really looking to isolate them. This I only do when using my zooms or when doing street portraits with a prime lens shooting wide open.

      I thought that people on the streets of Jaipur were generally more open to me taking photographs of them. Very friendly. Despite mostly non-verbal communication. I totally loved it! Marcus

      Reply

      1. I agree there can be many different ways to capture street scenes. I’m glad you loved taking street photos in Rajasthan, Marcus. Probably, we can expect a detailed post on your experience and tips for others when you have time?

  12. Marcus, these are very creative street moments. They are unforgettable and so masterfully captured.
    Every photograph is amazing and has a great story. You photographed everyday life and ordinary people and it’s not easy to do. I enjoyed very much every photo and every story!
    Best wishes to you!

    Reply

  16. Have you ever had anyone let you know they did NOT want their image captured? Also, at what point, e.g. distance, do you not worry about visual approval being acknowledged?

    Reply

    1. Sure, it happens a lot that people signal “no”. Then I just smile and walk away. If I shoot with a long lens (e.g. 70-200), I don’t worry. But most of my Street Photography I do with the 28mm or 35mm. As you shoot practically in the face of the people, interaction (like asking for permission) can’t really be avoided.

      Reply

  18. I found Indian people exceptionally nice and eager to pose. As much, that for some of them, I went back the next day and gave them a print of the pictures from a machine I found in a supermarket. Pure blast (above all for myself :-))!
    Outstanding pictures!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your kind words, much appreciated! Getting prints and giving it to them would have been a great thing, too bad I didn’t have any time for that. The constraints of business travel….

      Reply

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