I love to create portrait but, environmental portraits are close to my heart.
By photographing a person/persons in their natural surroundings, you will be able to better illuminate their characters and therefore portray the essence of their personality, rather than merely a likeness of their physical features. It is also thought that by photographing a person in their natural surroundings, the subject will be more comfortable, easy and so be more conducive to expressing themselves, as opposed to in a studio, which can be a rather intimidating and artificial experience.
I love monasteries and monks around. Here I'm going to share an images which I have made in a monastery in recent trip.
Why do I prefer to take environmental portraits ?
- They give context to the subject you're photographing.
- They give points of interest to shots and you need to spend enough time to shot something you need to watch as you don’t want to distract from your subject too much.
- They help your subject relax and make them natural behavior.
- They often give the viewer of your shots real insight into the personality and lifestyle of your photo shoot.
- They give you candid moments.
- This empower your subject.
There were only two sounds were coming out in small village monastery prayer hall, one was for chanting and other was camera click. Little village monastery, faroff in North most of Sikkim, once a forgotten kingdom. I was invited there in monthly pooja. It was really a peaceful environment around. Kids were busy playing around monastery, monks and elderly were busy chanting, dim light and butter lamps were lighten up near buddha statue, it was making surroundings magical in every espact. Colorful paintings (Thangkas) in prayer hall were really pleasing.
Far north in Sikkim, small village monastery there were only two sounds were coming out in small village monastery prayer hall, one was for chanting and other was camera click. I was invited there in monthly pooja. It was really a peaceful environment around. Kids were busy playing around monastery, monks and elderly were busy chanting, dim light and butter lamps were lighten up near buddha statue, it was making surroundings magical in every espact. Colorful paintings (Thangkas) in prayer hall were really pleasing. Senior monk was busy arraning things for puja and oferings to deities.
Young monk in Thiksey monastery, during winter time. Winter months you hardlysee tourist and its really a peaceful time for monks to perform puja & study. Thiksey is one of the largest monastery in Ladakh region and it's also known as Mini Potala palace.
Monks are alwasy busy and when you dont find them in monastery, they will be busy in their private rooms performing pooja or doing study. Here this senior monk of key monastery, is busy with chanting mantr for peace with his rosary.
In Spiti, mornings are very cold and one cannot think of stepping out of the blanket or going out without a jacket. But, it is not the same for the monks. Their day starts very early and at around 6:00 a.m., they come out and gather at a place for morning study, which lasts for almost 2 hours before the next blow of seashell is heard. They primarily read rituals and religious books of the Buddha. They recite chantings in perfect harmony, soothing the soul of anyone who witnesses it. They keep themselves warm with sips of hot tea in between these chantings. When it is 8:00 am, a second blow of the seashell can be heard, which indicates the time for breakfast for the monks. After breakfast and daily chores, the monks head to the school for more studies.
Study is intergial part of any monk. I was in Spiti valley in Key gonpa. It was exam time for serior monks and every day morning studay is must before getting into daily activites. Senior monks get person room where they can continue study in free tiime and also get privacy.
Monk performs daily puja in mail prayer hall in Chumathang village monastery in North Sikkim
Everyone whats to help in monastery. Here btother and sister are lighting up butter lump in monastery for big prayer. Buter lamps and insense are intergal part of buddhist customs.
