the best critiques Vendors of Tea

Almost anyone living in Mumbai will know this expression. Cutting is the

English word and Chai is used in many languages (Indian and non-

Indian) for Tea. A full glass of tea is too much, half a glass too less. So

in Mumbai you ask street vendors for "one cutting chai". Your glass will

be about three-fourths full.

Fine street document. I like these candids. Compliments, El

Perfect protrait and documentary

Rajat, I love the tonal quality and composition here, very good work. Best Regards

Very good work. Well done - Rated.

Great documentary. I like the tones in this picture very much. Best Wishes-Jim

... interesting & dayday shot... Hi

A perfect example of street photography.... congrats....

i have seen that you take more than an avid interest in street photography and of human expressions in everyday situations. I like them as a subject matter of photography. However I prefer my street photos not be so tightly cropped. I like them to have a broader view so as to include a bit more of the surroundings. That allows the viewers eye to roam about the frame starting from the main subject which is the fulcrum of interest. Thats not to say as if its the rule of the thumb, but I prefer my photos to be that way, unless of course the subject itself has something truly dramatic going about it. The instant photo certainly does convey your POV, but imho it would have served you better if you could have changed the angle of the shot a bit and included for eg. some customers may be ( assuming there were some around), or you could have waited for the vendor to may be pour the tea from the pot into the cups and clicked the process, or you could have used the smoke emanating from the pot or the fire a bit better. I would have also preferred to have a lower angle shot, that allows the viewer to connect to the subject better. See, theres so much to say when one starts nitpicking. all of us are so smart in hindsight. Street photography is a difficult subject where things are beyond our control. You must have made the best that was available under the circumstances. Only you can tell. keep shooting. Cheers.

Thanks to all my friends for their support.

 

Nabarun, my special thanks to you for your reasoned critique. Today you have made me happy. :>) (i hope that smiley signifies i'm smiling)

This photograph was taken at 9:23 am. Before the start of the business day. Perhaps that's why there were no customers other than myself (a daily, even twice or thrice) and the person whose elbow can be spied on the right beyond the iron railing. I have six photographs of these gentlemen, some taken at different times. Once I even tried going to the other side of the railing but was shoo-ed away by the watchman -- no photography allowed. Mumbai streets and pavements at the best of times are crowded and cramped. Improvisation and ingenuity. Perhaps, Nabarun, I was not smart or quick enough. I learn. ;>)

In Hebrew the word "Chai" means "Life". Written חי

By our custom we would raise the half full glass of tea and say "to life" :-) But with vodka it is better.

what strikes me most about this scene is its sincerity and humility, the two men doing their run-of-the-mill jobs are our main protagonists and it looks like the photographer's focus was totally on them, there are no tricks here to astonish the viewer, it is 'just' a simple slice of daily life with ordinary men doing ordinary things. Whether or not the moment could be more 'decisive' is an open question but here, the thing that attracts my attention is the line that connects the head of the man on the left, his right arm and the pan in his hand, then goes up to the kettle and goes along the left arm of the man on the right and his head. As there are quite a lot of components within the frame, it leads my eyes across the picture and makes viewing it easy. Nice street photo Rajat, my best regards -wm

Thank you Wieslaw, for your incisive critique. The composition just happened, A lucky happenstance.

 

Good "eyenology"!

Perhaps in Mumbai they should get smaller glasses, then they wouldn't have this "cutting" problem.

ah! there's a very good reason! you hold the glass near its rim and sip/slurp your tea with satisfying audio effect -- where u put your fingers its less hot as the level of the cutting is below that

There is a particular Tibetan who comes into my office from time to time and sips his tea very noisily like that. It is very irritating, but he seems to be enjoying it so much, I tolerate it.

Best regards(Bobby).