• Mukul Pipalia
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  • Added 01 Jul 2006
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Street Vendor-Kolkata, India

Street Vendor on Park-Circus and Lower Circular road intersection selling a little crystal ball to my sister in the back seat of the cab. It doesn't get that cold in Kolkata by our standards (I live in Chicago). Low fifties is very cold for Kol folks and since average temperatures for 10 months a year are in Upper eighties to upper nineties, It's a severe temperature difference for them and they would bundle up during Dec-Jan. Again if you were a street vendor you literally spend all your time outdoor and would tend to bundle up in terms of clothes. I don't know if he lives well compared to us or not but I know that behind that scorching sun baked, perfectly brown coloured face lie hidden many stories. He has seen a lot and his face tells you that. I was especially amazed at the focus he had. He didn't even as much as cast a fleeting glance at an expensive looking camera that was almost stuck in his face. All he was interested was in taking care of his customer in the back of the cab. Also, I think that the dignified look he has on his face makes me think that he takes pride in his work. What the picture will of course not give you any idea about is all the noise around, the sheer decibel level of streets like that. To maintain one's focus almost meditatively and stay absolutely unruffled by everything else around is what it takes perhaps to be a successful street vendor. Harsh reality you would think, but I would say 'Such is life' in many parts of the world where people live 'differently' (to put it euphemistically).

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Anonymous Guest

Alex Lowry 09 Apr 2007

excellent grab shot well composed great colour

Claudia Huefner 27 Aug 2006

excellent shot!

Pat Merewether 01 Jul 2006

What a great shot! WOnderful memory and love that face!

Jean M. Laffitau 01 Jul 2006

Very good capture Mukul!

Emily Reed 01 Jul 2006

SUPERB PHOTO, JUST GREAT!