Dood’s Photo of the Day

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 25th Sept’08

How many of us would be willing to even step out of our house if we experience something even close to what this man in the image above is experiencing? Not able to see the world through his eyes, he is sitting on the pavement playing the instrument continuously without any signs of tiredness.

I was amazed by his attitude and the vivid expressions on his face. Life is tough but people like him seem to be tougher. Each time I feel let down by my circumstances, I remember him & immediately the heaviness seems to fade away. I learnt a lesson from him - nothing is tough if you really want to do it.

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Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 27th Aug’08

Popeye used to be my favorite cartoon till 3 years back [that was when I started working ]. I used to love the starting music and used to sing along whenever it was shown on Cartoon Network.

I was immediately reminded of Popeye when I saw this naval guard at the Naval Museum in Veracruz. After being declined to take a pic by many security guards previously, I wasn’t sure whether he would would allow me to take a shot. But once asked he was in this definitive pose at immediately and I took some nice shots

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Click here to see one of Popeye’s cartoon episodes

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 26th Aug’08

Seldom have I seen a face so distinctly etched with emotions. I was sitting in a cafe having some snacks when I saw this lady who was trying to persuade some tourists into buying the stuff she had. It was clearly visible how tired she was of doing what she had to. I could see the pain in her eyes and sadness on her face.

Not much to write about it. The picture says it all.

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Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 20th Aug’08

I don’t know for what this lady was waiting, holding the umbrella in her hand and sitting on a rock with a straight face, but I certainly knew that she was going to give me a nice portrait. Since she was sitting at a deserted place, it was tough to click her without letting her know. So, I started pointed my camera here and there & took some shots in between. Though I tired to be smart, I think she came to know what I was up to.

BTW, the dress she is wearing is the traditional dress from that part of Puebla. Almost all the ladies in the town seemed to wear the same dress; young and old alike.

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Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 11th Aug’08

Everyone expects their share of a peaceful rest after a long tiring journey. But for some the struggle of the journey never ends. They have to toil hard even when the end is near. They just don’t have the option to relax even when they know that this may be the last phase of their struggle with life. Because even if its some handful of moments left, they have to fight to survive through them. They cant stop, they just have to move on - for the sake of living.

I saw this old man on one of the pavements in downtown Mexico City. When I first saw him, his fingers were striking against the chords of his guitar just to make some sound. As I got nearer to him, his movements became slower. By the time I clicked the photo & went near to him to put a coin in his bowl, we was already sleeping. He looked so tired and stressed. Even the sound of the coin striking against the bowl didn’t wake him.

Just observe closely the things kept around him & you will realize how hard he has to struggle just to survive yet another day. I thank him to provide such a meaningful image to my blog and to teach me a lesson or two about life.

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Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 29th June’08

This dummy shop apparently run by an African, was set up in the middle of one of the sections in Africam Safari at Puebla. There were fruits, vegetables and many other things neatly arranged in various cartons.

The dark guy, most probably the shopkeeper, didn’t look too much interested in the business though

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Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 25th June’08

Its really amazing how a photographer looks while taking a picture. He becomes completely oblivious of his surroundings and all he has in his mind is the scene he is concentrating on. We usually find them in awkward positions; sometimes half bent, sometimes leaning backwards, sometimes almost lying flat on the ground Thats the magic photography does on serious pursuers.

I knew what the lady is aiming at, but I am still not sure what the guy sitting below is up to

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Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 20th June’08

Talent they say can be found hidden anywhere. It doesnt need big concert halls, nor does it needs widespread appreciation. All it needs is a small world of itself where it can flourish and fly with it’s wings spread wide.

This man whom I found with his guitar sitting in the mid of the road was a perfect example of lost-in-his-own-little-world syndrome. He wasn’t sitting there for alms. Neither did he care if anyone was listening to him. All he cared was about him and his passion towards his music. When asked for a photo, he was all ready with a strange “pacified” look on his face.

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Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 28th May’08

We sometime get so lost in our own little circle of comfort that we start taking things for granted. We don’t even realize that some things which come so naturally for us are luxury for many people. The reality strikes (that too occasionally) when we see people surviving in much worse conditions. All they have is a temporary shed on their heads, small hungry mouths to feed and a really tough life to live.

If you see the photo carefully, you will realize many realities of life.

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Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 19th May’08

I was passing by a nearby park when I noticed this old man sitting on a bench. He seemed so dejected and lost in his own world that it hardly looked as if he is interested in doing some business. It looked more like an obligation for him to sit there and try to sell what he had. He somehow induced a sense of sorrow in my heart and I couldn’t help myself from just staring at him.

As I have highlighted more than once before, people really have tough lives and they don’t seem to have any other choice than to just sail with the wind.

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