Ganges River at sunrise

[Manfred M]

We spent 2 months backpacking through South Asia this time last year. I posted images as I went and have started to revisit some of my shots taken on that trip.

We visited the Ganges River at the holy city of Varanasi at daybreak and this is one of the images I took from the river bank of some of the boats on the river. The B&W conversion helps because the scene at daybreak was quite monochrome to begin with and it hides some of the garbage in the scene as well.

[Donald]

Wonderful image. Great composition. Very well finished and presented. The far riverbank and the land beyond being so high in the frame, give a real sense depth, distance and scale.

[Mike Buckley]

+10 to Donald's post. I love the haze (or is it fog?) in the distance. It adds a hint of drama to the scene.

[Shadowman]

Nice composition.

[Rita]

I love this image. Now, how to explain what I like about it. I like the contrast of the sharpness of the boats and the haze in the background. The gentleman sitting in the boat on his own makes me wonder if he is waiting for someone, is he just glad to have some time alone, is he happy, is he depressed?

[Mike Buckley]

makes me wonder if he is waiting for someone, is he just glad to have some time alone, is he happy, is he depressed?

You nailed it on the first option. He was waiting for Manfred to show up to take his picture.

[Manfred M]

I love the haze (or is it fog?) in the distance.

Definitely haze, after all; this is India.

[ST1]

Wonderful image which your conversion and rationale for doing so has produced this well crafted image. The person in the boat just adds interest and a sense of scale.
Well done Manfred

[bnnrcn]

Great image

[IzzieK]

+1 to Donald's comment. I cannot add anymore to that...

[Ndukes]

Really nice, Manfred. I especially like the way you have caught the man contrasted against the background. All of this hangs together really well as an excellent monochrome.

[Rider in the Sky]

Hi Manfred,

Truly magnificent image. I guess can't add much more to all their C&C.

While it's true you took this at sunrise, without your title, may be difficult for the viewer to place the time of day.

[Manfred M]

While it's true you took this at sunrise, without your title, may be difficult for the viewer to place the time of day.

Without having been there, I would not have been able to say it was sunrise either. The haze was so thick we did not see any sign of the sun at all. This is apparently all to common; haze from all the fires in the area result in this type of problem.

We had the same issue at the Taj Mahal - thick haze at sunrise there too. Not something a photographer is all that happy about....