Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Theyyams of Malabar: Rosemary Sheel

Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
After the ritual, this Theyyam is no longer inhabited
by the goddess. Pullikunnu, Kerala

The Theyyam of Malabar Photo Expedition was joined by a number of talented full-time and part time photographers, whose primary objective was to photograph the Theyyam religious rituals as well as the Kathakali dance-drama, both indigenous to Kerala.

This is the third of a series of posts which showcase some of the work of the photographers who joined the expedition. The third post features four photographs by Rosemary Sheel, a travel photographer based on the West Coast. Rosemary is a peripatetic globetrotter, who traveled to Tibet, Turkey, Mali, Morocco, China, Laos, Cambodia Egypt and India, and she regaled us with stories of her adventures. She used a Nikon D300 with 28-105 Tamron (f 2.8) and a D200 with a 12-24 Tokina (f 4).

Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
A somnolent Theyyam has his face painted in traditional patterns, Pullikunnu, Kasaragode, North Kerala

Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
Part of the Theyyam ceremony involves the Theyyam
circumnavigating the temple. Pullikunnu, Kerala.

Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
Layers of orange silk cover starched muslin underskirts
for a bouffant look necessary for a Kathakali performance.
Thrissur, Kerala

Smithsonian 6th Annual Photo Contest

Photo ©Wahid Adnan-All Rights Reserved

The Smithsonian Magazine selected the finalists from their 6th Annual Photo Contest. There are ten for each of the five categories; People, Americana, Altered Imnages, Natural World and Travel. From these 50, five category winners and a grand prize winner will be chosen.

Viewers can determine the winners by voting for their choice. The winning entries, including the chosen winner, will be published in the print edition of Smithsonian magazine during summer 2009.

My choice is the above photograph by Wahid Adnan of Chittagong in Bangladesh. Not to take away anything from Wahid, but G M B Akash won first place in the 2007 Gordon Parks International Photo Competition with a similar photograph of a young girl riding a train in Bangaldesh.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Theyyams of Malabar: Alia Refaat

Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
Final makeup touches on a Theyyam, Thrikannad Temple, North Kerala

The Theyyam of Malabar Photo Expedition was joined by a number of talented full-time and part time photographers, whose primary objective was to photograph the Theyyam religious rituals as well as the Kathakali dance-drama, both indigenous to Kerala.

This is the second of a series of posts which showcase some of the work of the photographers who joined the expedition. The second post features four photographs by Alia (Coucla) Refaat, a commercial photographer from Cairo, Egypt. Alia studied Mass Communications, and trained at Spéos Paris in commercial, portrait and studio photography. She used a Canon 5D Mark II and a 24-70mm 2.8 on most of her photo shoots during the expedition. It is Alia's first travel photography expedition, and she plans a series of exhibitions in Cairo of her photographs.

Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
A Theyyam ensconced in his costume, Pullikunnu, Kasaragode, North Kerala


Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
A Kathakali performer carefully applying his makeup, Thrissur, Kerala


Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
A Kathakali performer being assisted in his costume, Thrissur, Kerala