Photographing the Spirit

Many photographers speak of the barriers faced when shooting portraits of tribal people.

The subjects are sometimes reluctant as they believe that there is some of their spirit being captured and stolen in the process.

It is an interesting idea isn’t it?

In the same way, I find old silk shawls from Hazara / Swat / Punjab playing the same games. They hide their beauty from the camera and do not cooperate when I try to capture their gloss – maybe they too are avoiding the theft of their souls!

Here are a few examples of my failed attempts at capturing the spirit of the highly glossy silk!

!!!

Any suggestions?

These amazing pieces are from the Abbotabad / Mansera region and more pictures may be seen on WOVENSOULS.com in the Swat / Hazara / Kohistan Gallery.

jm

March 2015