Vinaya Mathews, PPSA, SPSA
October 2026 - Multinational Massage
About the Image(s)
This image was captured in Varanasi, with the permission of both men involved in the massage. In fact, at the request, I later sent the digital photograph to the man receiving the massage.
Seeing someone getting a massage in a crowded public place like Varanasi felt unusual and a little awkward to me. The unexpectedness of the scene caught my attention, and I decided to capture the moment. I opted for a low angle to cover typical Varanasi temples at b/g.
Exif : f7.5, 1/1000, ISO 500 Canon 6D with 24-105 lens
8 comments posted
Without first reading your description, just looking at the picture, I got the impression that it was one person tending to an injury of another. The emotional impact of that would be tenderness and compassion. But then I read your description that seems to preclude that interpretation. I suppose it still qualifies the image as HI. The image itself, has good depth of field as your blurring of the background focus interest on the subjects. I'm a fan of compensation and I think that you could have made the colors bolder by compensating at -.3. Posted: 10/04/2026 19:16:37
Ok. I will think of it. Thank u v much Posted: 10/06/2026 04:25:54
Vinaya, I fully agree with you that it looks awkward for someone to receive a massage in a very crowded and public venue. The stretcher bed is made out of wood only, and has no cushioning. Interesting background with the temples which adds interest to the image. The masseur looks very involved in his action, and the man on the stretcher seems to be enjoying the massage. Posted: 10/05/2026 11:49:56
Yes, you are absolutely right. He was enjoying the massage and was quite comfortable being photographed. He even gave me his contact details and requested that I send him the photographs. Of course, I was happy to honor his request. Posted: 10/06/2026 04:21:31
Vinaya the fact that you took that picture from a bench or a floor makes it more interesting, I can't imaging what the masseur could convinced anyone to relax under that environment but he did. I like the scale of the men in comparison to the building and the rest of the people, the angle was perfect... I also like the light the masseur is getting from the left, the reflection in the arm of the man getting a massage is perfect as it brings "light" into the image and points out the concentration the masseur has while doing the massage... Posted: 10/05/2026 15:32:28
Thanks a lot, Grisell, for ur analysis & good words Posted: 10/06/2026 04:23:22
I think this is an interesting image because it is quite unusual to probably most of us! Like Alan, my first thought was that the man getting the massage was instead receiving help in some kind of medical emergency. Since manipulating an arm doesn't make "massage" spring to my mind and the man's face is so neutral and doesn't convey pleasure or enjoyment to me, I feel the storytelling is a little weak. Posted: 10/05/2026 18:15:40
Ok. Thank you Posted: 10/06/2026 04:24:35