Vinaya Mathews, PPSA
September 2025 - Theyyam Festival
About the Image(s)
Theyyam is a famous festival of Kerala, a southern state of India. In this image, a masked performer dances to the rhythm of drums. For me, the captured action, the depth created by the viewers in the background, and the shadows of the drummers made my image.
Exif : 1/800, f8, ISO 1000 Canon R6, 24-105 lens
8 comments posted
Folk Festivals are always a good subject for PTD. At first I thought that you should have centered the dancers more towards the middle, but on further consideration, that would have reduced the impact of the drummers. The image is well-exposed and as always, your colors are vibrant. I am wondering if this could also be a good subject for PJD? Posted: 09/05/2025 10:17:49
Thank you, Alan for the analysis & appreciation. Drummers is very important aspects of this festival as all activities go on happening on the tune of drums. So this composition of covering them & their shadows was in my mind while capturing the frame. I took so many photos to get this one almost matching with my vision. some times drummers will go out of frame, some times the dancer will turn & show his back, in some frames sticks have covered the faces of drummers...etc
these festivals are valid subjects of PJD too
Posted: 09/07/2025 03:41:29
these festivals are valid subjects of PJD too
Posted: 09/07/2025 03:41:29
Excellent image. Great composition, with the row of drummers on the left leading the eye to the dancer. Great lighting from the left. Everything sharp. If I were to judge this image in an exhibition I would score it for an award. From a cultural perspective, this is also a very important type of photograph. These ceremonies are still not easy to photograph, especially by Westerners. My wife and I booked a trip to Kerala several years ago that was supposed to include several Theyyams. However, the dates for these ceremonies do not get announced much in advance, so although we saw two smaller ones, that part of the trip was disappointing. Posted: 09/06/2025 16:38:51
Oooh O, sad to know. Coming all the way to kerala & not getting such interesting fests is truly disappointing. Yes, all these are village / rural activities, fully dependant on their faiths & tradition. It is absolutely not organised sector. So getting them to shoot is v difficult. Even it took 3 yrs for me to get it.
Capturing any festival is a bit difficult, always but this one is more as the performers keep moving with speed. To match with their speed is very difficult.
Thank you for all your good words Posted: 09/07/2025 03:47:24
Capturing any festival is a bit difficult, always but this one is more as the performers keep moving with speed. To match with their speed is very difficult.
Thank you for all your good words Posted: 09/07/2025 03:47:24
Vinaya, not much else to say. Great composition, very sharp, leading lines, great action, bright colors, good light. Agree with Tom that should be awarded. Posted: 09/11/2025 08:36:04
Thank you Isaac, thanks a lot Posted: 09/11/2025 23:57:53
(Group 1)
As soon as I looked at this image, I thought wow, that line of drummers makes not only a foreground object but a strong leading line bringing us to the main center of interest, the dancers. An excellent PT image Posted: 09/11/2025 14:20:30
Thanks a lot Stan Posted: 09/11/2025 23:58:22