Photography, Weekly Photo Challenge

WPC: Life on the Edge

Sreejith Nair

 

edge

Last day, a man came to my house offering his service to sharpen the edges of knifes and scissors…

In this age of ‘use and throw culture’, this was something rare and my mother managed to find a few obsolete kitchen tools for him so that he could earn something to pay for a meal.

A few minutes with him was good enough to learn how tough life could be and how privileged we are…

Edge

Published by Sreejith Nair

I am from the south indian state of kerala, and now living in Bangalore. My passion is travelling and photography.

46 thoughts on “WPC: Life on the Edge”

      1. Thanks for the article, Sreejith, I am smiling having read it. I love that his father insisted on wearing a paper bag hat, and that later in life John drove the van to his father’s window. Great story, I thank you.

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    1. Thank you so much, Inger 🙂

      I found it really interesting to talk to local people in villages and learn a little bit about their life during my travels…

      If get a good image connected to the person, I would then be able to tell a story 🙂

      So nice to see that, you liked my images and stories …

      Have a nice day ahead 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  7. Gosh this gave me memories…..
    I can remember this in UK back in the late 50’s when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. (Now that makes me feel old !!! 🙂 )
    Here in Oman I always buy something from the mountain children for the same reason your Mother did.

    David.

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    1. Dear David, It feels great to hear that, the image shared helped you recollect your childhood moments 🙂

      Also, it’s so touching to see how you try to support the mountain children 🙂

      I am really sorry for this late response and hope you are doing great 🙂

      Have a beautiful day 🙂

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  8. What a beautiful shot with a touchy note… In today’s “use and throw” world, these hard working people find it even tougher to earn their livelihood. They wonder throughout the day in search of a single customer. Your picture, worth a thousand words.

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    1. Thank you so much, Sarmistha, for your thoughtful comments 🙂

      It’s always nice to spent a few minutes with them and listen to their stories…

      Sometimes, we might not get a good image, but we might get to hear a very interesting story 🙂

      Have a nice day 🙂

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    1. India is growing fast economically and a huge chunk of it’s population now could afford all the luxury stuff that the developed world enjoys…

      But, if you see the reality, the number of people untouched by this growth is really enormous and the divide between rich and poor is getting wider …

      People like these reminds of real India and the struggle they are going through daily to sustain their lives.

      It’s always great to connect with common people and learn about their life, so that, we really value what we are blessed with 🙂

      Thank you so much for your kind words and have a beautiful day 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you so much for your appreciative words, Amy 🙂

      This is something I really enjoy doing, telling stories 🙂

      It’s always great to connect with people and listen to their stories …

      Have a beautiful day 🙂

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    1. Thank you so much, Arv 🙂

      It’s always nice to talk to people from the rural areas, they are truly genuine and there is so much to learn from their tough life …

      Once you connect with a person, that helps in photography as well 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  12. Fantastic selection for the challenge, and the newspaper article link too.
    The picture took me down memory lane, one could hear the loud shout of the knife sharpener announcing his presence when he would cycle through the colony roads. Fast forward to present and you realize so much as changed, one moves from place to place and leaves behind so many familiar things and new habits get thrust upon and lives get changed at fast pace.
    Suddenly when one comes across these pictures in the Reader your time freezes and you are lost in your own nostalgic memories😊.
    Though a long comment, but had to write what I felt seeing the picture! Ashu

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    1. When someone put the effort and time to read our blog, respond to it and appreciates our work, what more could we ask for 🙂

      I am so happy to see this image could trigger some fond memories of your childhood …

      The beauty of this community is, we could find some wonderful people who shares similar tastes and genuinely appreciates our work, right?

      Thank you so much for your time and your long comment is truly an honour to me, Ashu 🙂

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      1. Yeah, am a big fan of your photographs :).
        And yes Sreejith, this space surely takes one on a voyage, allows to be a part of a big community where one gets to interact with folks with same interests and tastes.
        Photography has a language of its own, a single picture has the power to speak volumes :).

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    1. Ineed, Sidran 🙂

      He is from Andra Pradesh and he has been roaming around Kerala for years, works hard, earns and saves some money and goes back to his home for a few months …

      He does his work perfectly bids farewell saying see you next year 🙂
      and he keeps coming back ….

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  14. Yes, you nailed the theme. I like your photo a lot, Sreejith, and your commentary. We have turned into a dispensable society, a very tragic human condition since we are dispensable as well. What does not work should be thrown away. If you are sick, you are out of work and who cares. Great post!

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    1. You said it, Paula …

      I have seen it happening while working with the IT companies in Bangalore.

      Our way of life is not sustainable now… it’s impact on mother earth is too much and we have started seeing the retaliation from nature…

      My current work is related to develop an alternate, sustainable tourism model in our area, and that gives me lot of satisfaction 🙂

      Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments, it really means a lot to me 🙂

      Have a beautiful day 🙂

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    1. I just wanted to share this story and initiate a discussion, Ken 🙂

      Happy to see that, it invoked childhood memories in many friends here and brought up questions on the ‘use and throw culture’ and ‘dispensable society’ …

      Thank you so much for your time and I am really glad that you liked this post 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  17. When I was 19 years old I had an old neighbor who sharpened blades. He would come asking every month. In exchange he asked me to trim is toe nails. Now we have “foot care” every month at senior citizen centers but in 1972 this was one way to get help. I always found a blade for him to sharpen. This is an excellent photo. I am intrigued with hands, especially hands at work or making art.

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    1. That’s really an interesting story and thank you so much for sharing 🙂

      I am so happy to see how people could relate to this image and hear about their perspective on ‘dispensable society’ and ‘use and throw’ culture…

      Thank you so much for your visit and sharing your appreciative comments 🙂

      Have a nice day 🙂

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  18. I love the photo ~ and even more the spirit of your mother. Yes, there is something great to see those who are working hard, and doing a great job – even when times are so difficult. The simple things are often the most wonderful.

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    1. Thank you so much, Dalo, for your thoughtful comments 🙂

      I totally agree with your views “The simple things are often the most wonderful”…

      Now a days, I try to connect with the individuals before taking photos … learning their stories really gives an idea about where to focus 🙂

      I am closely following you as a role model , Dalo 🙂

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      1. I like the idea of you connecting with the individuals before taking photos. I was just commenting to another photographer about when shooting portraits or scenes of people, where I try to capture something beautiful/spiritual because I want to do them justice for sharing their time/mood/feeling with me and allowing me to take their photograph. 🙂 It would be great to shoot with you some day Sreejith…it will happen, I know it will 🙂

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        1. This is the best compliment I have ever received for my experiments with photography and I promise you, I will work harder to live up to the expectations …

          Thank you so much, Dalo for being an inspiration 🙂

          Like

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