Close Up

Beggar Lady
Originally uploaded by Kees & Sarah

I am not a good photographer, but sometimes I manage to take a photo I really like. This is one of them.
We were in Yushu town and went to visit the 'mani' field. A 'mani' is best described as a 'prayer' stone, a stone with one or more Tibetan letters or words on it, that is being placed on a large pile in order to gain merit (see here for an example of such a pile). Anyway, while we there this lady came up to us and asked us for money, I have to give her that she was a very persistent beggar, she pestered us for several minutes without giving up. Then I suddenly realised that my camera, which was hanging around my neck was pointing right at her and as my hand was on my camera I could press the shutter without her noticing it. So this was the result, a close up, made without even looking at the viewfinder.
I think this is one of my favourite photos. I tend to like photos of faces anyway, but in this case her face is so weathered, so full of experience. I think it really could tell a story, I just wish I had the language to ask her and to understand the answer. I think it would have given me an insight in life on the plateau, that will take me years to gather any other way.