In this archive story we are portraying an Indian woman near the City Palace Rd in Udaipur in India.
Read the background story of this archive photo by the photographer.
Eyes are the most important element of any portrait because they represent the soul of the person. This is exactly why you should always focus on the eyes, even if the portrait is a wide-angle one or the composition is uncommon. And though portrait photography is definitely a kind of art in itself, actually it is not that difficult to make a good portrait photograph and as a travel photographer in India equipment is not everything.
Eyes are the most important element of any portrait because they represent the soul of the person. This is exactly why you should always focus on the eyes, even if the portrait is a wide-angle one or the composition is uncommon. And though portrait photography is definitely a kind of art in itself, actually it is not that difficult to make a good portrait photograph and as a travel photographer in India equipment is not everything.
Kristian Bertel, Photographer By Kristian Bertel, Photographer
– Updated on February 29, 2024

City Palace Rd portraiture

The Indian woman in this story was portrayed in the city of Udaipur. With its picturesque landscape, lakes and historic palaces and architecture, Udaipur is a major destination for most tourists, both domestic and foreign nationals visiting the state. Udaipur has received a rich cultural heritage from the bygone ages. The lakes, temples, huge forts and palaces boast about the rich legacy of this city.




What is the City Palace in Udaipur?

The City Palace in Udaipur is a palace complex situated in the city of Udaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was built over a period of nearly 400 years, with contributions from several rulers of the Mewar dynasty.


City portraits in India
When photographing in Udaipur one can sense that the city has kept a balance between preserving the rituals and traditions of the past while keeping up with the modern advancements and changes in lifestyle. Like any other place in the state of Rajasthan, folk dance and music have an important place in adding to the city's cultural richness. The dynamic and vibrant dances of 'Bhavai', 'Ghoomar', 'Kachchhi Ghodi', 'Kalbeliya' and 'Terahtaali' add a sparkle to the rich cultural heritage of Udaipur. Udaipur with its lakes lies on the south slope of the Aravalli Range in Rajasthan. The Northern part of the district consists generally of elevated plateaus, while the eastern part has vast stretches of fertile plains. The southern part is covered with rocks, hills and dense forest.

Udaipur, the city of lakes
The lakes of the city being interconnected form a lake system which supports and sustains the ground water recharge, water availability for drinking, agriculture, industries and is a source of employment through tourism. The lake system has three main lakes in its upper catchment area, 6 lakes within its municipal boundary and one lake in the downstream. The Udaipur lake system, arising out of the Berach River, also known as the 'Banas Basin' and its tributaries, is an integral component of the upper 'Berach Basin'. The upper Berach basin is a part of the Gangetic river system, wherein the river Berach River meets the Ganges River through the rivers Banas, Chambal and Yamuna.

In 1568, the Mughal emperor Akbar captured Chittorgarh and Udai Singh was forced to flee and establish the city of Udaipur. Udaipur remained the capital of the state of Mewar, which became a princely state of British India in 1818.

After India's independence in 1947, Mewar was integrated into the state of Rajasthan. The city palace, where the above portrait was taken near by, is a building of small and big palaces, museums and gardens encompassing a rich blend of Rajasthani, Mughal, Medieval, European and Chinese architecture. One of the most beautiful palatial structures in Rajasthan. Originally built by Maharana Uday Singh II, it rises 30 meters above Lake Pichola and extends up to 244 meters. The palace complex has been built entirely in granite and marble and the interior with its balconies, towers and cupolas exhibits delicate mirror work, marble work, murals, wall paintings, silver work, inlay work and colored glass mosaics.


The magic of Udaipur
As the sun dipped below the Aravalli hills, I realized that Udaipur's magic lay not only in its palaces and temples but also in the faces of its people. Their resilience, their laughter, their wrinkles – they became my visual poetry. In every portrait, I found a piece of Udaipur's soul.




"Photographing portraits in Udaipur was more than freezing moments in time – it was an intimate dance with humanity. The camera became my storyteller and the streets whispered their tales. If you ever find yourself in Udaipur, let its people be your muse – their portraits waiting to unfold and at the city palace provides a fine view of the lake and the city from its upper terraces, where photos can be made by tourists"





See this video about the City Palace in Udaipur made by Rajput Rajasthani.




Tips for good portrait photography
"- Udaipur is a mesmerizing destination in the heart of Rajasthan, India. Its rich history, vibrant culture and picturesque landscapes make it a haven for photographers seeking to capture authentic moments. I had the privilege of immersing myself in this enchanting city, camera in hand, ready to document the soul of Udaipur through its people", the Photographer says.

"-
As the sun painted the narrow streets with warm hues, I wandered through the bustling markets and labyrinthine alleys. Udaipur's streets are a photographer's dream – a kaleidoscope of colors, textures and faces. The locals, adorned in traditional attire, moved gracefully amidst the chaos. Their eyes held stories with of resilience, joy and survival. I set out to capture the essence of Udaipur's people with their wrinkles etched by time, their laughter echoing through ancient courtyards. Each portrait was a delicate dance between subject and lens. I sought permission, engaged in conversations, and listened to their narratives. The camera became a bridge, connecting me to their lives", the Photographer says again.

"- The skills of taking a good photo portrait have often been discussed. Photographers often think that one has to turn into a professional at first to be able to make awesome portraits. Also, they think that a photography studio, full-frame camera, fancy lenses, lighting equipment and a lot of other sophisticated stuff is a must to take a decent portrait photo. Creating bokeh or in other words throwing background out of focus, is crucial to make the portrait breath-taking as it makes the model pop and stand out. Make sure to use lenses with wide aperture 'F/1.8' or 'F/2.8' and with long focal length as well as stand at a long distance from the subject", the Photographer says again.

Read also:  Fishermen of India




Read also:  Fishermen of India

More archive stories

India is a land full of stories. On every street, on every corner and in the many places in India, life is rushing by you as a photographer with millions of stories to be told. In the archive story above, you hopefully had a readable insight in the story that was behind the photo of a portrait of an Indian woman in Udaipur. On this website of Kristian Bertel | Photography you can find numerous travel pictures from the photographer. Stories and moments that tell the travel stories of how the photographer captured the specific scene that you see in the picture. The photographer's images have a story behind them, images that all are taken from around India throughout his photo journeys. The archive stories delve into Kristian's personal archive to reveal never-before-seen, including portraits and landscapes beautifully produced snapshots from various travel assignments. The archive is so-far organized into photo stories, this one included, each brought to life by narrative text and full-color photos. Together, these fascinating stories tell a story about the life in India. India, the motherland to many people around the world, a land of unforgetable travel moments. The archive takes viewers on a spectacular visual journey through some of the most stunning photographs to be found in the photographer's archive collection. The photographer culled the images to reflect the many variations on the universal theme of beauty and everyday life in India. By adding these back stories the photographer's work might immensely enhanced the understanding of the photographs.

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