Photographer's Note
Barkhor Square in front of the holy Jokhang Temple is where the action is in Lhasa. That's where people of all kinds gather in the evenings to mingle with friends, maybe listen to a street musician, perhaps buy some snacks or just to enjoy being so close to the temple.
Or at least this is how things were in 1986, when I visited Lhasa. But Barkhor Square has also been the place where protests against the Chinese regime have started and been violently put down. Already one year after my visit things got quite bad here. So maybe it's different now. Maybe the authorities have made sure that public gatherings of the kind that used to be seen can no longer take place here. I really don't know, but anything could be expected of the Chinese government to quell any public outbursts of discontent.
But in 1986 Barkhor Square was still a very quiet and relaxed place. I spent several evenings there, watching people and now and then taking photos. Since all of China is in the same time zone, with Beijing in the far east having the "normal" time, the sun doesn't set until late in Tibet.
Today's main photo shows a boy smoking a cigarette after lighting it in one of several large ovens outside the temple, used for burning fragrant herbs and twigs of junipers. The nice smell of the smoke is supposed to cleanse people's mind for spiritual purposes.
Here is a larger version.
One WS shows a very poor boy I saw in the square, another a very, very poor boy. In spite of their obvious poverty they both smiled happily into my camera.
All photos were scanned from Kodachrome slides.
papagolf21, Fis2, alvaraalto, ChrisJ, Cricri, jean113, jhm, ikeharel, clic, Hansaphotos, GyurMaster, COSTANTINO, mcmtanyel, claudeD, pierrefonds, PaulVDV, PaulVDV, adramad, worldcitizen, cornejo έχουν(ει) επιλέξει αυτή τη σημείωση ως χρήσιμη
Critiques | Translate
pajaran
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 11628 W: 2851 N: 22187]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(92178) 2019-03-04 0:34
Dobar dan.
Interesantan pogled i trenutak, dobar tekst ...
Lepo pokazano, dobar kontrast, lepe boje, lepo uhvacen trenutak.
Lepa fotografija i secanje.
Zelim vam i uspesan dan, sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela.
Paja.
Good day.
An interesting view and a moment, good text ...
Beautifully shown, good contrast, beautiful colors, beautifully captured moment.
Nice photo and memory.
I wish you a successful day, all the best in the new week that started.
Silvio1953
(191261) 2019-03-04 0:37
Ciao Gert, lovely composition with beautiful monument and Young boy, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio
papagolf21
(145112) 2019-03-04 0:41
Bonjour, cher Gert,
Ces images d'archives sont prιcieuses, car elles permettent de se replonger dans une ιpoque (qui devient lointaine aujourd'hui).
Les personnages sont bien prιsentιs sans flagornerie.
Merci pour ces partages.
Amitiιs.
Philippe
Fis2
(142685) 2019-03-04 1:02
Witaj Gert!
Curious place, interesting object.
A boy who smokes a cigarette makes an impression.
Good POV, colors and light.
Well done.
Have a good new week.
Krzysztof
alvaraalto
(38660) 2019-03-04 1:03
Hello, Gert,
Three fantastic photos of the youth of Lhasa in 1986. Probably a lot has changed over the years. For example, last week I read that George Orwell's 1984 in China is almost realized and everyone with modern technology is being followed 24/7. And also that the original Tibetan people are diligently diluted with Han Chinese.
The boys probably do not laugh at the camera so happily nowadays.
Excellent work
Have a good week, groet Rob
Tue
(71910) 2019-03-04 1:21
Hej Gert,
Er det rigtigt? Sε ung en dreng som allerede ryger? Det giver i hvert fald et godt indtryk af dagligdagen her. Kompositionen er rigtig god med templet og dets farverige detaljer bag den store sorte ovn.
Lars
Royaldevon
(64334) 2019-03-04 1:33
Hello Gert,
Three different studies of young boys!
I am struck by the similarity of all young boys, happy to pose for the camera, with a mischievous twinkle in their eyes, or secretly grabbing a cigarette end, for a hasty smoke away from the parents! Just like the young boys I knew.
I suspect that things are not the same nowadays. Lots of changes have will have curbed this free spirit!
Have a good day,
Bev :-)
ChrisJ
(152428) 2019-03-04 1:51
Hej Gert,
A good daily life scene of the boy surreptitiously trying a cigarette after lighting it in the incense burner. Excellent colour, sharpness and dof. Tfs!
ifege
(20947) 2019-03-04 1:53
Hi Gert
Interesting but for a change it would have been nice for the background to be in better focus.
cheers
Ian
Cricri
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 16590 W: 159 N: 27]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-s.gif){kind=small}
(176) 2019-03-04 2:01
Hi Gert
Une place de rencontre, bien sympathique ou les personnes peuvent se retrouver.
Ce gamin est bien jeune pour fumer ! deux beaux portraits d'enfants en WS
Amitiιs
cricri
Nicou
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 15526 W: 0 N: 16878]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(188486) 2019-03-04 3:23
Hello
Quelle iamge encore sueprbe cet enfant posι sur la tablette du four quei fume il se rιchauffet quelle forme ce four comme un ogie et la fumιe quei sort quel socle de pierre e tiamge fantastique vue.
Bravo et amitiι
Nicou
BennyV
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2807 W: 35 N: 5704]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(30420) 2019-03-04 4:05
Little smoker...a powerful image of times gone by (?) or are they...?
Another great one from the back catalogue, Gert.
Benny
jean113
(16099) 2019-03-04 4:13
Hello Gert, a very interesting observation, with the oven dominating the scene. I am amused by the boy having a sneaky smoke, probably imagining that no-one can see him!
The people, especially the two boys in the W/shop shots, appear to be very poor. I wonder if things have improved for this part of China?
Interesting notes that give us food for thought.
Regards Jean.
jhm
(191377) 2019-03-04 4:23
Hello Gert,
A very remarcable picture with the boy in foreground with a sigaret.
The nice smell of the smoke is supposed to cleanse people's mind for spiritual purposes, but I don't know with a sigaret.
This real your picture make everything nice
Perfect scanned and nice realistic colours.
Nice with the light blur background.
An excellent composition and lovely presentation.
Very well done, TFS.
Have nice Monday,
John.
jmdias
(91967) 2019-03-04 5:58
gert
the younger guy I saw smoking was a boy of this same age, and he is smoking yet. a amazing flagrant of the daily life, the architecture, the habits of the children, etc.. the other two portraits are fabulous and the smile of them shines despite the poverty so evident. TFS these images.
take care
jorge
Sergiom
(115636) 2019-03-04 5:59
Bonjour Gert,
Une trθs belle scθne de la vie quotidienne dans cette partie du monde. Dire qu'elle est restιe aussi longtemps dans tes archives. Un sourire provoquι par le petit garcon qui fume en cachette.
Amicalement
Serge
clic
(22826) 2019-03-04 7:26
Hallo Gert What an hilarious poster! This little 'full of mischief' and self-reliant kid seems to hide himself from the people at backdrop for a shameful experiment! Very interesting view and note related to this fragrance device set in town. The overall depiction of the mid-eighties doesn't look its age though, given the interest of the main subject and the many architectural details seen behind the oven.
Hjartliga halsningar
rychem
(68021) 2019-03-04 8:14
An unusual tradition of such a oven in a public square, interesting whether it still works there, but we do not hear much about the Chinese countries and cities in the world media
regards Ryszard
mesutilgim
(115458) 2019-03-04 9:19
Hello Gert,
Another perfect "oldie" in your gallery. Very good pov and sharpness. Again very good qualifications of analogue photography.
Also this boy must be nowadays around his forties.Many interesting and usefull notes.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM
Hansaphotos
(10829) 2019-03-04 10:46
Hei Gert
Tre utrolig flotte bilder som fψrer tankene til den norske fotografen Εge Fermann. Han utgav i 1962 en billedbok om Bergen med tittel "Kjusa oss", et bergensk uttrykk som betyr heldige oss. Der finnes blant annet en del strεlende portretter. Det er bare ε bψye seg i stψvet - dette er veldig bra! Veldig godt observert og utmerket utfψrt:) Takk.
Hilsen Erling
GyurMaster
(16650) 2019-03-04 11:37
Dear Gert,
Maybe lot of things have changed ever since, but I guess boys are still lighting their cigarettes at the ovens. The two WS photos would sell as a main upload too, but this one is better with showing a bit more of the environment and tells a story better than the others.
Best Wishes,
Gy
Ilonka1974
(5447) 2019-03-04 13:31
Hi Gert,
Wonderful photo of daily life from Tibet.
Great capture little boy smoking a cigarette .
I like this photo.
Best regards
Janusz
lousat
(121037) 2019-03-04 14:49
Hi Gert,in effect it seems a peaceful place in these days,but a piece of protest history were wrote there as i can read in your note. A post dedicated to the poor childs,caught in the act to smoke the first,while the others posing for your smiling in a lovely way,well done! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano
COSTANTINO
(93441) 2019-03-04 22:43
hello dear Gert and have a nice time
and a happy new day
a different world presented from you
all your notes are really useful
I like the photo showing a boy smoking a cigarette
after lighting it in one of several large ovens
outsede the temple
regards
Costantino
ikeharel
(98834) 2019-03-05 7:58
Hello Gert, thanks for your nice critique today.
Hope this young boy grew to be a non-smoking person, that's what strike right when opened the thumbnail.
Quite an amazing daily-life capture.
Good afternoon,
Ike
emka
(139218) 2019-03-05 14:27
Hello Gert, a nice scene with this small boy smoking a cigarette but of course, I do not approve smoking. The boys on all the pictures look very poor. I think I haven't seen such poor people twenty years later. I tried to look in Google map how it looks like now but I can't recognize anything. It must have changed a lot, with many new hotels and restaurants. Kind regards MAlgo
mcmtanyel
(54589) 2019-03-05 21:04
Hello Gert,
Now, isn't he too young to be smoking? Actually, one is never old enough to smoke. I love the blurry backgrounds of the WS photos.
Regards,
MT
claudeD
(47754) 2019-03-06 9:04
Hello Gert,
very fine daily life scenery from Lhasa. Excellent informative note. I like your contribution to TE here very much.TFS.
With regards from Luxembourg
JC
pierrefonds
(93579) 2019-03-06 13:21
Hi Gert,
You have captured well the action of the boy smoking a cigarette. The point of view is showing the details of the oven and of the temple. The light has a good effect on the colours. Have a nice day.
Pierre
PaulVDV
(49024) 2019-03-07 12:56
Hello Gert,
Smiling faces in the WS. Spontaneous joy when seeing a photographing foreigner.
A beautiful spontaneous picture of the smoking boy on the main picture. Possibly this boy would have been less happy if he knew that he was being photographed in this situation.
We also catch a glimpse of the beautiful architecture.
Also from Xinjiang I remember the long evenings with many people in the street until after midnight and the mornings where life started very slowly because of the Beijing hour that was also applied in the far west of the country.
Best regards, Paul
carlo62
(81029) 2019-03-07 14:33
Ciao Gert
la scena θ anche divertente, anche se sembra strano vedere un bambino in questo luogo con una sigaretta in bocca.
Mi piace la tua osservazione sui bambini poveri che sorridono, ho sempre pensato che la felicitΰ e la ricchezza non corrano in parallelo....
Saluti
Carlo
adramad
(62704) 2019-03-08 11:21
Hello Gert.
A little seen and original image, at least here in the West, curious this kind of offerings furnace that for its blackness, it seems that the offerings burn inside it but also outside, from very small the child begins the consumption of cigarettes.
Good colors in soft tones, excellent sharpness and splendid light.
Very well done. I like very much.
You have a good day.
Very best regards.
Luis.
worldcitizen
(12760) 2019-03-12 17:09
Hello Gert,
I like all three photos that you present with this post, although I'm a bit surprised to see such a young boy smoking in the main photo. The two boys who look considerably poorer have such heartwarming smiles. I enjoyed all three views.
cornejo
(61182) 2019-03-16 13:21
Hello Gert, very good picture of this interesting scene of everyday life, very well captured in this interesting image, with good sharpness, light, color and quality. A great job perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this interesting work.
Good night and happy Sunday.
All the best from the south of Spain.
Angel.
Miguel82
(35896) 2019-04-06 3:31
Gert, that daily life scene shows a little boy smoking next to a big oven used to burn fragrant herbs. He is using the embers to light his cigarette. Magnificent architecture seen in the bg made of decorated wooden windows. Good sharpness
kasianowak
(14027) 2019-04-07 7:18
Hi Gert
A great place for this boy to be, for multiple reasons: not only he found a source of fire to light a cigarette but also, probably, a hiding place so his parents can't see what he's up to... It must also be a warm place and I don't know what the weather if Lhasa is like in September but, it being really high altitude, I bet it's not hot.
Two wonderful portraits complement the main image so well.
China has a long tradition of supressing popular discontent. Public gatherings were outlawed already in the times of the emperors. From the Great Wall of China to the Great Firewall of China...
Best wishes
Kasia
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Gert Holmertz (holmertz)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 9713 W: 511 N: 18837]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(83352) - Genre: Άνθρωποι
- Medium: Έγχρωμο
- Date Taken: 1986-09-00
- Categories: Καθημερινότητα, Αρχιτεκτονική
- Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2019-03-04 0:30
Discussions
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by holmertz, last updated 2019-03-04 02:06
