These candid images of holy men in Pushkar, India were taken by award-winning travel, portrait and landscape photographer Brian Hodges. Having traveled to over 50 countries to capture landscapes and faces, Hodges genuinely tries to photograph things that move him the and people he feels a connection with -- which is how he started taking images of sadhus or holy men in a Hindu pilgrimage site -- sadhus let go of earthly goods and luxury to find enlightenment.
What makes this photo series so captivating is that Hodges photographs his subjects with a blank backdrop so that any cultural or geographical barriers are removed and all that remains are the mesmerizing colors of holy men's saffron robes and their piercing and thoughtful gazes.
Saffron Sadhus Portraits
These Piercing Images of Holy Men Will Leave You Mesmerized
Trend Themes
1. Blank-backdrop Photography - Using a blank backdrop in photography to remove cultural and geographical barriers and bring focus onto the subject has potential for disruption in the fashion and advertising industries.
2. Piercing-gaze Portraiture - Photographing subjects with a focus on their piercing and thoughtful gazes presents opportunities for innovation in the art and therapy industries.
3. Enlightenment Tourism - Tourism that promotes spiritual enlightenment and offers transformative experiences could disrupt the travel and wellness industries.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Blank-backdrop photography could revolutionize how fashion items are advertised and showcased.
2. Advertising - Employing blank-backdrop photography techniques in advertising could increase focus on products and their features.
3. Wellness - Developing tourism opportunities that focus on spiritual growth and enlightenment could disrupt the wellness industry and offer new transformative experiences to travelers.