# Saffron Sadhus Portraits These Piercing Images of Holy Men Will Leave You Mesmerized By Farida Helmy | Published 2014-07-31 | Updated 2014-08-10 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/images-of-holy-men References: [featureshoot](http://www.featureshoot.com/2014/07/the-piercing-stares-of-holy-men-in-pushkar-india/) & [offset](http://www.offset.com/artist/Brian%20Hodges?utm_source=featureshoot&utm_medium=brandedcontent&utm_content=073114&utm_campaign=) These candid images of holy men in Pushkar, India were taken by award-winning [travel, portrait and landscape photographer](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/all-within-the-detour) 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/still-life-1) 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. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 37% | Activity: 9% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **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. - **Piercing-gaze Portraiture:** Photographing subjects with a focus on their piercing and thoughtful gazes presents opportunities for innovation in the art and therapy industries. - **Enlightenment Tourism:** Tourism that promotes spiritual enlightenment and offers transformative experiences could disrupt the travel and wellness industries. ### Who This Affects Most - **Fashion:** Blank-backdrop photography could revolutionize how fashion items are advertised and showcased. - **Advertising:** Employing blank-backdrop photography techniques in advertising could increase focus on products and their features. - **Wellness:** Developing tourism opportunities that focus on spiritual growth and enlightenment could disrupt the wellness industry and offer new transformative experiences to travelers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Personal Nostalgic Photo Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holy-ohio.md) - [Travel-Inspired Canvas Paintings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-passport-series.md) - [Blurry Abstract Photography Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/optical-allusion.md) - [Public Art Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-anthony-smith.md) - [Temple-Inspired Striking Galleries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/abin-design-studio.md) - [Striking Glass Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glass-portraits.md) - [Stunning Origami Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/origami-portaits.md) - [Otherwordly Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-monk.md) - [Intricate Interlocked Wall Structures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/raj-sabhagruh.md)