25 March 2016

Portraying Malaysia's Ethnic Mélange

Malaysia is an interesting multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. While Muslim Malays make up a 50% ethnoreligious majority, there are also c. 25% Malaysian Chinese, c. 15% Indigenous aka Orang Asal (e.g. Dayak, Orang Ulu, Kadazan-Dusun, Orang Asli), c. 5% Malaysian Indians and a miscellaneous group of c. 5% Others (e.g. Eurasians). There is hence also a profusion of faiths and religions, with Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism and even Shamanism on the map.

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; nightshot; flash; world; cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; female; adult; ethnic; traditional; human; face; eyes; eye contact; front view; en face; photography; portrait; portraiture; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; colourful; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal; smiling; posed; incredible; beautiful; adorable; Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; Borneo; Sarawak; Kuching; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; Malaysian Dayak woman; Kenyah woman; Kenyah headgear; Dayak headgear; red lips; tribal costume; beauty; teeth; festival; consent

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world; cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; female; adult; makeup; ethnic; traditional; human; face; eyes; eye contact; front view; en face; photography; portrait; portraiture; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; colourful; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal; smiling; posed; incredible; beautiful; adorable; Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; Borneo; Sarawak; Kuching; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; Malaysian Dayak woman; Bidayuh woman; Bidayuh hat; tribal costume; beauty; teeth; festival; consent

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; closeup; street portrait; headshot; indoor; flash; world; cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; male; adult; ethnic; traditional; human; face; eyes; eye contact; front view; en face; photography; portrait; portraiture; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; colourful; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal; smiling; posed; handsome; Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; Borneo; Sarawak; Kuching; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; Malaysian Dayak man; Iban man; tribal shirt; teeth; holed earlobes; stretched earlobes; holes in earlobes; ear plugs; consent

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; closeup; street portrait; headshot; indoor; flash; world; cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; female; adult; ethnic; traditional; human; face; eyes; eye contact; front view; en face; photography; portrait; portraiture; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; colourful; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal; smiling; posed; beautiful; Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; Borneo; Sabah; Kota Kinabalu; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; Malaysian Malay woman; non-hijabi Muslima; beauty; cap; consent

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world; cultures; cultural; character; people; adult; ethnic; local; human; face; eyes; eye contact; front view; en face; photography; portrait; portraiture; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; colourful; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal; smiling; posed; incredible; Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; one person; Langkawi; Kuah; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; beautiful; Malay woman; beauty; adorable; beautiful eyes; traditional; Malay bride; blue hijab; blue wedding dress; female; henna tattoo; hands; bridal henna; henna hands; mehndi; happy; makeup; bridal headpiece; teeth; Malay wedding

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world; cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; female; adult; ethnic; traditional; human; face; eyes; eye contact; front view; en face; photography; portrait; portraiture; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; colourful; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal; smiling; posed; incredible; beautiful; adorable; Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; Penang; Georgetown; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; Malaysian Chinese woman; young Chinese woman; beauty; teeth; festival; Chinese New Year; Chinese dress; red; consent

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world; cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; male; adult; ethnic; traditional; human; face; eyes; eye contact; front view; en face; photography; portrait; portraiture; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; colourful; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal; smiling; posed; handsome; red; Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; Penang; Georgetown; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; Malaysian Chinese man; teeth; festival; Chinese New Year; sunglasses; salesman; consent

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; closeup; street portrait; headshot; indoor; flash; built-in flash; world; cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; female; adult; human; face; eyes; eye contact; front view; en face; photography; portrait; portraiture; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; colourful; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal; teeth; smiling; posed; sexy; incredible; beautiful; adorable; Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; Sarawak; Kuching; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; Malaysian Chinese woman; beauty; consent; shopping mall; middle class; stylish; makeup; necklace; earrings; dressed up

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world; cultures; cultural; religion; one person; character; people; male; adult; ethnic; traditional; human; face; eyes; eye contact; front view; en face; photography; portrait; portraiture; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; colourful; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal; smiling; posed; handsome; Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; Borneo; Sarawak; Kuching; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; Malaysian Indian man; teeth; Sri Srinivasagar Kaliamman Temple; Hindu priest; Hindu temple; tilaka mark; consent

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; closeup; street portrait; headshot; smoking; cigarette; hand; outdoor; world; cultures; straw hat; cultural; one person; character; people; male; adult; ethnic; traditional; human; face; eyes; eye contact; front view; en face; photography; portrait; portraiture; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; colourful; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal; smiling; posed; relaxed; Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; Borneo; Sarawak; Kuching; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; Malaysian Dayak man; modern Iban man; consent

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; closeup; street portrait; headshot; flash; world; cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; adult; ethnic; local; human; face; eyes; eye contact; full-face view; photography; portrait; portraiture; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio horizontal; smiling; posed; incredible; Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur; airport; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; young Malay woman; white hijab; adorable; beauty; teeth; corporate outfit; airline; ground crew; customer service agent; Air Asia

High-res portrait photographs with full exif data, precise geotags and technical details in Matt Hahnewald's

16 March 2016

Circumambulating Arunachala Hill

The 814m-high Arunachala Hill aka Red Mountain is a holy hill at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. The hill is also known by the names Annamalai Hill, Arunachalam, Arunai, Sonagiri, and Sonachalam. It is one of the five main Shaivite holy places in South India. The Annamalaiyar Temple, a Shiva temple which is famous for its massive gopurams, some of which reach as high as 66 m, is located at the base of the hill.

Over the centuries, many devotees, pilgrims, saints, sages, and sadhus have been drawn to the Arunachala Hill. Throughout the year, they engage in the circumambulation of both Annamalaiyar Temple and Arunachala Hill, a sacred practise known as Giri Pradakshina in Sanskrit and Giri Valam in Tamil, considered to be beneficial in all ways, and an effective form of basic yoga. There are eight small shrines of lingams located in the 14 km circumference of the hill, each one associated with the twelve moon signs and manned by gangs of characterful sadhus in all shades of orange...

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photography; photo; image; spectacular; outstanding; fantastic; favourite; superior; excellent; interesting; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; prime lens; 50mm; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal format; closeup; portrait; portraiture; street; headshot; en face; orange; outdoor; morning sun; colour; cultural; character; personality; real people; human; human head; human face; human eyes; facial expression; eye contact; grey beard; orange headwrap; consent; empathy; rapport; respect; encounter; emotion; environmental portrait; travel; Hinduism; tradition; sadhu; holy man; beggar; Arunachala Hill; Tiruvannamalai; Tamil Nadu; South India; one person; male; adult; posing; attitude; authentic; dark skin; old man; dignity; blood-shed eyes; rugged

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photography; photo; image; spectacular; outstanding; fantastic; favourite; superior; excellent; interesting; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; prime lens; 50mm; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal format; closeup; portrait; portraiture; street; headshot; en face; orange; outdoor; morning sun; colour; cultural; character; personality; real people; human; human head; human face; human eyes; facial expression; eye contact; white beard; orange robe; orange headwrap; consent; empathy; rapport; respect; encounter; environmental portrait; travel; Hinduism; tradition; sadhu; holy man; beggar; Arunachala Hill; Tiruvannamalai; Tamil Nadu; South India; one person; male; adult; posing; attitude; authentic; rudraksha beads; orange turban; dignity; old man

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photography; photo; image; spectacular; lively; outstanding; fantastic; favourite; superior; excellent; magnificent; inspirational; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; prime lens; 50mm; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal format; closeup; portrait; street; headshot; en face; outdoor; colour; cultural; character; personality; real people; human head; human face; forehead; tilaka; human eyes; facial expression; lived-in face; eye contact; full beard; bareheaded; consent; empathy; rapport; respect; encounter; mood; dignity; travel; religion; Hinduism; tradition; guru; holy man; Shaivism; Shaivite sadhu; Arunachala Hill; Tiruvannamalai; Tamil Nadu; South India; Indian man; one person; old man; posing; attitude; authentic; incredible; awesome; dignified; serious; orange robe; third eye; grey beard

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photography; photo; image; spectacular; outstanding; fantastic; favourite; superior; excellent; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; prime lens; 50mm lens; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal format; closeup; portrait; portraiture; street; headshot; en face; orange; outdoor; sunshine; colour; cultural; character; personality; real people; human head; human face; white forehead; human eyes; facial expression; eye contact; full beard; orange robe; orange turban; consent; empathy; rapport; respect; encounter; environmental portrait; travel; religion; Hinduism; tradition; Annamalaiyar Temple; Arunachala Hill; Tiruvannamalai; Tamil Nadu; South India; one person; male; adult; old man; posing; attitude; authentic; fascinating; sadhu; holy man; Shiva; Shaivism; devotee; pilgrim; swarty; blood-shed eyes; white beard

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photography; photo; image; spectacular; outstanding; fantastic; favourite; superior; excellent; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; prime lens; 50mm lens; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal format; closeup; portrait; portraiture; street; headshot; en face; orange; outdoor; sunshine; colour; cultural; character; personality; real people; human head; human face; human eyes; facial expression; lived-in face; wrinkles; eye contact; full beard; orange robe; orange turban; consent; empathy; rapport; respect; encounter; dignity; environmental portrait; travel; religion; Hinduism; tradition; Annamalaiyar Temple; Arunachala Hill; Tiruvannamalai; Tamil Nadu; South India; one person; male; adult; old man; posing; attitude; authentic; fascinating; sadhu; holy man; Shiva; Shaivism; devotee; pilgrim; teeth; tilaka

There are c. 5 million sadhus in India today and they are widely respected for their holiness. About 200 of them live in caves, shacks, shrines, and under the open sky at the foot of Arunachala Hill. It is thought that their austere practices help to burn off their karma and that of the community at large. Thus mostly seen as benefiting society, these sadhus are supported by donations from many devotees and pilgrims. However, sadhus have also often been viewed with a certain degree of suspicion since posing as a sadhu at popular pilgrimage sites can be a good means of acquiring income for non-devout beggars and charlatans. There are many shades of orange in India.

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photography; photo; image; spectacular; outstanding; fantastic; favourite; superior; excellent; interesting; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; prime lens; 50mm; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal format; closeup; portrait; portraiture; street; headshot; en face; orange; outdoor; morning sun; colour; cultural; character; personality; real people; human; human head; human face; human eyes; facial expression; eye contact; grey beard; orange robe; orange headwrap; consent; empathy; rapport; respect; encounter; emotion; environmental portrait; travel; Hinduism; tradition; sadhu; holy man; beggar; Arunachala Hill; Tiruvannamalai; Tamil Nadu; South India; one person; male; adult; posing; attitude; authentic; grinning

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photography; photo; image; spectacular; outstanding; fantastic; favourite; superior; excellent; interesting; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; prime lens; 50mm; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal format; closeup; portrait; portraiture; street; headshot; en face; orange; outdoor; morning sun; sunshine; colour; cultural; character; personality; real people; human; human head; human face; tilaka; human eyes; facial expression; eye contact; grey beard; orange headwrap; consent; empathy; rapport; respect; encounter; emotion; fun; environmental portrait; travel; Hinduism; tradition; sadhu; holy man; beggar; Arunachala Hill; Tiruvannamalai; Tamil Nadu; South India; one person; male; adult; posing; attitude; authentic; smiling; laughing; teeth; rudraksha beads

rudraksha beads; Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photography; photo; image; spectacular; lively; outstanding; fantastic; favourite; superior; excellent; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; prime lens; 50mm; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal format; closeup; portrait; portraiture; street; headshot; en face; outdoor; colour; cultural; character; personality; real people; human head; human face; forehead; tilaka; human eyes; facial expression; eye contact; white beard; bareheaded; consent; empathy; rapport; respect; encounter; fun; travel; religion; Hinduism; tradition; guru; holy man; Shaivism; Shaivite sadhu; Arunachala Hill; Tiruvannamalai; Tamil Nadu; South India; Indian man; one person; posing; attitude; authentic; incredible; smiling; grinning; white hair; blood-shed eyes; third eye; permastoned; white

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photography; photo; image; spectacular; lively; outstanding; fantastic; favourite; superior; excellent; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; prime lens; 50mm; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; handsome; horizontal format; closeup; portrait; portraiture; street; headshot; en face; outdoor; colour; cultural; character; personality; real people; human head; human face; human eyes; facial expression; eye contact; black beard; black hair; bareheaded; consent; empathy; rapport; respect; encounter; travel; religion; Hinduism; tradition; guru; holy man; sadhu; young man; Arunachala Hill; Tiruvannamalai; Tamil Nadu; South India; Indian man; one person; posing; attitude; authentic; incredible; black

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photography; photo; image; spectacular; outstanding; fantastic; favourite; superior; handsome; excellent; interesting; long white hair; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; prime lens; 50mm; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; horizontal format; closeup; portrait; portraiture; street; headshot; en face; outdoor; morning sun; colour; cultural; character; personality; real people; human; human head; human face; tilaka; human eyes; tripundra; facial expression; eye contact; white beard; consent; empathy; rapport; respect; encounter; travel; Hinduism; tradition; sadhu; holy man; Arunachala Hill; Tiruvannamalai; Tamil Nadu; South India; one person; male; adult; posing; attitude; authentic; bareheaded; clean



High-res portrait photographs with full exif data, geotags and technical details in Matt Hahnewald's
Flickr Album 2016-02b Rambling Around Arunachala Hill