Tuesday 17 March 2009

Theyyams of Malabar: Rosemary Sheel

Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
After the ritual, this Theyyam is no longer inhabited
by the goddess. Pullikunnu, Kerala

The Theyyam of Malabar Photo Expedition was joined by a number of talented full-time and part time photographers, whose primary objective was to photograph the Theyyam religious rituals as well as the Kathakali dance-drama, both indigenous to Kerala.

This is the third of a series of posts which showcase some of the work of the photographers who joined the expedition. The third post features four photographs by Rosemary Sheel, a travel photographer based on the West Coast. Rosemary is a peripatetic globetrotter, who traveled to Tibet, Turkey, Mali, Morocco, China, Laos, Cambodia Egypt and India, and she regaled us with stories of her adventures. She used a Nikon D300 with 28-105 Tamron (f 2.8) and a D200 with a 12-24 Tokina (f 4).

Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
A somnolent Theyyam has his face painted in traditional patterns, Pullikunnu, Kasaragode, North Kerala

Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
Part of the Theyyam ceremony involves the Theyyam
circumnavigating the temple. Pullikunnu, Kerala.

Photo ©Rosemary Sheel-All Rights Reserved.
Layers of orange silk cover starched muslin underskirts
for a bouffant look necessary for a Kathakali performance.
Thrissur, Kerala

"Trapped In The Flash" | The Red Strings

On a recent walk about at Washington Square Park, I chanced on performance art type of dance by two talented Chinese women; Jiening (Sophia)...