Being in focus is over rated according to fellow photographers Brian Frank and Michael McElroy . . . . I put this picture up on facebook to ask fellow photographers how much it mattered that the focus was on his chest rather than his face. I really liked the photo, I almost started to feel that if I had focused on his hands it would have been a better technical photo, but weaker in its’ sentido and it was comforting to hear other photographers echo that idea.

Then I started thinking about this assignment. Visually it was captivating. It is a celebration for the goddess Durga, she is considered, according to wiki, a demon-fighting form of Lord Shiva’s wife the Goddess Parvati. She manifests fearlessness and patience and this festival, the Durga Puja, celebrates the slaying of the demon Mahishasur by the goddess Durga.

The best part was how the parents had the children do the dances, depict the battle between the goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasur. So I got to run around photographing little boys and girls being dressed to depict soldiers, traditional dancers and even a goddess. I’m putting up my favorite, non-literal images of the evening and at the end I’ll put up a couple of the more literal, straightforward shots.

Though like was stated at the beginning . . . being in focus (whether that means literally in focus or a literal photo) can be overrated.

As for the more literal images: