In Abhaneri Village, located in eastern Rajasthan, a unique, homemade vehicle known as a jugaad or chakdi, aka Indian Mercedes, plies the roadways. In Hindi, jugaad means an innovative fix or work around. An apt name for this low cost transport. They are usually made from an old diesel agricultural irrigation pump mounted to an equally old car or truck chassis. A hand crank starts the engine and someone jumping off with a block of wood is often the way to stop it. Simple, cheap and iconic in much of rural India.
And, no the photo is not as old as it looks. I took it recently while in Rajasthan and processing was done, for the most part, with Lightroom and Perfect Effects 8.
Colline
6 Aug 2014The effects make the photo look interesting.
fotograffer
7 Aug 2014Thanks Colline.
Tina Schell
6 Aug 2014Oh my! Wonderful capture Ron!
fotograffer
7 Aug 2014Oh my, thank you Tina. 🙂
The Wanderlust Gene
6 Aug 2014Priceless! I love the guy in white up front – and I’m sure I’d be equally apprehensive! Ron, did you hear what the chains are for (other than decoration)?
fotograffer
7 Aug 2014Thank you Meredith. The man in white may have been more apprehensive about me and my camera than the ride he was getting. Don’t know about the chains but I suspect they may just be decorative.
The Wanderlust Gene
7 Aug 2014Oh dear, a man wielding a huge third eye – a menacing presence indeed! 🙂
fotograffer
7 Aug 2014Ha! I never thought of myself as a seer.
The Wanderlust Gene
7 Aug 2014🙂
snaps22
7 Aug 2014Great image; Indians certainly know how to make the most of what little they have. I’d be interested to see the pre-filtered image
fotograffer
7 Aug 2014Especially so when it comes to transport. But this may be the most creative I’ve seen. Thanks Jean.
Cardinal Guzman
7 Aug 2014All the different vehicles you can see in India…. Insane place!
fotograffer
7 Aug 2014Insane yes, but you have to give them credit for their ingenuity. Thanks Cardinal
ruthincolorado
7 Aug 2014Excellent shot. There are so many little details in the photo!
fotograffer
12 Aug 2014Yes, the image is full of little details and the rider’s poses are priceless. Thanks for you comment Ruth.
Pinetree Photo Nature Discovery
8 Aug 2014Great photo, and the special effects really work!
fotograffer
12 Aug 2014Thanks Carol. The scene seemed like something out of the past.
Madhu
11 Aug 2014A picture perfect postcard!!! That ingenuity goes missing as soon as they get elected to office 🙂 Perhaps because they don’t need to work anymore
fotograffer
12 Aug 2014When I took the photo I, given the appearance of the vehicle and the traditional dress of the riders, thought little had changed there in many years. Hence, the postcard effect. Thanks Madhu.
Lynne Ayers
15 Aug 2014Such a great shot and I love your editing on this one.
fotograffer
19 Aug 2014Thanks Lynne. I have been enjoying the additional processing lately.
anotherday2paradise
20 Aug 2014A fantastic image, Ron. It really brought a smile to my face. 🙂
fotograffer
20 Aug 2014Thanks Sylvia. India is so timeless in many ways and I imagined this scene could have happened 50 years ago as easily as today.