When in Gulmarg, I came across a large number of these sled pullers and guides. I felt sorry for the men who have to go through the intense physical labour of pulling the sled (with the passenger sitting in it) uphill. Although I was very uncomfortable doing so, they insisted that I sit in one of the sled. When the sled runner tried to pull it uphill, I could see how much he struggled and offered to get out of the sled. It got me thinking about the amount of effort that goes into making a livelihood through a strenuous job like this. This sled puller was photographed on a GoPro during sunset in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Joshi Daniel Photography 
Powerful and somewhat haunting against the cold and bleak Winter!
Thank you :)
Love the mood and tones!
Thank you Indira :)
A beautiful shot and a lovely tribute to all that hard work and effort by the sled puller.
Thank you :)
No words to express how beautiful this is :D
Thank you Anupriya :)
That is a beautiful picture…
Thank you Prasad :)
Yet he stands tall. Beautiful.
Thank you Sowmiya :)
Josh I must say you are an awesome Photographer. In addition you know how to imagine the things in a spectacular way and to present what you imagine. Hats off to you Man!!👍☺ and I mean that, literally👍🎩
Thank you so much Vivek :)
Love your point of view here in this shot. Well done!
Thank you Barbara :)
I have gone through similar kind of agony when I took the rickshaw for the first time. The boy was drenched in the sweat waiting and hopelessly waiting for some customers in freaking Delhi summer. Maybe he was not more than sixteen or seventeen.
Oh! It makes me realise we have a very relaxing life!
Indeed
i sometime feel that early man was much better in terms of earning a livelihood…. they were dependent on nature and used barter system to exchange goods…. now we are dependent on another human being for the same…. we have made life so complicated that you have to earn money – to earn money you need to find a job…. and then only you can earn a livelihood…. otherwise you will die and no one cares now a days…….
nice observation…..
very true!
😃😃😃
What a shot. Moving towards the light with all his energies. 👌
Thank you Mabel :)
Incredible photo. It’s a story. About one person. About humanity.
Thank you so much Mary :)
oh génial ces couleurs
Thank you :)
beautiful, picture also your writing
Thank you Subbashini :)
Very impressive!
Thank you Margaret :)
Gorgeous colours, frame, story …has it all…I would have been very uncomfortable too..but hey…it is all in the perspective. Go Pro…who needs a pro camera and expensive lenses!! ha, ha
Thank you Paula :) GoPro makes people curious and my life easier ;)
Wonderful picture👍👍
Thank you Aniket :)
Awesome picture of the man in the sled. I also will not feel good sitting in the sled.
Thank you and yeah it is hard to enjoy when someone is struggling :)
I love the photo, and your sentiments I truly share. Man serving man in such menial fashion is truly tragic. But for him, what can be the alternative, in this cruel world?
Thank you :) True, he fights with others to get someone in that sled so that he can get some money!
A great photo and an interesting story Joshi! I can understand why you would feel uncomfortable. It is the dilemma of it not feeling right, but avoiding it would probably take away from the livelihood of the sled puller.
Thank you :)
Stunning…and beautiful insight✨
Thank you :)
Love the perspective and atmospheric feel of this shot, Joshi. Thanks, too, for the explanation, which enriches my understanding of what I’m seeing.
Thank you Cate :)
I did come across sledge pullers in Gulmarg but my experience at Sonmarg was even better because the quality of snow was amazing. The road was cleared for tourist just a day ago and we were probably the first tourist to arrive at the start of the season. Of course, I walked uphill rather than sit in the sledge. I was surprised to see other grown up tourist sitting in the sledge and another assistant helping the sledge owner uphill! …That’s life!
hard life though ;)
completely agree.. :(
Nice shot.
Thank you :)
Beautiful. You captured the pathos. A terrible way to have to earn a living.
Thank you Sherry and it is a terrible way!
As always, a great photograph, but even better you describe what is happening. Cannot imagine that being a job I could do, but applaud their perseverance and faithfulness of doing their job daily, and the strength of character and fitness needed, I would think would keep them in great physical health.
You seem like such a great person to feel bad for them and offer to get out. Prayers their job gets easier and they always have lighter customers.
Thank you :) But for him it looked so normal. But for me it didn’t look nowhere near normal. Yeah as you said he should be in great fitness. But I have seen old people also doing this.
What a great photo! Thanks for capturing and sharing it.
Thank you :)
I love this picture it connects with all the other snowy places in the world :)
Thank you :)
Dramatic capture, a fine story – and a hard life for the sledge pullers.
Thank you Tom :)
most empathetic
narrated image, joshi :-)
:)
Powerful picture and a lovely Sky! ;)
Thank you Lisah :)
I watched a video of a poverty-stricken family in Siberia. The father had to travel by sled across the tundra for miles to find a frozen lake, then cut a hole in it and drop a fishing net. Then, he traveled back home and returned a few days later to collect the families winter dinners which they stored in the snow. Imagine having to shop for dinner like this?
Many of us do not realize what we have.
That is hard life! Yes, you are right. We never realize what all we have!
The photo is a view of the spirit of man and the story proves that this man is stronger than most in the world. Although he knows nothing different, his indomitable spirit travels around the globe through sensitive people like you.
The image is quite symbolic of all personal challenges. Sometimes we just don’t realize we can do something different. Although– it is indeed easier said than done.
yeah!
Didn’t mean sound so serious. That is a crummy job. I guess it is all relative, though :)
hehe i got it.
Outstanding photograph! All of your images tell stories that go beyond mere words.
Thank you so much Peter :)
Wonderful composition.
Thank you Rajesh :)
Great pic. Keep clicking.
Thank you Rupam :)
fantastic photography
thank you :)
Epic shot very cinematic love it
thank you :)
Magnificent photo!
Have a nice week-end!
Gil Zetbase
thank you :)
The photo is stunning, Joshi, and I enjoyed your narrative. It underlines the kindness you express in all your photographs.
thank you Linda :)
Your work is ethereal and inspiring.
thank you so much :)
I agree – fantastic photo
thank you :)
Stunning capture, Daniel.
thank you :)
I felt the same, the do work hard, wish things will change for good. I loved the photograph ! I am googling for go pro, but do let me know in a few sentences whats this?
thank you :)
GoPro is a tiny action camera, which can be mounted almost anywhere :)
very heart warming piece Joshi!
thank you :)
That’s an amazing shot, Joshi. I love the tones, the contrast, the composition. Everything!
thank you Paula :)
Great photo Joshi!
thank you Peter :)
absolutely fabulous –a bit different from your other ones —absolutely beautiful
thank you Rajni :)
Excellent photo. I love how the atmosphere looks in light blue and pink colors. Yes, it’s sad the effort they have to do to survive. Have a great week!
Marianne
thank you Marianne :)
Breathtaking capture!
thank you Anmol :)
Beautiful photo. Your sentiments about the dilemma of being worried about exploiting someone but understanding that they have little or no choice in what they can offer are insightful and caring.
thank you :)
Look at the arc of the horizon line . . . even the nature is smiling :-)
Somehow I felt that the photograph conveyed the extraordinary strength and endurance of the man — great obstacles are before him, and he stands there tall and straight.
:)
thank you :)
Wow. I don’t think I would have felt comfortable either! Did you get to the top?
Yes, we did get to the top.
Good to hear 😊
:)
What a story !!
Life can be so hard …
yeah!
Oh my Joshi .. This is beautiful. Such a hard way to make a living.
thank you Julie :)
Very strong image!
thank you :)
Very nice
thank you :)
Fantastic photo!
thank you :)
Thank you for stopping by my blog/liking a post. I am enamoured by your work. Really stunning.
thank you :)
A nice tribute to his hard work!
thank you :)
Like a painting :)
:)
Wow that’s a touch job! Wonderful photograph!
thank you :)
You are a compassionate person and this image is beautiful, belying the difficulty of the job!
thank you :)
Absolutely striking…powerful image!!
thank you :)
Reblogged this on Ancien Hippie.
thank you :)
A beautiful photograph, and thoughtful commentary…and I imagine they are glad to have any work at all. It made me think of people I worked with in landscaping, mostly men from Mexico – to me, they were incredibly strong and such hard workers. I’ve often thought how lucky I was to be born to middle class white people in America!
thank you :)
yeah, we are lucky!
A beautiful shot Joshi, the dignity of work eh . . . . ?
thank you :)
That sounds incredibly demanding. But great angle.
yeah, thank you :)
Amazing composition in the beautiful soft light…
thank you :)
A tough life indeed also captured in a great angle magnifying the persona …
thank you :)
An extraordinary picture that is truly a work of art.
True, the lives of these men is very hard. The world is not fair.
hugs
thank you :)
Beautiful!!
thank you :)
And I doubt they make much money for all that hard work. :(
The photo, though, is beautiful! The light and the softness of the sky! Amazing!
thank you :)
they earn so less!
Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
thank you :)
Joshi! Most welcome!
:)
I can’t imagine living such a life as this. Your photography and story gives him such the respect and honor he deserves. Thank you for sharing.
my pleasure :)
Awesome..loved the write up on the sledge pullers.
thank you :)
So interesting and great photography as always
thank you :)
Your photography is honestly so beautiful!
thank you so much :)
Powerful photography and the story it tells. I encountered a similar scenario on my Machu Picchu trek. The porters carried ridiculous loads of gear. The max regulated weight is 22kg or 44lbs, but it’s common practice for the porter to unpack their loads and hide the rest when they go through the checkpoint. It looked like these guys were carrying more than their body weight with stuffed packs that reached above their heads. On their feet, many only had flip flips. The strength and speed of these men on the rugged trail and infinity of steep, uneven stone steps was remarkable. And then, there’s the sherpas in Nepal…Unfortunately,any scenario where 3rd world meets 1st world is fraught with challenges and exploitation.
such a hard life!
Reblogged this on Still Another Photoblog.
thank you :)
You are welcome!
:)
kashmir is just the best what nature has
:)
Very intresting
:)
Labor, whether of childbirth or pulling a sled, is human…oft fraught with fatigue but even then the resiliency of humanity gives the observer pause, reflection and appreciation of the next step taken.
doc ellen
yeah :)
I l ike the way the low angle emphasises his strength and struggle against adversity.
thank you :)
An extraordinary picture that is truly a work of art.Everyday am spent 1hour in this blog.Thank you so much for sharing this blog.
thank you :)
Reblogged this on Insight on Kashmir.
I love your work!
The colours and depth are just awesome.
If you have any tips for an aspiring person (who happens to be interested in photography among other things) I would be so grateful :)
Thank you so much :)
May be shoot what makes you happy :)
Unfortunately that’s the reality of life….but the good thing is that the man is working at least…he is standing on his feet.(tall)..it’s good to c that u just didn’t think about this but gave it a space in ur blog…..keep going…!!
Thank you so much :)
Beautiful work; you are a gifted artist – magnificent pictures
Thank you :)