Esther's photos with the keyword: gun

El Salvador San Salvador AP1044837

My first impression of Nepal, apart from the hazy, smoggy view from the plane was the airport security in Kathmandu, Nepal. I like shooting security types with guns and I am always grateful when they don't shoot back. Somehow, I don't feel more secure knowing that there is a masked man with a machine gun roaming the tarmac. ODT: Stressed AIMG_9988

A security guard at the Mulagandhakuti Vihara, a monastery built in in the 1930's in Sarnath, India. It is a bit scary to see someone in street clothing toting a rifle, but no one else seemed put out by it. I photographed him from a distance, since I make it my practice never to annoy people with guns. Sarnath is approximately12 kilometers from the Hindu holy city of Varanasi. It is the site of the deer park where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma after his enlightenment. Sarnath is one of four holy Buddhist sites sanctioned by the Buddha for pilgrimage. AIMG_9771

There is something very challenging about getting a person with a machine gun or automatic rifle to smile for the camera. In the US, they tend to be rather cranky about it. In Italy, they were only too happy to do so if requested. In China, it was strickly forbidden, although when the errant tourist did so, most guards at the major tourist sites merely ignored them. In India, some police were sufficiently scarey in the conduct of their duties to avoid even approaching. This man seemed friendly and very professional as he guarded the Taj Mahal and a smile from me while pointing to my camera got a pose and a smile back. AIMG_6105