मछुआरे

मछुआरे

Gue

Gue

 

Tempted as we were to take up Usha Devi's invitation to join her for lunch we had to decline the offer to keep on schedule. The little village of Gue that's gained fame recently after the discovery of a 'mummified lama' was not initially on our plan, thanks to Google Earth it found its place. One of the best drives off the main road the Gue valley was an absolute pleasure. we were even graced by the elusive Ibex on the way back. 

The Mummified Lama

Ibex

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

पाठशाला

पाठशाला

Happy Teachers Day!

Paan wala

This might be a little in the day, but all the same this one is for all those who inspired me to do more with my camera (my best teachers). All my batch mates at college, my gang of friends, my brothers, Mr. Sanjeev Seth, Mr. Raghunathan, Mr. Daruwala, Mr. Shekhar, Dr. Wilson, Mr. Sampath Kumar, all my clients and most of all those of you who have come to me for advise and guidance, thank you for constantly inspiring me to push my work to a new level each year.

चाय

चाय

When at home tea has always been served soaked in a teapot with the milk and sugar separate, but for me right from childhood it just never did it for me. What still works for me is "cooked tea" as my mom likes to call it. Every visit to the villages of my state give me the chance to down cups and cups of this refreshing tea. Yesterday was one such long day where a friend and I visited 7 families and enjoyed tea at each home. Every home has its own recipe for the brew, some add Ginger and Tulsi (my favorites ), others might add Cardamom and Cinnamon, but no matter where you go in UP you'll always be offered water and tea  ( चाय पानी ) before anything else, just one of the reason I love my state!

Kashmir the Floating Market

Kashmir - The Floating Market

सीढ़ी (ladder)

सीढ़ी

Ladders have always fascinated me, as a child it was the only way I could reach the first branch of the Cryptomeria tree from where I could then climb higher than any one. It was the ladder that let me reach the roof of the cottage we lived in to a place otherwise inaccessible. There has always been something romantic about the way I have looked at the ladder. Its been more than a bunch of rickety steps on a wooden frame, its more of symbol to me. That little push that we all need to get the ball rolling, from where we are all can then take it on and keep it rolling, faster and faster!

यात्रा

यात्रा

पतंग उड़ना (flying a kite)

पतंग उड़ना

My fingers have bled, I’m dark, but I became even darker, got numerous lectures, but at the end of it I did learn to fly a kite. It’s a skill everywhere on the planet I am sure, but from what I have seen here in India, it’s a little more demanding.

With no one at home who flew kites and friends too who were not helpful out here, all I had was a neighbor who’d fly his kites with skill that I have not witnessed anywhere else. Shankar bhaiya was the god of kite flying as far as I was concerned.

Like with all things in life, here too hard work paid off and at end of months of hard work, I was able to send my kites way off into the horizon and often loose them there too.

Kite flying taught me patience, it taught me to believe in myself- both of which have helped me tremendously with my photography.  To be able to get a kite to rise when its gone so low that you can’t see it, when you can pick it when it looks like it has to, it must crash into the house or water tank not so far away it.

Its not just about getting some paper stuck onto a bamboo frame to catch the wind…..  it’s about knowing how to keep yourself afloat at times when you feel there is nothing to carry you forward, to stay afloat when it looks like you’ll crash, its about learning that you CAN if you believe.

One from Trunk

Documenting CARE's interventions during the floods in Eastern UP - September 2009

Now for those of you who are questioning the choice of caption for this post - no I dont store my photographs in a trunk but then 'one from the HD' hardly has any romance to it! (poetic license ??)

Some time in the September of 2009 I got a call from Amelia at CARE, "where are you? we need you to help us!". Over the next few minutes I was explained how I needed to help. Two days later we on the road to eastern UP to evaluate and document  the work her colleagues were doing for the people who's lives were destroyed by the fury of the Ghaghara.

We saw a lot work and despair in area, some of which I try not remember too often, one image has however stuck in my head from the time I shot it four years ago. The contribution that the non governmental organizations to the development of our country is something that we need to salute and appreciate. This post is for all my friends who work with  NGO's all over the country and specially in UP.

Thank you for doing what you do!

Rabri

Rabri in Old Delhi

Before any one suggests there is nothing rubbery about what the old man is cooking, and yes its called Rabri. This childhood favorite for me,  is a North India specialty. I remember how we'd wait for the annual trip to our favorite shop to gorge on mouthwatering dish. Cooked in a shallow karhai for several hours its a pure milk dish with sugar, dried fruits and a whole bunch of other goodies. 

Minar

On my recent visit to Hyderabad (spelt as per MS Word) I did not have the time to see the 'Char Minar' go out for some Bhiryani, or dine at the water front caffe, it was one hectic trip with most of my time spent at ISB, and that too I did not shoot. Some how on the way back to the hotel at the end of a good day of work we came across this monument bathed in the warm light of the setting sun.

Looking at the photograph now I don't feel that bad, my next visit will be better.

Solitude

Professional Hazards

Photography is not always the safest of careers to choose, am glad the beehive 2 feet above my head did not get agitated while I waited for the sun to move into position. If it had I am sure the even bigger hive just below my feet would have too!

Don't want to think what would have happened! The good thing is i got the shot after waiting for over half an hour and lucky for me the bees were very kind.

Turtle it is

Now I have to tell you all that I have the urge to write something very wise about this shot and what I was thinking. Making that up is going to take a lot of effort to I guess I am going to stick to the truth again (due to sheer laziness not greater virtue). Hope you like the shot got to thank my 100-400 for it, just a simple shot with great colours.

Monsoon Madness

The monsoon always drives many hidden treasures from their underground homes giving us the opportunity to see things we might never get a chance to otherwise.

These hard, crusty skinned worms that seem to have been flooded out of their home provided one such unique sight. Now they don't bight (I know because I picked a handful of them from off the road to safety,) but sure look really creepy!

For those of you (like Ameya) who saw my work while still in college, I am sure its going to bring back (hopefully pleasant) memories.

Happy Independence Day

On a recent visit to Rajasthan, when we got lost, were given all the wrong directions, and the rain stayed with us every time we took out our cameras the National bird came by to cheer us up.

Investing in a flash

After seeing innumerable wedding albums in India most of us Photographers develop an aversion to using a flash. Not that I am suggesting that we are wrong in our distaste for the on (or in) Camera Flash. An external flash that has a tilt and swivel head is a excellent tool and one should invest in one if you are serious about making a career out of photography.

This is not about career advice, this is about the difference a flash can make, its about this photograph.

We were on a weekend getaway to the hills and enjoying the cold after the sweltering heat of Delhi.

The view from the cliff was excellent but soon lost as the sun bid the day farewell.

In addition to my driving skills I am also wanted on these trips for my bad jokes and the occasional photographs that have to be taken.

Then there are times when a challenge appears or as some like to think an opportunity to torture my friends.

The light not good enough to get the moon, the cottage and the my good looking friends all in the photograph, a flash was needed.

But what makes the difference is the fact that flash was 6 feet away from the camera, the side lighting though bang on gave me what I am looking for.

And just in-case I forgot: take your tripod with you too, yes always!!

In the photograph from left to right: Abhijeet, Abhilasha, Parineeta

Peace!

Cant seem to come up with a better name for the moment, so its going to be called peace. We've all seen images of cats and dogs living in peace and harmony, they don't always fight!

Last weekend I was invited to Chennai (Madras) to give a lecture at the Photography Society of Madras when for the first time i visited Tamilnadu.

On a visit to a temple we had to leave our shoes before we entered and thats where i was drawn to the caretaker only to find that more interesting spectacle hid behind him. I was amused to see the pets on the chairs, but more so by their evident suspicion (or was it displeasure) when i photographed their master. (I don't know if they were just being protective or were they plain jealous?)

The shallow depth of field of the 2.8 lens gave me just what i was looking for.

And before any one asks me, NO i did not want to them both in focus!

Portrait of a vegetable vendor

While the big cities rely on big cars and big malls to get you what you need for the home, smaller cities and towns rely on the vendors coming home.

Now not so common but as a child I remember that every morning we'd hear them shout out as they crossed the front of the house.

What I found most interesting about the way these folks conducted their business was the relation they had nurtured with their customers.

I have often heard them tell mom or some one of our neighbours, 'no you have to buy this, its very good, and if you wont pay fine then take it for free ...'

Then the usual bargaining match that would follow.