My Experiments with the Lens!

Taking a breather...

2012-01-27T12:22:00.000+05:30

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Mumbai Moments 1

2012-01-25T12:32:00.000+05:30

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Portraits 4 : The Mohawk

2012-01-19T12:56:00.001+05:30

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PS: Portraits 1, Portraits 2: Perfume Chacha, Portraits 3: Flower Seller

Practice

2012-01-14T00:35:00.000+05:30

Just one more day to go for the Mumbai Marathon. I will be participating in the Full Marathon. With five months of practice behind me, it is now time to deliver. Hope to better my previous year's timing of 5 hours 50 mins this year. Wish me luck:)

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On the bench

2012-01-12T19:47:00.000+05:30

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The Podium! - 2

2012-01-10T19:38:00.000+05:30

This can be called a sequel to The Podium! which i had captured over three years back.

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Christ

2012-01-08T19:27:00.000+05:30

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(Un)Lucky Corner?

2012-01-06T19:07:00.000+05:30

Don't know if this qualifies as a street photograph, but could not help laughing out on this goat's behaviour. Didn't really turn out to be a lucky corner for that poor guy who was resting in the shade for a while.

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The Outsider

2012-01-03T22:29:00.000+05:30

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Looking Back at 2011

2011-12-31T00:56:00.000+05:30

O Majhi: As we sail into the sunset of 2011, presenting some of my personal favourites from 2011. (Click on the link on the left hand side to go to this particular post)

This year has been quite fulfilling from my photography perspective. After a dismal number of posts in the last two years, i finally posted the more photographs in 2011 than in 2010 and 2009 combined. I hope to post even more photographs in the new year.

Happyness Marathon: The year began on a blast, with one of my images winning a competition that was organised by the makers of the film 'Dhobi Ghat' and Mumbai Weekend Shoot - a Mumbai based photography group.

Year enders are the bane of print media professionals. So i thought of doing one, as far as this blog is concerned. So, looking back, i would say i learnt a lot in photography. Got to use a lot of camera bodies, apart from my own Canon S5 IS. Went from hating micro four-thirds to loving them, all thanks to the Olympus EP3. As for dSLRs, well go to use the Canon 1000D, 550D and Nikon D3100. Had planned to get a Canon 550D for myself by Diwali, but that wasn't to be.

Shaping the pot

Started gravitating towards black and white. But have tried to keep a balance between the BW and colour images on the blog, as i feel both treatments have their own pros and cons.

Phone or Camera: This was one image that got a lot of love, one the blog as well as among my friends on other social networks.

One major addition in this year has been inclusion of a lot of people in my photographs, all thanks to the addiction called Street Photography. If you check my 2008, 2009 and 2010, there will be just 2-3 posts/year which will have any sort of human being. Thanks to Street Photography i tend to include people in atleast 7 out of 10 photographs that i make now. Have become a convert since i first came across a great resource on Street Photography, while testing out Google+ (yeah, Google+ is responsible for the addiction). Read quite a lot on the genre and hope to explore it even further in 2012.
.

Silent Spaces

Discovered Adobe Lightroom and have never gone to Photoshop since. Such a lovely utility LR3 is for minor colour corrections!

Shoot, Chimp, Move On...

Also gained a lot of blog buddies this year whose comments and critiques have pushed me to explore photography even more. The page views have increased considerably when i compare it with those of previous years. I hope to maintain that momentum in 2012.

Here are some images with colour.

Portraits - 1

Ice Cream Waala

A Mouthful of Sky : My first attempt at capturing multiple exposures

A Ghost: Dabbling with compositing various images

Finally, this year was also about Photo Essays. Although i technically did just four of them (pathetic) i added one more essay which was more of a compilation of sorts.

Blissful Bihu

In the mood for Ramzaan

Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Yaa

Ghazals will never sound the same again

The Newspaper Project

So that was it for 2011. Hope to have many many more better images in 2012.

Till then, Wish you all a very happy new year!

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Ciao

Opt Out

2011-12-27T13:06:00.000+05:30

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Abandoned or awaiting rebirth?

2011-12-22T02:16:00.000+05:30

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Update: Gave it a Sepia treatment and cropped it a bit.

Boys will be boys;)

2011-12-14T11:59:00.000+05:30

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Super Life, Now On Sale

2011-12-09T01:29:00.000+05:30

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Shoot, Chimp, Move on...

2011-12-07T01:03:00.002+05:30

Tried capturing the process of shooting images using a digital camera. First you frame and click the image, then most of us chimp i.e. check how the image has turned out on the LCD of our digi cams and finally we move on looking for the next shot.

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Portraits 3: The Flower seller

2011-11-30T22:58:00.002+05:30

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Portraits 2: Perfume Chacha

2011-11-28T23:10:00.002+05:30

Selling concentrated perfumes, also known as 'Ittar', in one of those many hole-in-the-wall shops around Mohammed Ali Road, perfume - chacha as i referred to him later was quite excited when he saw me shooting his shop. He demanded to see the photograph, and asked me to take a better shot:P Plan to give him a print of this, when i pass by that area again.

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The Newspaper Project

2011-11-21T18:00:00.000+05:30

Whenever i go out on the streets to shoot, i never go out with an agenda. But, this time, this first image above spurred me on to concentrate on photographs of people reading the morning papers. Seeing people read newspapers is something all of us see everyday. So just thought of capturing these moments when the reader is completely engrossed in his daily news dose.

Don't know about others, but for me, newspapers are a means to enter into a meditative state, where its just me and the words on the paper, oblivious to the world around me. Moreso, with the Sunday papers.

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In Sync

2011-11-19T09:00:00.000+05:30

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Shadow Art

2011-11-16T17:13:00.001+05:30

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Mute spectators

2011-11-12T13:35:00.000+05:30

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Portraits - 1

2011-11-10T14:08:00.000+05:30

This is one genre i have not explored much since i got my camera. Hope to keep continuing this series, as there are too many faces out there that need to be photographed. I was in a quandary whether to keep this portrait as colour or BW. But i guess colour won, as i am not sure if i captured the eyes as well as i should have. In retrospect, i realised that it could have been a better frame, had i gone more closer.
Will keep Robert Capa's quote in mind the next time i venture to shoot portraits, "If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough."

Take care,
Ciao

Changing perspectives

2011-11-08T14:20:00.000+05:30

Its always fun to capture images through the viewfinder of someone else's camera. Not only does it give you a closer and clearer look of the composition, it also helps you know how the other person is viewing the same scene that you are. For instance, when i was shooting the stairs, i was more interested in the inscriptions on each of them, but my friend here composed it differently and found this composition more compelling. So while he was getting his steady shot, i stole his shot. Ofcourse, i showed it to him later, so that he does not sue me later;)

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Ciao

Check out my video camera

2011-11-05T13:33:00.000+05:30

While looking for photo ops in a quaint alley in South Mumbai, one day, i noticed this kid in the trolley looking at me. Suddenly when i pointed my camera at him, he got his hand behind his ears, with his elbow pointing towards me.
It almost seemed as if he was saying, "So you just got a still camera, well, I have a video camera! Now beat that!"

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Ciao

Jalebi

2011-11-02T03:17:00.000+05:30

Was roaming the streets as usual, and came across this plate full of Jalebis just waiting to be annihilated. Also my maiden attempt at deliberate capturing of bokeh.
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One Eye

2011-10-29T07:13:00.000+05:30

The Olympus EP3 is one brilliant camera for street photography. Big thanks to its blazing auto-focus, which is much faster than my Canon S5 IS, hell much faster than many high end DSLRs out there in the market. This one camera has suddenly got me interested in the micro four-third sensor camera category. It was with me for a couple of weeks and I had an absolute blast shooting on the streets with it. Snap on a 12mm prime lens and you are set for some really sharp wide-angle shots.

Maybe one day when i have enough money to spend, i'll think about purchasing this as an add-on camera to my next camera purchase - a Canon DSLR.

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Ciao

Season's Greetings:))

2011-10-27T00:21:00.001+05:30

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Ghazals will never sound the same again..

2011-10-11T03:00:00.000+05:30

This was probably the first time i was seeing a Ghazal maestro perform live. And what an experience it was. Jagjit Singh took to the stage dot on time, but he did not begin singing immediately. For the first 15 minutes, he did a sound check!

Considering the event was happening at the open air theatre, Jagjit Singh personally checked the sound for each and every microphone, and made sure that each instrument sounded just perfect. Many people in the audience seemed quite impatient at having to wait, to hear that voice, but i really liked the way he was up-in-arms with the organisers, teaching them a lesson or two in sound check.

But despite the initial setup time, Jagjit Singh continued to engross us in his musical masterpieces one after the other for the alloted performing time. Jagjit Singh presented his ghazals, which were listened to, in pin-drop silence. The chill in the November air was just the perfect accompaniment. And you know what the best part was? The concert was absolutely free! Just kinda gave a fillip to that old cliche - the best things in life, always come free.

I was introduced to ghazals by my elder cousins who had cassettes filled with them. And although i am not a huge fan of ghazals as such, to me it meant only two people: Jagjit Singh and Pankaj Udhas.

We lost one of them today.

Here are some of the moments that i had captured back then. I acknowledge the poor quality, but then, for once i was more interested in the performance than photography.

Some of my favourite Jagjit Singh ghazals:
Hoshwaalon Ko Khabar Kya
Jhunki Jhunki Si Nazaar
Hooton Se Chu Lo Tum, Mera Geet Amar Kar Do
Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho...
Koi Fariyaad

Thank you for making people like me appreciate ghazals and leaving behind an everlasting legacy.

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Ciao

Muted Conversations - Pt.2

2011-10-09T03:14:00.000+05:30

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Ciao

PS: Muted Conversations part 1

We train like dogs

2011-10-07T16:03:00.000+05:30

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Barren

2011-10-05T03:55:00.000+05:30

Have always seen picnickers sit under the shade of some tree or the other while snacking, but this group decided to deviate from the obvious. Even without leaves, the tree still manages to command attention.

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Ciao

An unfulfilled bet

2011-10-01T11:53:00.000+05:30

I was walking around the market place in Mt. Abu with a friend, when we came across this shop of glares and noticed this young chap looking at our cameras. He was holding fort till his uncle would get back to the shop.

I told him that I'd show him some magic. I would click him as well as my friend in the same frame, catch being, my friend would not stand beside him. He was kinda surprised and said i cannot do it. It was a bet.

His smile widened after he saw the image, and saw me in it too. But, he did not keep his part of the bet. Which was to give us those glares for free. Smart.

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Ciao

Sepia Memories

2011-09-29T07:00:00.000+05:30

The Bombay Stock Exchange is no doubt a brilliant building, architecturally speaking. But that attracts me most towards this part of South Mumbai, is the charming old world buildings like the one in the picture above. The cast iron railings on each floor have a character and a charm that cannot be matched by the multi-story behemoth behind it.

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Mera Number Kab Aayega?

2011-09-27T10:03:00.004+05:30

In the chaos that is Chor Bazaar, I came across this calm and composed barber going about his work. These traditional one-man salon are commonly found all over the city. The funny part in such a setup on a 'khatiya' is, the customer has to hold the mirror himself, as the barber has both his hands busy. But this uncle didn't really bother with that. Also, seems like the waiting customer did not take my capturing his unshaven look too kindly.

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Ciao

Bow and Arrow

2011-09-25T04:15:00.000+05:30

I made this image during the annual Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. The scene involves a torched-club juggler doing his thing to the beat of drums in the background. While the fire jugglers were doing their dance and juggling, three artists were portraying them on canvas - Live. The last time i had shot a flare bartender doing his thing, i had got some amazing patterns. With that at the back of my mind, i shot to get patterns in the fire jugglers act.

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Ciao

Make your own path

2011-09-17T02:09:00.000+05:30

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Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Yaa

2011-09-14T03:34:00.000+05:30

Anant Chaturdashi, the final day of the Ganesh Chaturthi is when you will hear this chant everywhere in Mumbai. After rejoicing for 11 days of the festival, it is finally time to bid adieu to the elephant headed lord. It is a bitter-sweet experience, as the last 11 days there is something or the other to look forward to everyday - pandaal hopping throughout the night, late night snacking, catching up with old friends whom i otherwise do not get to meet this regularly, family get togethers, MODAKS (nuff said:P) and the overall religious element in the air.
As a tradition i have been shooting Ganesh Visarjan (immersion) since the past three years at Girgaum chowpatty, but this year was particularly challenging thanks to the rains which never seemed to stop. I haven't encountered rains in the last three years on Visarjan day. Have always too lazy to compile a blog post since 2008 of the Visarjan day, thanks to the post-Ganesh Chaturthi blues. Trying to change that this year. So presenting a few scenes from the Visarjan day at Girgaum below.

Beginning with the Lalbaugcha Raja, which i came across while returning home for my society's Ganesh Visarjan. I was quite lucky to come opposite the same path as the procession. Have heard stories of people waiting in 20 hour long queues to get a glimpse of the King, but sadly i do not have that kind of patience. Just like the 11 days where people throng to get darshan, the Visarjan procession of the Lalbaugcha Raja starts off around 9am and the immersion finally happens around 6-7am the next day. The distance between Lalbaug and Girgaum Chowpatty - around 7km. But it is expected as the sea of humanity surrounding the idol, is insane. The idol passes through a lot of non-Hindu areas (such as the one from where the image was made), but the crowd never seems to dissipate. I saw people from all castes eagerly waiting to get just a glimpse of the revered lord, and the roar that went up as people saw the idol was deafening.

My society's Ganesh idol. I simply love the detailing in the eyes. Not meaning to boast, but have to yet see an idol with that kind of detailing in the eyes.

This was probably the smallest Ganesh murti i have ever seen. It was barely taller than my index finger and could easily fit in the palm of my hand. Offlate, eco-friendly idols have been gaining a lot of prominence.

Two devotees who were single-handedly carrying the idol for the immersion. This is quite a rare sight as each idol is accompanied by friends, family members. But then, at Girgaum, you are never really short of people on Visarjan day:)

The bridge becomes a perfect spot for the media guys to report from. Of course, permission here is not granted unless you have a Press card. I had one, but passed it. But it is funny in a way to see the sheer discrepancy in the density of people below the bridge and those on it.

While one idol had the five-headed Naga surrounding it, another one was using the Nagas as a chariot.

This Ganesh idol did remind us all of the wonderful World Cup 2011 victory. Sad that those same cricketers are facing all kinds of abuse now that they have performed badly in one series.

This is one idol that left me quite impressed. Reason: closely observe where the idol is resting.

These are the strong hands that keep the trolley on which the tall Ganesh idols rest in control when the idol has to pass any slope on a road.

Approaching the beach for the immersions.

This the sea of humanity on witnesses on the beach. And my camera has captured a very small sector of a huge scene.

My Friend Ganesh: Pudhchya varshi lavkar ya

This is a post on the Ganesh Visarjan from three years back : Ganesh Visrjan 2008

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Ciao

An Ode to a Phonograph

2011-09-09T01:57:00.000+05:30

I grace the logo of His Master's Voice,

Back then for listening to music you had no choice,

Cassettes, CDs and MP3s,

Made carrying music a breeze,

Resurgence of Vinyl LPs makes me rejoice!

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Ciao

I saw an angel, of that I'm sure

2011-09-03T02:51:00.000+05:30

Something in the sky caught this little one's fancy and the inquisitiveness in his eyes caught mine:) Always fun to capture kids in their element.

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Ciao

In the mood for Ramzaan

2011-08-30T16:09:00.026+05:30

In the holy month of Ramzaan, Mohammed Ali road is one place where you will find a sea of humanity post sunset. This is when the place comes alive and is so, till the early morning next day. The place is a foodies' and a photographers paradise. So i set out one fine evening to capture some moments.

Round and about

A mehndi seller filling up the mehndi cones. He said most of his customers are male, who use the mehndi /henna and apply it in the hair of their beards

Womens market

Found these pretty mannequins with the hijab, and well just had to capture them

The sheer colour and dazzle of the bangles due to the bulbs can get overwhelming after a while, but it is fun to watch the women haggle over these with the stall guys:)

Getting Ready to break the fast

The Meats and Eats

The fried goodies, generally had while breaking the Roza alongwith the fruits

The Khichda - a concoction of dal and meat (generally mutton or beef) where the meat is cooked to that melt-in-your-mouth precision

The Sweets

Sevaiyaan

A stall owner extracting the sweet named Sandaal from the cups

The beloved Malpua - heavenly when had with the Rabri (a condensed milk recipe)

Eid Mubarak

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Ciao

To each his own..

2011-08-26T02:42:00.001+05:30

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Ciao

Phone or Camera?

2011-08-21T02:12:00.000+05:30

Fourth from the series of street scapes from the Kala Ghoda Arts Fest.

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Ciao

36th Member of Shaolin

2011-08-18T02:18:00.003+05:30

Kala Ghoda Arts Fest is full of interesting characters and generally, the stage artists are the ones who sport radically eye-catching outfits. So naturally, I was taken aback when i came across this little Bruce Lee in his bright red outfit. His guardian was more than happy to let him be clicked. This has to be one of the best dressed person i came across at Kala Ghoda this year.

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Ciao

Hanging feet

2011-08-13T14:42:00.000+05:30

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Ciao

Photography lessons

2011-08-11T14:24:00.000+05:30

I have been a regular at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival since the last four years and it's definitely one of the art fests i eagerly await, as it means atleast four full days of photography. But this year, i was surprised at the sheer number of DSLRs and photographers i saw around me. Four years back there were just a handful.

Now when i look back, i cringe at the photographs i made this year at the festival. Have been bitten by the Street Photography bug offlate, and i just regret i did not explore that to its limit at KGAF. But did come across a few shots that can fit in the category. Will be putting them up on the blog in the coming posts.

Starting off with one shot that i consider decent (from the whole album of over 400 pics, pathetic i know), as it involves the two Cameras alongwith two enthusiastic photographers.

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Ciao

Silent Spaces

2011-08-08T02:39:00.001+05:30

South Mumbai is dotted with stone structures and every time i go there for my street photography, i end up discovering at least one new spot. Luckily it had drizzled before i got out my camera, which gave a nice shine to the stairs which looked quite pleasing. The iron rails at the base of the stairs look horrible, but that is what you get when babus are given the reins to maintain heritage buildings. One should visit the BMC headquarters to understand the gravity of the situation. I feel sad, how there is absolutely no connect with the outer aesthetics and interiors. But this is a sad truth that i have to live with. If only these spaces had a voice!

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Ciao.

Go straight or take a left?

2011-08-05T14:36:00.000+05:30

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Ciao

Ice Cream waala..

2011-08-03T07:28:00.001+05:30

In this world of Baskin Robbins, Naturals, Gelatos, etc., these cartwheel ice-cream kiosks definitely bring a smile to my face. Reminds me of summer holidays when i used to be at my native place, eagerly awaiting the ice cream candy man who would whiz past on his bicycle between 2pm to 3pm, selling popsicles and pepsi colas:P

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Ciao

Footsteps in the sand

2011-07-31T07:33:00.001+05:30

Made at Palolem while strolling the beach while the sun was setting. Last time i had been here some years back, i had clicked a similar shot. But it was missing the human element. Thought of revisiting that composition with this addition. Lucky for me that the impressions on the sandbed were from the couple and were undisturbed by the waves.

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Ciao

My Office LOLcats

2011-07-28T00:47:00.007+05:30

These are two cats that hang out outside my work place. The one who isn't showing his face is a tom cat and I have a major love-hate relationship with him:P The one on the right, who seems to be looking into space is a very docile cat and never dares to share food with Browntail, lest it wants to get pawed in the face. They are great stress busters for our entire team and have stuck with us since their birth.

This shot was made while i was testing a very interesting camera. Will give out the details some other time:)

I think I am going to take a break from posting animal photographs here as I just realised that as i scroll down this blog there is a baby crab, ducks, an insect and seagulls. Will be back with some street photographs next time around.

Take Care

Ciao

What you lookin' at?

2011-07-23T14:34:00.000+05:30

Strolling on the beach watching the tiny crab babies racing around from one burrow to the next is fun. Wasn't getting any sharp capture, so decided to wait outside a burrow for the crab baby to turn out. The eyes popping out were an added bonus:)

Take Care,

Ciao:)

The 'Amelie' Moment

2011-07-20T01:54:00.007+05:30

This is a piece i had written back in 2008 but back then i didn't have a proper image to go with it. I went to the same spot after a good four years and found the two protagonists in my writeup doing their thing. So here goes...

January 2008

I have been a fan of the French movie Amelie (La Fabuleux destine d'Amelie Poulain), and never miss out on any opportunity to spread the word about the movie, to a connoisseur of World Cinema. By Amelie Moment, I mean moments wherein a smile erupts on our faces, without any material stimuli. A smile triggered via a happiness that's born within us. Only condition is that one should keep one's mind open, and absorb oneself in the moment completely. I have named it after Amelie’s attitude towards life and her knack of extracting immense pleasures through some really simple things in life, a rarity in the present age.

Bored with the regular monotony of office work today, I headed to a garden nearby with a couple of colleagues, in a sincere hope that it would keep my mind off work for some time. While they were still discussing work, I just completely shut off my mind and prayed that the work blabber end. If only.

I noticed a fountain nearby, which was filled with ankle-deep water. There was an abstract installation bang in the middle of the circular fountain. It was black in color and placed on an assembly of huge boulders fixed to the base of the circular area of the fountain. It surely wasn’t a sprinkler as there were no pipes visible and the structure just jutted out in all directions. Just when I was observing this abstract art, and trying to make sense of it, from out of nowhere, paddling through the ankle deep water came two ducks.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have cared to look a second time, but today, I actually kept my mind just on those two ducks. I had heard of the phrase ‘living in the now’. Tried to give it a shot.

Observation was completely onto those two angelic ducks. They seemed lovely together, in a place that was completely out of context for these birds. Generally seen in a raft of over a dozen ducks, seeing just a couple made me all the more attracted towards them.

The dark green headed duck, lets call him Donald, was enjoying the afternoon sun with his white headed mate, lets call her Daisy. Donald and Daisy seemed oblivious of the surrounding world, happily paddling their way around the circle. The orange feet with the webbed digits looked completely out of place considering the overall white body color. The pattern formed by the separated water once Donald and Daisy sailed through it was very photogenic indeed, reflecting the black art structure along with trees on the trough and the sky on the crest of the ripple, forming a diverging V-Shape.

Donald didn’t seem content with just paddling, his beak was scanning the water surface for some microscopic catch, a tadpole maybe. Daisy seemed like she didn’t give a damn about food. Maybe she was on a strict diet, who knows. Wasn’t really understanding if Donald was cleaning his beak or hunting. Water seemed pretty clear though, hardly any tadpoles were visible.

‘Think like Donald dude, had he the intelligence to deduce that, he’d be in your place,’ said my mind. Donald seemed to keep trying. That was the beauty of the moment. The oblivion of Donald to the fact that there was no food for him in the form of fishes, yet him trying with all his might. I was just wondering, ‘How boring would it be if Donald actually knew there wasn’t any food?’

A smile slowly started to form on my face. Thoroughly amused by Donald’s antics and Daisy’s almost royal stance while paddling, I felt really refreshed. Couldn't believe that so simple a moment would actually pull me out of my blues.

So, while Donald and Daisy continued their thing, I called out to my colleagues, and after a glass of chilled pineapple juice, we all headed to our office, with me, going with a much more clearer and refreshed mind.

Take Care,

Ciao!

A ghost?

2011-07-10T01:52:00.003+05:30

My first attempt at blending multiple images in the same frame. Needless to say, lots to learn:)

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Ciao

A winged visitor

2011-07-08T02:12:00.002+05:30

Was reading a book on a rainy night when i noticed that i had company. I quickly fetched my camera and tried to get a bit cosy with the visitor. She posed quite well i must say. Really loved the green colour of her body and the shiny striations on the wings and ofcourse, the piercing eyes. Insects can be so beautiful when seen through a camera's lens.

Take Care,

Ciao

High fliers

2011-07-02T21:25:00.001+05:30

Enroute to Alibaug on the ferry, these seagulls quickly start following you as soon as the ferry starts its journey. They are scouring for food which the ferry passengers are only too happy to share. They seagulls did get very close and i got a lot of shots, but i really like this one in particular. Beautiful form, short textured wingspan, gliding through the air. You cannot help wishing that you could also fly like these birds.

Take Care,

Ciao

Sand in my shoes

2011-06-30T00:45:00.001+05:30

"I've still got sand in my shoes

And I can't shake the thought of you

I shake it all, forget you

Why, why would I want to

I know we said goodbye

Anything else would've been confused, but

I... wanna see you again"

- Dido,

Life For Rent

Take Care,

Ciao

Will the real Kala Ghoda please stand up?

2011-06-27T23:18:00.004+05:30

You may have come across a lot of posts on this blog mentioning Kala Ghoda, thanks to the art fest that happens there every year. A lot of my friends wonder why the area is called so, despite there being no Kala Ghoda or black horse (the painting of a black horse on one of the buildings in that area doesn't count) anywhere in the premise. Time for a history lesson:)

The Kala Ghoda district is called so because there actually was a metal statue of the King Edward VII on his black horse which was installed in now parking lot area, opposite Jehangir Art Gallery. Jewish businessman David Sassoon (yeah, the library named after the same person is right across the street) was the person who got the statue built. The statue was moved from there in 1965 to Rani Baug, but the name of the art district has stuck.

This image was made while i was strolling through Rani Baug on a drizzly day.

Take Care,

Ciao

Drops

2011-06-12T16:52:00.006+05:30

It's that time of the year again, when the chill in the air, the fragrance of wet earth, uncertainty of transportation, greenery all around is unmatched. Also a time of the year, when my observations through my camera's view finder, get a much needed boost. Water drops never look as inviting and demanding to be captured, ever.

Just a matter of time before i resume trekking in the Sahyadris. Can't wait to capture more drenched cobwebs and more water drops hanging on the edge:)

Take Care

Ciao

In the shadows..

2011-06-04T22:55:00.006+05:30

This is my second attempt at photographing a live concert and i have realised that I have miles to go in this genre. The energy around you in a live concert is unmatched and i have found photographing under such an atmosphere to be quite addictive. This was made at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival this year. Prem Joshua and Band had the crowd engrossed in their fusion music and it was a sheer joy to shoot with great music in the background. Hope to get more closer next year round:P

I wasn't a great fan of concert photography till i read up an article on a book by Raghu Rai, one of the greatest photographers in India. That is when i came to understand the addiction behind photographing performing artists. Raghu Rai has done extensive work as far as shooting Indian classical music maestros goes. It has been compiled in the wonderful book India's Great Masters. You can see the artist in their element in Rai's work. Be it Pandit Ravi Shankar or the late Bhimsen Joshi or Kishori Amonkar. You realise the true significance of his quote where Rai says that it takes hours to capture an artist the way he or she should be, in their most intense moments.

Take Care

Ciao

Cine Advance

2011-05-26T11:22:00.000+05:30

A banner from the time when Mumbai was still Bombay and Kolkata was still Calcutta. Simpler times...

Take Care

Ciao

Escaliers

2011-05-13T15:13:00.001+05:30

Spiral staircases always take me back in time: games of hide and seek; horror stories of what lies at the end of the staircase and more often, they bring up a visual from the classic Robert Louis Stevenson book - 'Kidnapped', where a character is climbing the staircases and suddenly lightning strikes and shows the protagonist that there are no more stairs leading up staircase - it's a trap. Spiral staircases just conjure up stories with nasty endings for me:P

Take Care

Ciao

Duality

2011-05-10T00:00:00.001+05:30

The architecture around South Mumbai always fascinates me and I love to get lost among these old buildings. When I am not busy getting lost, i try to interpret them in as many ways as i can. Now if only i got a chance to shoot within these beautiful monuments, i would get to learn so much. There is something inherently attractive about the history behind these old structures. Abandoned places are the only other spaces that attract me as much, specially the defunct Mills around my locality. Hope to be able to shoot them someday. Till then, South Mumbai old architecture is where i will quench my thirst.

Take Care,

Ciao

Race against time

2011-05-06T03:36:00.003+05:30

Everyone in Mumbai is racing against time, and we like it no other way i guess. This is just one example.

Take Care

Ciao

A Self Portrait

2011-04-28T09:18:00.003+05:30

I'm a huge fan of reflection. Have explored it on the blog in Walking Tall , You Are Not Alone, Victoria Memorial Reflections 1 and 2 and so on. This time thought of attempting self portraiture. The place, ah well, I'll let that remain a secret for some time now.

Take Care

Ciao

Update: Came across this interesting piece on Self Portraiture on the Better Photography website.

Blissful Bihu: the Assamese folk dance

2011-04-12T01:08:00.011+05:30

Kala Ghoda arts festival (KGAF) always exposes me to something new each year, which is precisely the reason why i eagerly look forward to it. I had always heard of the folk dance of Assam - Bihu dance - but this year i witnessed it live at KGAF.

It is a dance performed by young men and women during the Bihu festival. The women were dressed in vibrant green sarees called mekhalas accompanied by men wearing traditional dhotis and gamochas. Bihu music involves the use of traditional instruments like the dhol (a drum), a mohor singor pepa (a pipe instrument made out of buffalo horn) and cymbals among others.

The dance form was quite energetic, with a liberal dose of jhatkas among the women. A little googling on the festival gave me the answer:

"This joyous dance is performed by both young men and women, and is characterized by brisk dance steps, rapid hand movement, and a rhythmic swaying of the hips in order to represent youthful passion, reproductive urge and 'Joie-de-vivre'."

Enjoy the photographs:)

Men in traditional gamocha

Engrossed in a thundering dhol segment

Probably the only still shot i captured from the entire session

Another instance where i could capture a stance.....

....while most of the times, the dance movements were too fast for my camera

Take Care

Ciao

Flirtatious Finlandia

2011-03-30T01:28:00.009+05:30

I was first introduced to Finlandia around two years back, when a cousin who works as an Officer on a carrier ship returned from his voyage. Never in my life had i tasted such smooth vodka. For the first time, i did not feel the need to drink vodka with any accompaniment. For once, i drank vodka, the way it should be drunk - Neat. This was two years back.

Couple of months back, i purchased a Finlandia Lime Fusion vodka to re-acquaint myself and my cousins with its taste. It's colourless and has absolutely no odour. As you take the first sip, the vodka will most likely bite you on the tongue and the roof of your mouth, but you will be surprised at how smoothly it will slide down your throat. It does not leave any wierd taste or burning sensation after being gulped down. You do get a mild aftertaste of lemon rind. You might get the impression, that it is too smooth to actually hit you. Well take a couple of pegs and let the magic start unfolding:)

Seen in the photograph above are two cousins who are out. I was knocked out as well, but shot some photographs before retiring to bed. Between the three of us we couldn't finish the bottle as we had decided to, when we started some hours back:P

Which reminds me, there's still some vodka left. Need to get back to it soon.

Take Care

Ciao

PS: The bottle is completely transparent. The yellow/orange colour is the ambient light.

O Majhi...

2011-03-23T02:24:00.004+05:30

I always keep coming back to Kolkata whenever i am confused as to what to put up on this blog. And 9 out of 10 times, i come across an image that i want to share. Seen here is the Vidyasagar Setu which was also featured on the blog entry Peek-A-Boo where i used two pillars of the Prinsep Memorial for framing.

Prinsep Memorial in Kolkata is situated very close to the Hooghly. On the banks of the river, you come across these really old-style boats which are not engine powered. They have a semi- circular covering atop them. I was instantly reminded of this very famous Kishore Kumar song from one of my favourite films - Amar Prem, when i first saw the whole setting around the bank. Life on the banks seems quite oblivious to the vagaries of time.

And then you look up, to see the cables of the Vidyasagar Setu with its bright lights that bring you back to the present.

It is this juxtaposition of the contemporary with the past that makes Kolkata so irresistable for a photography enthusiast.

Take Care,

Ciao

A Mouthful of Sky

2011-03-14T23:18:00.006+05:30

"Earth, Wind and Rain and Fire,

Wealth, Power, Blood...Desire,

One Goal to Live for, Before We Die,

One Taste of Glory...

One Mouthful of Sky...."

- A Mouthful of Sky

(India's only English language soap that was aired on DD in '95)

These were the only lyrics that floated through my mind when i saw this wonderful mood in the sky that day in February. Generally in Mumbai, clouds make an appearance only during the monsoons. At other times, one is left with a bland sky.

This also happens to be my maiden attempt at High Dynamic Range photography (HDR). More than an 'Experiment with the Lens', this is an 'Experiment with Photoshop':)) And with this project, i have overcome my dilemma of shooting extremes of exposures. Have to say, the process is quite addictive.

Take Care,

Ciao

Go ahead, Mess with me

2011-03-10T03:13:00.001+05:30

Veermata Jijabai Udyan popularly known as Byculla zoo has this stone sculpture of an elephant at the gates of the Victoria Albert Museum also known as Bhau Daji Lad museum. As a kid i remember climbing this elephant, but after many years when i visited the place, i found the stone elephant to be inside a cage as well.

Take Care,

Ciao

A Flury's Experience

2011-03-07T02:08:00.003+05:30

This is an old photograph that i came across while browsing my folders. Realised i had never shared it on this blog. I also recalled a writeup i had put up on another blog (back in the time, when i did 'Write' long posts). Thought of sharing it here, till i get decent enough photographs to populate the blog:)

April 12th, 2008 : Flurys has been conquered, FINALLY.

Everyday while passing outside the Flurys outlet, when I was working in and around Park Street, Kolkata, I used to watch with envy, firangs and desis alike, eat their way to glory, a hallowed breakfast. It always made the foodie in me wonder, when the hell will i eat 'The Breakfast!' Having stayed in Kolkata for 8 months and not having visited Flurys for a breakfast was blasphemous.

The hard part involved convincing my friends here to join me! If that was done, then the rest, as they say, would be bacon and chicken along with juice and coffee.

I mean c'mon its no mean task to convince people to wake up early on a weekend, and go all the way from Salt Lake City to Park Street for something as trivial as a breakfast. On top of that, spending a BOMB on it.

Flurys - Five Generations of Fine Confection - goes the tagline. It’s been around in the famous food district of Kolkata, Park Street, for a good eight decades. Founded in 1927, by Mr. and Mrs. Flurys, Flurys introduced the cafe culture in Kolkata. It was, and still is, famous for the European delicacies it has on offer. Creamy Pastries, Crossaints, fabulous cakes and a variety of exotic breads form a key market segment for Flurys, with regular customers who visit to collect their regular quota of bakery products. Come Christmas season, and one is bound to find serpentine queue outside this institution. However, the place is quite reknowned for the one thing i was there for that day, The Breakfast.

The first thing that one will notice when he/she enters Flurys is the ambience. One has got to hand it to the interior decorator who has renovated the old Flurys to the present day beauty that it is, without killing the soul of the place. Outer glass walls with the Flurys insignia printed in a calligraphic pink font, makes it stand out amongst the other restaurants in the locality.

Brown is the color theme inside, which is followed to the tee. The light and dark brown chequered pillars leading to the main pastry counter stand strong. The warm lighting adds to the charm of the place, and the chandeliers seems straight out of some Maharajahs palace. On the wall to the right side, are sepia - toned photo frames, showcasing various aspects of the place from the customers to the kitchens. The brown colored wooden chairs with a slightly curved strong back are instantly relaxing. Finally, completing the colour theme, are brown liveried waiters wearing a white apron.

The seating arrangements by the glass walls is the best according to me. It really gives one a feeling of being on some roadside European cafe. Watching the flood of humanity going to and fro along the footpath and the vehicles zooming past the busy and chaotic Park Street, in such calm environs, is an experience worth savouring.

Scanning the menu was just a formality, as I was very sure what me and my three friends were going to have. The non - veg Breakfast, hands down! According to the menu, it comprised of two pieces of chicken sausage, one piece of bacon (pork), a potato cutlet, baked tomato, one omlette, two slices of bread and butter. Juice would be served along with all of them, followed by coffee for me and tea for the rest. On reading the menu, i wondered, what's so special about this?

That was till the order actually arrived. It was a riot of colors, a treat for sore eyes. Only colour which didn't feature prominently, was green, actually it didnt feature at all.

Without further ado, i started with the proceedings while the others were thinking of where to start first. Having stayed away from chicken for a good 25 days, as Kolkata was gripped in the shackles of Bird Flu, i was more than delighted to cut the sausage and pierce it with the fork, and guide it to its final destination. The chicken was a quite soft and juicy and i just enjoyed my first chicken bite, after ages, for a good minute.

Bacon was something i had last tried in 1992. Yeah, its been almost sixteen years since. I had completely forgotten what it tasted like. Now this is the part where i actually had to struggle with my fork. The bacon was hard, and although cutting it was some task, piercing it with the kinda blunt fork was tricky. It needed hard chewing, it was hard meat alright, but the constant chewing made the juiced ooze out of the meat and add another dimension to its taste. I continued with the 'jugal-bandi' of chicken and bacon.

Then i attacked the omlette. Now this omlette was very subtle and was very lightly cooked, thus retaining its liquidity. The vivid yellow yolk seemed like a balloon filled to capacity about to burst, and burst it did, when i touched it with my fork. I am not a fan of yolk, so the best thing i could think of was dipping the bacon/chicken into the yolk and eating the combination, and trust me, it actually amplified my respect towards the yolk part of an egg.

The potato cutlet was as normal as potato cutlets are, filled with bits and bits of potato. It kind of neutralized the OD of non-vegetarian variety. I couldn't make heads or tails of the baked tomato, i mean it had a brownish crust on it, and there was no post processing (for lack of a better word, adding the Photoshop slang) . I didn't even bother trying it. The color theme of the food was matched with that of the interiors by the brown crust of the bread. Have to add, the bread and butter did make the overall breakfast that much heavier.

The juice, which i was expecting to be made in-house with fresh fruits, was a let down, as it was of those synthetic juice variety and had a wierd taste. But as always can't abandon juices, so finished it off along with the solid food. The final order, coffee for me and tea for the rest, followed.

We raised a toast to Flurys with my coffee and their tea. It was indeed an experience. For the first time in my life, i actually had had such a heavy breakfast. Not to mention, the most expensive breakfast too. But then, none of my friends complained about that fact, as it was our last meet in Kolkata. As a memento, i secretly picked up the packets of white and brown sugar which were enclosed in paper packets having the Flurys insignia.

Take Care,

Ciao

Shaping the pot

2011-02-11T02:37:00.007+05:30

Was just going through one of the blogs on my Blogroll called Project Dharavi which is documenting the life around Asia's largest slum. The members includes writers, painters and photographers who are documenting Dharavi through their medium of choice.

I remembered doing a photo essay as a part of my Journalism school assignment which also revolved around the same theme. I was visiting Dharavi for the first time back then and was completely impressed with the enterprising individuals i came across there. Leather tannery, farsan making units, lantern workshops, hand painted diyas were just some of the many cottage industries i came across there.

I mainly concentrated on the Kumharwada or Potter's Colony. Since i had gone shooting just a few weeks prior to Diwali that year, the potter's colony was buzzing with activity. Here are two photographs from that series, where i finally came across a potter who was shaping his pots on the potter's wheel. I was tired of seeing the electronic wheel where ever i went. I know it was convenient, but having grown up with the vision of seeing pots being shaped on the wheel (which was rotated manually) i guess i wanted to see it live.

I guess it is about time i make another trip to this wonderful place.

Take care

Ciao

PS : Working on the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2011 photo blog post. Stay tuned.

Pearl vision

2011-02-03T22:38:00.005+05:30

This one was taken long back with my Canon A400. Accidentally came across it while organising my photographs after many years:) I had committed the cardinal sin of using flash for such a close range shot, a big evidence of which is visible on the leaf on the left hand side.

This was taken on my maiden overnight trek back in 2005 to Harishchandragad. Was trudging through the forest path en route the highest spot in that region. It was the rainy season and the chill in the surroundings alongwith mild drizzling interrupted by thick foggy patches was a pleasing experience. Saw this collection of water droplets between these leaves as i bent down to tie my shoe laces. Was thrilled with my shot back then, but now when i look at it, i find a million flaws. But then, what the heck, this was the most i could get out of an automatic camera:) (excuses excuses:P)

Take Care

Ciao

Happyness Marathon

2011-01-26T23:58:00.011+05:30

Haven't been active on the blog for over a month now. This time, i was actually caught up with a lot of things and was not being lazy. Yeah for once that is true. But anyways, I am back and I did end up fulfilling some resolutions. Well at least one, that of redesigning the blog. Will try to manage the others this year:))
This post is going to be a bit lengthy, so do not proceed if you get easily bored:)

Week before last, was the best January week i have had since a long time. It started with a bang with me managing to complete the Mumbai Marathon, the full 42.195km marathon, under six hours. This is one thing towards which i was training since October 2010 and fulfilling the marathon was a dream. Here are the running bib and the medal. Having my name with a number above Tata Consultancy Services (the associate sponsor of the marathon) reminded me of my ID card of TCS. Yeah, for two years, I had worked as an Assistant Systems Engineer in TCS before making a career switch:) (Coincidence #1)

The experience was fabulous and the full marathon is going to be on my itinerary every January. The best part about the run was the challenging terrain (if i can use that word, considering we are talking about a city here). The route takes you through the tony South Mumbai neighbourhoods surrounded by old pre historic buildings, through Marine Drive - the best stretch on the route, the slums in Worli and Mahim and finally on the architectural marvel, the Bandra Worli Sea Link. The whole of Mumbai is out on the streets cheering for you.

The Killer Stretch
The Peddar Road flyover stretch was the killer in the entire route, located at the most strategic point. Just when you are beginning to gain confidence after easily completing the Marine Drive stretch, you are faced with the uphill climb. Similarly, when you are tired and out towards the last 5-6km of the race, the uphill climb of the Peddar road stretch is smiling at you. I was completely drained out by the time i finished the Sea Link and there were about 11 km remaining. Running time had reduced drastically and i kept reminding myself of the Hemkund Sahib trek when the challenging Peddar road stretch was to be covered in the end. Traffic on the road by 11.30am - an hour before it was designated - was a complete letdown specially when we had to cross the roads. Some motorists were kind enough to let us pass, while the others were behaving quite rude.

High points
Seeing senior citizens running alongside you was one experience i will always cherish. I saw two senior citizens who were running without any footwear, was very impressed that at that age, they were still participating and giving their 100 percent. Another group of senior citizens were running together and were constantly motivating each other. I was running alone, and if it wasn't for random participants egging me on to not rest and finish the race, i would have spent a lot more time completing the marathon.
Another thing i liked about the whole experience was chatting with random strangers, discussing training programs, getting to know about their reason to run. It provided a good break specially for me as i was running alone, but also felt inspired listening to some tales.
Seeing the elite runners zip past you was another moment i will never forget. The elite athletes were like stallions, running at a mind boggling 20kmph or more. It just gives you a reality check. I was not participating for the prize anyways, but you really learn to respect the elite athletes, when you have yourself gone through the grind of training. You have to give it to them for maintaining the discipline in terms of training and eating habits.
The icing on the cake was the medal which i received after completing the race. It was my life's first ever medal. Everyone who finished the race was rightfully awarded one, and it just made the marathon completion that much more sweeter.

Happyness part deux

Another incident that happened in the same week was two of my photographs getting selected to be displayed at PVR Cinemas, Juhu. Mumbai Weekend Shoot (MWS) - the photography club whose shutterbugs meet every weekend for a photo outing - and Dhobi Ghat - a film by Kiran Rao, had put together an exhibition of the best of Mumbai photographs. Walking Tall and Wanna Race? were on display with a 100 other wonderful photographs. This was in itself thrilling for me as it was the first time that any of my photograph was displayed to a wider public audience.

Dhobi Ghat team along with Kiran Rao were going to come to see the exhibition. I was aware of it but due to prior work committments, could not go there. I was informed by one of my friends who was there that i had won the Best Photo prize. It took some time for that statement to sink in. I mean this really felt like a dream.
Later, the organisers themselves called me to tell me that i had indeed won the prize. Kiran Rao herself had picked it up and said what she liked about the photograph. I will regret not being there personally. But i really was on a high after that.
I remember starting my photo outing journey with MWS with a shoot at Dhobi Ghat itself. I had uploaded that photo essay in 2009 on this blog titled Mumbai washes its clothes here. And my first photography award came from the director of a film Dhobi Ghat:)) (Coincidence #2)

So that is it. A marathon completion, a photography exhibition and my photograph winning. Three major accomplishments in my scheme of things. Hope to achieve many more this year:))

Till then

Take Care

Ciao

Over the hood

2010-12-12T18:32:00.006+05:30

There is something innately charming about anything retro and it always manages to capture my attention. This blog is a living proof where you will come across atleast one photograph on every page, that features old architecture that is spread across Mumbai.

When i read about a Vintage car rally some months back, i knew i had to attend it. Most of Mumbai's vintage cars are still in running conditions, thanks to the painstaking care taken by their proud owners. Eight out of ten car owners that i spoke to were from the Parsi community.

While i did shoot loads of images of these vintage beauties, i would like to keep this post specially for the ubiquitous insignia's or hood ornaments of these cars. Will put up the cars some other time. So let's get started with the most popular insignia - The Spirit of Ecstasy..

Take Care,

Ciao

Leafy Fractal

2010-12-02T00:19:00.009+05:30

Take Care

Ciao

Songspiration

2010-11-26T03:24:00.008+05:30

This post has been on my mind since a long time, but i just never got to composing it - the lazy ass that i am. The seed of the idea was sown by this song, that i was and still am impressed by. The photographs you will see below were made at locations sprinkled across India. But via this song i somehow could put them all in one space, in context. This is my interpretation of the song. This post is completely inspired by a song, hence the post name. Plan to tackle this idea in future posts as well. And i know, this idea will either be completely liked, or completely disliked.
Either ways, do let me know:)
Now lets get to the post.

The grass was greener...

The Light was brighter...

The taste was sweeter...

The nights of wonder...

With friends surrounded...

The dawn mist glowing...

The water flowing...

The endless river...

Forever... and ever.....

High Hopes
-- Pink Floyd

Do check out the song by clicking on its name, particularly the instrumental section following the lines i have quoted above.

Take Care

Ciao

Next Clearance 8.50am

2010-11-17T00:06:00.006+05:30

Three things, in ascending order of stupidity, were going through my mind when i was composing this shot :

Scenario 1 : This guy is probably waiting for his girlfriend, to spend some quality time with her in the Horniman circle garden behind him. He's had a long work week. In fact, he's just come straight from his office to this spot. For a change, he has arrived earlier than his girl.

Scenario 2 : This guy had probably come to drop a letter in the box. But in the hurry (probably due to lack of sleep, as explained in scenario 1) ended up dropping the envelope filled with his salary cash. Now starts the wait till NEXT CLEARANCE which according to the letter box is at 8.50 am. 20 minutes to go till then.

Ok, now do not judge my mental well-being on this one.

Scenario 3 : This guy has probably had a fight with Box No 54. He was confused as to which side to put the letter in through. He asked the letter box himself and on not receiving any answer started kicking and abusing him. Box No 54 is probably thinking to himself, "The impatient fool, can't he see i am forbidden from speaking till 8.50am?" and he goes back to sleep, leaving the stranger looking out for help.

I can't remember the last time i used a letter box. Probably a decade back. Wonder how many people in the city (barring for official purposes) use the letterbox for personal mails. Hell, even office work happens through courier services these days.

But, it feels good to have these around. Reminds you of simpler times.

Take Care

Ciao

The Blue Caps

2010-10-09T19:46:00.008+05:30

This was one of the most privileged tours i had been to while i was interning at The Times of India. It was a journos only tour of the yet-to-be-opened Bandra Worli Sealink. The photographs of the sealink have appeared on the blog before : An Engineering Marvel . It was special because i got the opportunity to explore this link before it would be opened for the public and got to click some photographs, which i cannot imagine clicking today.

This is one photograph i had clicked even before i started snapping the Sealink. It was just a bunch of labourers, taking some time out from their gruelling schedule. Their blue safety helmet is what arrested my attention. It looked just perfect against the dull grey sky. The cloudy atmosphere added to the overall charm.

Today when i read an article on the critically injured labourer who is fighting for his life as a result of the infamous CWG bridge collapse, it made me think how much we take the migrant labourers for granted. I stopped on this photograph for a while and the guy on the extreme right seemed to be asking me, "We build your sealinks, your skywalks, your skyscrapers but do you'll really give a damn about us if we are injured in the process?" And i realised, we don't.

I am not going to get into the morality bit as i feel this is not the right platform for such a serious issue. But the least we can do on our individual part, is show some respect to these labourers. It's a tough life they lead. After all, the collective efforts of these guys creates marvelous things.

Take Care

Ciao

Walking Tall

2010-09-30T01:38:00.005+05:30

Millions enter the city after departing from the long distance train at CST station. Many thousands of them are those who have come here to try their luck in this city of gold. This boy crossing the road, reminded me of another boy with whom i had interacted last year. This other boy had run away from his home (in interior Uttar Pradesh) with a one way ticket to Mumbai to fulfill his dream of getting on a talent show on TV!

This is one of those rare instances, when i have patiently waited for the right moment to compose a photograph. Tried juxtaposing the grandeur of the railway building with this humble young man crossing the road.

Take Care

Ciao

Shades of Truth

2010-08-29T14:17:00.007+05:30

Was walking around Colaba yesterday outside the Jehangir Art Gallery. I couldn't find one of my favourite artists from the Pavement Gallery, the footpath outside the art gallery. Maybe it is the rains, i thought. I recalled a profile i had done on him back in my Journalism school days, as a part of our project. This was the very first profile i had ever attempted. The text is pasted below. He has appeared on this blog many times before as The Perfectionist and the unperturbed artist. This is one long post, so don't blame me if you are bored:P

Shades of Truth

His weapons of choice are quite modest. A clip pad, four clips, Staedtler charcoal pencil, and a blade to sharpen the pencils. The fingers that make such confident strokes are frail, but the spirit is indomitable. At 60, Vijay Balkrishna Parasnaik, is probably the eldest artist around the Pavement Art Plaza.

Having done his Diploma from the esteemed JJ School of Arts in 1978, Parasnaik has been working for nearly 40 years now. He has worked in various capacities ranging from Visualiser to Art Director to Studio Manager. Companies range from newspaper houses like Indian Express to advertising agencies like Age Communication. But his first love has always been sketching portraits. "I had an interest in this art-form since my school days. My father, the late Balkrishna Parasnaik, was also an artist. His artistic genes have really helped me", adds Parasnaik.

Born on the 2^nd of October, 1948, Parasnaik is one person who totally shares the same view of life as the great personality who shares his birthday: Mahatma Gandhi. In fact he resembles Gandhiji even in his food habits, for Parasnaik is a pure vegetarian, surprising considering he comes from the Konkan belt. "I have never had friends who indulge in drinking and smoking. In fact if possible, I even avoid anything that has onion and potato in it", he adds.

How does an artist find his mood to indulge in his art on a bustling pavement like the Jehangir Art Gallery pavement? "I am not a slave to mood. I can work at any given time and under any given circumstances. My work gives me immense pleasure. I work here from 3pm all the way to 6pm, everyday. Most of my work is done at home, but this atmosphere is ideal for me. I am not affected by the passersby. I hardly ever look up from my portrait", says Parasnaik, making it sound so very simple. "There was no concept of pavement artists, when I started off. Now this pavement has become a gallery of sorts", says the lanky artist, conspicuous by his traditional hat and soda bottle glasses.

But isn't it illegal to display your art here on the pavement? "Displaying art isn't illegal. Thanks to Cowasjee Jehangir, the owner of the Art Gallery, struggling artists have got a chance to display their work. Since I am the oldest artist here, my place is fixed and no one tries to occupy it. That ways I am respected among the artists here. But even otherwise, I face no problems from the BMC or the police. They are very co-operative and never harass us", Parasnaik clears the confusion.

Most of Parasnaik's clients are middle class people who want to get their portraits sketched, for which Parasnaik charges a nominal Rs.500 for an A3 size page. "I work according to orders. Most of my clients come back with more portraits to be sketched. I rarely do live portraits, as I get very little time from the pending orders. But when I do, I charge only Rs.200 for them", adds Parasnaik.

He avoids charcoal sticks and thinks that Indian branded pencils add a shine to the portraits which is undesirable. Parasnaik uses the expensive Staedtler pencil as it gives the portraits a matte – finish.

Parasnaik has never felt the need to display his works in art galleries. "This pavement is my gallery, and my work does all the talking. I don't need the crutch of an art gallery for that. My work gives me the motivation that money never can", says the humble artist, whose students have gone on to having solo shows in the art galleries around town.

Certain things don't change. For the pavement around the Jehangir Art Gallery, the mob surrounding a lean artist will always be there. "I am 60 now, but that doesn't mean I will put up my boots. I will continue to go on and on, as this is my only motivation".

-- October 2008

Take Care

Ciao

Esse Quam Videri

2010-08-24T23:06:00.010+05:30

Relax! That translates into 'To Be Rather Than To Seem' and that is the motto my alma mater studiorum ie. my school - St. Peter's School:) This is the photograph of the chapel within my school. The only history i will reveal about my school is that it was founded by Cowley Fathers way back in 1874. (You can get a detailed one from the website)

I am fortunate to be living very close to my school, I pass by it atleast once a week, but rarely drop in. It is not easy. It's like stepping into a time - machine. Afterall, I had spent 12 of my most cherished years here. Mind is still searching for those long lost friends when i step in. Many of them are probably married by now and who knows, their kids will be studying in St. Peter's now:)

These photographs were made around four years back when i was still using Canon A400. It was for my personal collection, as i was moving to another city, thanks to my job back then. I wanted to keep some special photographs with me. I also uploaded them on Flickr and distributed the link in my school's Orkut group (yeah back then there was no Facebook on my intellectual map:P) and forgot about it.

Today when i opened my school's Facebook page, i was pleasantly surprised to see one of my photographs being used as the display pic of the group. I went through the photo album, and one of my seniors had uploaded photographs from the Flickr stream onto Facebook. Most of the photographs had large number of comments, some from seniors who were from batches even before i was born. And what's more, these are the only school-related photographs found on any of my school's groups across the web.

My happiness knew no bounds!! I mean it was just my personal collection of photographs, but i did not realise that many ex-students, who aren't in the same city, state or have probably left the country or haven't been to school in decades, got a chance to relive the golden days. I don't know many of the commentators personally, but it feels wonderful to know that i touched them emotionally at some level.

I think i need to fix a photography date with my school again soon. Probably plan to cover the senior section as well this time around:)

Take Care

Ciao

PS : This is the complete Flickr stream for those interested : St. Peter's School

Down the street...

2010-08-19T23:20:00.004+05:30

"Sixty years ago, on such a shiny day, a little boy, holding the hand of his father, walked this street. And as the years passed by, father was replaced by friends and eventually by a woman.
But through the twists and turns of this straight road, everyone seemed to vanish, one by one.
Rain poured, floods rushed in, sun burst, still, the windows remain silent and kept the secrets, till it hurts.
And for the days to come, the tired old man, will walk the same old street, with mind full of unsettling thoughts about lost world, lost hope and death."
Saurabh, 21, Mumbai.

This was the interpretation given by a cousin when he saw this photograph which was completely different from what was going through my mind while making the composition. This is my maiden attempt at just clicking the photograph and letting someone fill in the words. On the occassion of World Photography Day, would like to add this new dimension to the blog:)

Happy World Photography Day to all the shutterbugs:)

Take Care

Ciao

PS: Please do visit Saurabh's blog here : Scattered Pieces

Gossip Girls

2010-08-17T00:53:00.010+05:30

There are very few moments in a zoo which are as joyous as watching two elephants basking in the mid-afternoon sun, without any metallic chains gripping their pillar like legs. It was a pleasant sight to see Laxmi and Anarkali, out on the ground swinging their trunks and stomping their feet, uprooting the overgrown grass and slapping it against their back and legs to keep the birds or flies at bay. I have rarely seen this kind of spectacle in Rani baug in the last many years. Needless to say, i was rooted to the place for quite a while.

As i entered the zoo, i was apalled at the sight of the lioness, which had frustration written all over her face. I was not expecting much from the elephant section as well, because not very long ago an incident had occured in the elephant's enclosure which led to the death of a trespasser who had provoked Laxmi, the elephant. In 2007, a male elephant named Rajkumar had killed his mahout, which had resulted in him being sent to Kerala. Some years back the tigress had passed away, thus letting only squirrels scampering in the tiger's den.

Rani Baug is not just a zoo for me, but it is a place that has countless memories. Back when i was in school, i remember taking rides on the elephant, feeding the deers, watching the tigress walk back and forth for hours. Now more than half of the animals are either dead or have been shifted to other zoos, and the ones who are there are in a pitiable condition. Talks have been on to spruce up the zoo, but its been over 5 years since i have been hearing that.

Anyways, i wasn't thinking about all that when i was in front of the pachyderms. Here are the girls gossiping some more.

Okay enough of talking and playing around. Let's just end the post with a nice shake of hands err trunks:)

Take Care

Ciao

PS : These photographs were clicked courtesy the absolutely wonderful Canon 550D. Will write a post dedicated solely to the camera soon.

Wanna Race?

2010-07-28T23:51:00.003+05:30

Gothic architecture in South Mumbai is quite abundant. David Sasson Library, one of the oldest functioning Reading room and Library in Mumbai, is one structure that i have photographed countless times. My association with the library grew due to the annual Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, which organises its Literature talks in the garden within the library compound.

Anyways, as i said i have photographed the library many times before so whenever i come to this part of town, i am always on the look out for new ways to photograph this magnificent structure. Couple of weeks back i got a chance to test one DSLR - Canon 1000D - for official purposes. I decided to take it for a spin to the part of Mumbai which i feel is quite photogenic.

The initial idea was to capture the moving vehicles against the backdrop of the Library. So i went in search for a surface to keep the camera steady. While looking for it, i came across these two cars, which were parked in a way that it gave a clear view of the library. So the first plan was canned and thought of composing the photograph using the two cars. Result is as above.

Had a wonderful time shooting with 1000D. That week was one of the most thrilling week at work in terms of the cameras i got to use. I clicked more photographs in three days than i have in the entire year so far. Felt really good to re-connect with my passion which had taken a back seat for quite a while.

Take Care,

Ciao

The Handcart Story

2010-06-27T23:44:00.005+05:30

Handcarts have been around since time immemorial. It's surprising that inspite of the advances in transportation technology we still rely on these modes for movement of goods. It reminds me of Kolkata where they still have hand rickshaw pullers in certain parts of the city.
Banning either is out of the question as you are then depriving people, who pull these wooden modes of transport, of their bread and butter.

I came across many of these handcarts while strolling through Chor Bazaar one Sunday morning and just thought of capturing them as they are.

Some are just resting....

While some are used as beds by the handcart pullers...

While others are getting ready for a busy day in the city.

This can happen only in India. An Ambassador on two wheels:P

Take Care

Ciao

Paan-tastic

2010-06-13T22:04:00.006+05:30

The betel leaf, commonly known as Paan, was first cultivated in Malaysia! From there it traveled to India and just like many other things non-Indian, has become a part of the nation's psyche. I love paans, the ones without tobacco ofcourse. Nothing like a mouth stuffed with paan after a heavy meal.

Mumbai has many such paan shops, with glistening betel leaves welcoming you and the typical tinkering of the solid aluminum stick against the copper vessel containing the chuna. I used to think that Mumbai has a thriving paan culture, thanks to the evident red stain marks that one comes across everywhere. That was until i made a trip to a relatives place in Gujarat.

The paan culture there is mind boggling to say the least. Paan shops are mere hole-in-the-wall establishments here, but in Gujarat (Jamnagar in particular) there are proper shops with paan stalls. And these shops also sell other items like cold drinks etc, but paan is the primary source of income. The bewilderment dosen't just end there. I was taken to places where there were around ten to fifteen paan shops located beside each other and still managing to do brisk business. Came to learn from my Gujju relative that many shops have an account system with their customers, who make monthly payments for a fixed quota of paans per day. And a daily quota of paans can cross anywhere from fifteen to twenty paans per person. Fascinating, for someone who is used to eating a paan and paying on the spot.

I wont even start with the varieties on offer. For instance, I tried a chocolate paan, which was a normal sweet paan dipped in chocolate and frozen. The choclatey dimension added to the raw taste of the betel leaf was quite good.

Ok Ok i know i am deviating here. Well this paan seller from Bhuleshwar brought back memories, so captured him on camera. The thing that really attracted me to his shop was the placement of the blue colored paan masala sachets which gave a sort of continuity to the blue colored doors of his shop. Also this is probably the only paan seller i have come across who had no hint of red around his mouth, a rarity in Mumbai.

Take Care

Ciao

Of cloudy skies and green mountains...

2010-05-31T00:18:00.006+05:30

The monsoons are expected to arrive soon, hopefully. I am just waiting for the drizzle to turn into heavy showers so that the ghats around Mumbai are lush green and i can resume from where i had left off two years back. Trekking in the Sahyadris.

Majority of my friends hate the monsoons, but i eagerly await them every year. Reasons are pretty obvious from the above photographs. These were taken on my last trek to Peb, near Matheran. The trek is simply breath taking, specially when you reach the top of the mountains and actually walk amidst the clouds. Very few experiences in life can match the high of walking through the clouds.

Just counting the days now. The Woodlands are ready, so is the camera and the backpack and the wind cheater. All i need is a couple of heavy showers and an early weekend morning.

Take Care,

Ciao

Peace

2010-05-09T12:31:00.005+05:30

Rishikesh is a place buzzing with energy from 5 in the morning to 11 in the night. Specially so if you are living on the other side of Ram Jhoola where you have the Chotiwale restaurant and the Shiv temple which hosts the daily Ganga Aarti. The gushing Ganga, is the common background score throughout.

I was here two years ago. (yeah i know i have never posted any pic from that trip here. will do it soon with an attached travelogue) Noticed these two men meditating at such a proximity to the river around 7 am when i was just out for breakfast. It appeared out of place there, as everywhere around me i saw movement, people rushing around. Add to it the Kawaria festival was on in full swing (will talk in length about it in some other entry, soon:) Only other people i found as relaxed were the sadhus, some of whom were resting, others who were smoking ganja.

After a long shot of the two, tried another shot keeping just the two subjects in the frame along with the fast flowing water in the background.

Take Care

Ciao

..And thats how you pose..

2010-05-07T01:35:00.003+05:30

Came across this bunch of boys at the Borivli National Park, when they were just about to carry the deity to her adobe. I was just passing by them and did not intend to shoot them. But i noticed them eyeing my camera and realised they were getting ready to pose. I had no option but to get in the position to shoot. As is apparent, the grey shorts fella was the most enthusiastic of the lot. Captured this shot while he was showing me his 'pranaam' pose.

Till date he has no idea, i have this shot. That also explains why the others are not yet ready with their camera smiles, except for the grey shirt guy.

Guess I will probably take a print and give this photograph to these guys when i go to National park next time, couple of years down the line. Would like to capture the surprise on their faces then:)

Take Care

Ciao

Up for a glass of wine?

2010-04-17T16:15:00.005+05:30

I sure am, anytime:)

This photograph was clicked at the Sula Vineyards which i had been to last year around this time for an article in my college magazine. Having just seen the vineyards of France, Italy and California on TV, i was thrilled to see one in flesh when i landed in Sula in Nashik. A four hour journey from Mumbai, this place is a great getaway from the city.

In a mere 150 bucks, there is a guided tour of the vineyard, wine making process and the icing on the cake is the tasting session of the six of the best Sula wines in the end. I was really looking forward to this aspect of the tour, as i could act like one of those wine snob hosts you see on TV and pronounce those French wine appellations:D

I captured this shot on the terrace of the vineyard after the drinking session. I was quite happy that inspite of the black reflective surface, the colours of the landscape were quite distinctly visible.

Take Care

Ciao

2010-04-17T16:15:00.000+05:30

My Daddy Strongest!

2010-04-11T20:49:00.004+05:30

The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, like i always say, is a photographers paradise. This is an image that i had clicked two years back, which i keep coming back to time and again. I have always been apprehensive about putting up this photograph on my blog as i had not taken permission from the parent while clicking this little girl, a thing which i always do. Reason being that this was such a spur-of-the-moment shot. Before i could check the image, the daddy and his girl had disappeared in the crowd.

The reason i find this image so special is because it happens to be my very first panning shot. I did not realise that till i actually saw the image on the computer screen. So this is my way of paying tribute to the little girl who gave me my first panning shot:)

She did not seem even a wee bit scared to be sitting at that height. I really love her expression. She has the poise of a queen atop an elephant going on a tour of the town. Suddenly seeing a snapper, she seems to be saying in her mind, ''How dare this lowly being capture me in his camera?''

Sorry, Your Highness.

Take Care

Ciao

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Perspective (Part Deux)

2010-04-03T01:49:00.003+05:30

Exploring reflections is one of my favourite things in photography. I have done that many times before on this blog : Victoria Memorial Reflections 1, Victoria Memorial Reflections 2, Leaning Elphinstone and Perspective 1 among others.
It just fascinates me no end, when normal things get skewed and compressed in limited spaces. I never miss out on any opportunity to capture such shots. The composition above is a very cliched one, but its fun capturing it nonetheless.
Thanks to my extremely patient friend and her wonderful glares, i was able to capture the KalaGhoda dance and music stage after a high voltage performance by a Bengali theatre group.

Take Care

Ciao

House on the Apurba Mitter Road

2010-03-24T13:00:00.005+05:30

In a very nostalgic mood today. Was constantly thinking about Kolkata. Specially after the fire that engulfed 16 people and put ParkStreet on TOIs front page. It was saddening and surprising cos its been about two years since i left Kolkata, but the sense of bonding is and will always remain there. May the departed souls rest in peace.

This photograph was taken on one of my regular Kolkata street strolls. The thing that arrested my attention was the name Mitter, in the name plate which read Apurba Mitter Road. Being the Feluda fan boy that I am, I stopped. I kept wondering if this house was in anyway related to the famous detective Pradosh Mitter aka Feluda:P I know it was ridiculous to even think that, but just for this particular moment i let the rational side of me take a backseat.

The old dilapidated house, could be the setting for many of the famous Indian detective Feluda's stories. I really loved the detailing in the balcony both the lower part as well as the upper half. The long wooden windows on the ground level and the wall exposing some British era bricks can make you loose the sense of time. Thank god the house was locked, else i would have surely taken a tour.

There are many such houses strewn all across Kolkata that completely transfer you to a different era. Reading Manik Da aka Satyajit Ray's books succeed in taking you some decades back. Having said that, i need to get Volume 1 of the Feluda series to take care of my Kolkata nostalgia:))

Take Care

Ciao

The Man and the Sea

2010-03-07T21:42:00.003+05:30

I love capturing sunsets on beaches. I also love just walking for hours by the shore, letting the sea water play footsie. On one trips i found my cousin also indulging in these activities, so i captured him while he was trying to have some kinda conversation with the waves lappin at his feet. He was blissfully unaware of him being photographed. I had a wonderful time capturing a human element against the background of the vast sky and sea. Indulged more in diagonal shots as i feel the normal rectangular frame gets boring after a while. A little experimenting never hurt anyone:)

Take Care

Ciao

Paani Paani Re....

2010-02-24T13:48:00.003+05:30

Found this installation, more of a clay model, at the kids stall at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. I dont know who had made it but it was a very stark piece of work amidst the generally cheerful kids that one sees at the parking lot which has a range of kiddie activities going on. The drop was held by a string to the tap.

With water cuts becoming a harsh reality all around the city, with water in the lakes being at a level that is generally seen in May, the need to save water is paramount.

The reason i juxtaposed this clay work against a happy child was to stress on the fact that all is not lost. On a personal level we can do our bit and save many litres of water daily. It all adds up somewhere. And lets pray for a great monsoon this year:)

Take Care

Ciao

PS : I know the title has got nothing to do with water scarcity as it is sung in the context of tears, but I couldn't come up with anything better:P

3 Idiots

2010-01-31T22:15:00.005+05:30

Clicking little kids is challenging, but it was only after shooting these kittens that i realized that babies are still better off. You need a completely different level of patience when dealing with kittens.

I came across this troika when i was walking back from one of Banganga photo-strolls to the bus stop. I saw these kittens playing by themselves. Not meaning to disturb them, I started capturing them.

Just when i was adjusting the setting on my camera, one of them noticed it. Now the centre of attention for these three idiots was my camera lens. By the time I placed one kitten away from my camera lens, the other one would be in the same position as the first one. It took some time getting those kittens at a respectable distance from my camera.

This was clicked when they were probably bored of each others company and no one had yet seen the camera.

Finally one among them spotted the black colored alien thing with a glass closing. The expectations in the kitty's eyes were quite high:P

While the other two were still trying to interpret what instrument was being pointed at them, the third one was beside my face, trying to have a look at my composition through the view finder. Well almost :)

After constant back and forth movement of the cats, they finally took a breather and gave me a wonderful Attention pose. Just love their paws and the grey eyes and the angles formed by their perched ears.

Probably the kitty avataar of the trademark '3 Idiots' look.

This was a heart breaking moment. I must have spent close to thirty minutes with them, and also did an individual portfolio of each kitty. Just felt like packing those kittens and taking them home. Obviously i could not. I bid goodbye. The leftmost kitten was also mewing something, probably she was trying to say, ''See you soon!''

Take Care

Ciao

MultipliCity

2010-01-20T02:39:00.003+05:30

I have always been interested in street photography, but never really went out with my camera on the streets of Mumbai as i used to feel to shy to photograph random street shots with people. Offlate, i dont really give a damn if people stare at me while I am doing my stuff. This lends a lot of freedom in composing shots.

On one such day i was out on the streets of Bhuleshwar, the Gujarati neighbourhood in South Mumbai. I used to pass through Bhuleshwar everyday while commuting to my junior college, but only on this particular day, i actually discovered Bhuleshwar. The alleys, the pre-independence Gujarati Wadi's which still maintain that old world charm, the Bengali workers alley which has menus displayed in Bangla script and many other such small things.

The idea behind this photograph was to try to follow as well as break the rule of thirds. So i did the former by placing Swadeshi Market, Nilesh Optics and the people off-centre and the broke the rule by having the electric box bang in the middle.

But just the mere frames were not looking that great, so i waited till some people passed within that frame. These two people really brought the frame alive for me. Just began to wonder where they are coming from? where are they headed to? what's worrying the lady so much? are the clothes behind owned by members of the hut on the right?

Street photography is addictive as well as challenging. My interpretation may not agree with many, but that is how I see the image:) Other interpretations are more than welcome:)

Take Care

Ciao

Rise from the ashes!

2010-01-17T23:29:00.005+05:30

I had taken this photograph long back, when the stock market was still reeling under the sudden loss of money when the FII's withdrew money and got the 20k + sensex barely touching 10K. But like they say markets are cyclical, so i knew that its just a matter of time before the sensex is all guns blazing. Though the market hasnt crossed its previous high record, but its slowly getting there.

I love walking around the Fort area and capturing the buildings in the area. I had posted another photograph of the BSE here. I love getting lost in the intricate alleys just to find out a road which at first may not seem familiar, but it ultimately leads you to familiar places. The twenty storied Bombay Stock Exchange building is visible for kilometers. But viewing this wonder from the ground, in a frame of decrepit old buildings has its own charm.

I tried to frame the photograph within two such structures. The strong structure amidst the ruins somehow signifies hope, hence the name of the post. The curvature makes it seem like the BSE is having the last laugh.

Take Care

Ciao

PS : I had planned to put up some Mumbai Marathon pics, but i could only make it to the event by 10am by which time most of the events were over. But i wasnt dissapointed as i had lost all hope of ever being anywhere close to VT today.

A Resolution

2010-01-02T21:27:00.002+05:30

Wishing all of you'll a very happy new year. In the year gone by, i was not very pleased with the way the blog turned out. I had less than half posts from last year. Three was the maximum number of postings in a month. Sad. Very Sad!

I generally dont follow the resolution natak, but this year i want to take one in regards to this almost dying blog:) This year i plan to do more photography and try to stretch my horizons in the artform. Plan to read up more on photography. Am planning to learn CSS to try and tweak the web page layout and make it more attractive.

Also plan to put up atleast five travelogues with lots of photographs in this year. Last year i wasnt very lucky in the travelling department. It was one of those rarest of rare years, where i DID NOT travel in the proper sense of the word. Will try not to repeat that:) Travelling not only gives me immense pleasure but also an opportunity to explore photography in a way that my city life dosent.

So now that i have written all this, i am sure the pressure to live up to it will constantly keep me on my feet.

Take Care

Ciao