Fireflies and Shutterbugs

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2012-02-27T08:56:00.000-08:00

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50 days since I started posting. I am lying. It has been 54 days.

I have been watching you. I am awaiting your next move eagerly. You know who you are. Better watch out. You do not want to see a wild cat in action!

Shot on Kodak film using a Canon EOS300 film camera and a Cokin soft focus filter.

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2012-02-26T05:37:00.000-08:00

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It’s all relative! This little guy has climbed his Everest. How far have you reached climbing yours?

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2012-02-25T04:48:00.000-08:00

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Yesterday, we were discussing how stories play a major role in our social interactions. They are a natural way of building dialogues. Visual communication is relating stories via the medium of the eye. I see a story; I capture it and show it to you. You see what I have captured and make your own story which may either relate to the truth or may be your interpretation of it. Either way, I tell you a story; we communicate. This child silently communicates with my camera. Yesterday, I was the intruder. Today, I am the messenger.

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2012-02-24T08:50:00.000-08:00

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Stories...They add spice in life...Some good, some bad, some happy, some sad...Everywhere you look, you will find one...What is their story, I wonder! On a hot afternoon, sitting on a bench at the beach they could be in the middle of an argument or they could be initiating a new life together. He is standing their shielding her from the sun, but he is unable to shield her from my intruding lens. Stories are an essential part of communication. If one is a good storyteller and can capture the attention of a group of people, then he/she automatically becomes a popular candidate for social interactions. Conversations revolve around stories. You tell me your story, I will tell you mine and neither of us will listen. Some people are just happy to be around someone who can keep talking so that they just have to nod and pretend to be a part of the group. Which one of them are you? What is your story?

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2012-02-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

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It is true... Good things come to those who wait! I didn’t realise what I was receiving when I got a notification that OS 2.0.0.7971 was ready for download. I restarted my Blackberry playbook to realise that I had just been sent a gift from RIM. I had made peace with the fact that my playbook was just to show photographs to my clients. Because of its perfect size I could fit it easily in my camera bag, this was an added advantage. Basically I bought it for the convenience factor. This new OS update however brings with it quality and a lot more ways to pass time on the tablet! It offers a new built-in e-mail, calendar and contacts which I agree was long awaited. More than that I am digging the new look with the interactive dock. It is much more organised, just like a business class tablet should be. The cherry on the cake is the support for android applications, so those who used to crib for lack of apps can rejoice. Also, the updated BB bridge software is allowing me to use my BB phone as a wireless keyboard and mouse. From an entrepreneur’s perspective, if you have a playbook along with a BB phone, you are good to go for any meeting in the world.

Overall, it made me a very happy customer and hence this post with the bright pink lilies!

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2012-02-21T04:54:00.000-08:00

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My anonymous reader mustn’t wonder what has become of me if I vanish for a few days. It is in my nature to do so. I like to break free from the routine every once in a while and become invisible. There is joy in taking off, you feel free, like a bird. When you stick your head out the window or hang on to the railing of the train door and you feel the sudden rush of wind, just close your eyes and imagine that you can fly! It is that feeling which makes me let go of everything I have ever held on to, everything I have ever achieved. Sometimes it is good to wander because when you do come back, you can start afresh.

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2012-02-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

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Kala Ghoda Arts festival was the talk of the town for a couple of weeks. Everyone in Mumbai seemed to be heading in that direction. Even the taxiwalas and autowalas were flabbergasted. Why? Why was everyone so desperate to be there?

Because it was a photographer’s paradise. Every single person in the city is now a self declared photographer. There were DSLRs shooting everything and everyone at sight. Huge lenses zooming in and out of your face. Vibrant colours, beautiful people and interesting artwork in all directions.

I thought even I should make an appearance. Otherwise people would ask me with that surprised look on their face, ”KYA?! Tum photographer ho phir bhi Kala Ghoda nahi gayi?!” (“WHAT?! You are a photographer and you didn’t visit Kala Ghoda?!”)

In this photograph, a Siddi tribe folk-dancer is breaking a coconut with his head. I had the opportunity of seeing them perform back in NID, Ahmedabad. Over there, they had performed barefoot on burning coal! They really know how to engage their audience and their music is beautiful!

To know more about the tribe, visit wikipedia.

To view the rest of the photographs, please visit my facebook page.

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2012-02-14T00:08:00.000-08:00

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‘Not only are you my love, you are my muse’, he said.

‘What inspires is beyond me,

What enlivens is you and me.

What arouses is an enigma that surrounds you.

What commands is my respect.

What transcends is a feeling of entirety.

What dignifies is purity.

What storms is love.

What surrenders is passion.

What amplifies is noesis.

What simplifies is spirit.’

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2012-02-13T02:55:00.000-08:00

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It begins from us...

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2012-02-11T10:26:00.000-08:00

I took a holiday yesterday! Ever since I have quit my regular nine to five job, I have lost the luxury of taking a holiday! I used to enjoy making trouble for my boss by absenting myself when the work load was the most. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t insincere or lazy. Alright I admit I am a little lazy and I love my morning sleep. But I used to manage my time well at office and finish my deliverables. The problem is, in an organisation, you are a small cog in a large machine. Nothing happens according to your wishes. Your work may be perfect but you can very easily be made scapegoat to someone else’s misdo. Staying late at office is not my thing. You need to work to have a life, agreed. But to have a life you need to step out of office! And when you are in a team, people look at you weird if you walk out of your office at closing time. As an architect working for some big-shot architect, you are automatically doomed to gruelling late working hours and meagre salaries. You compromise your health and your personal life for someone else to make a fancy building in his name. Even though it is your design, they will never mention your name or give credit to you anywhere. Your contribution is lost in history. Unless you branch out and start on your own, you are a nobody. You never existed.

I don’t want to discourage youngsters who are pursuing architecture as their career. It is a wonderful field and sky is the limit, literally. Just be careful so that no one is able to take advantage of you. Demand more in return for all the hard work that you put in. And take more holidays, you deserve them!

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2012-02-09T10:20:00.000-08:00

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One of those days when there is a lot to write about and a lot to say... I feel the need to communicate but not with an anonymous reader... With someone who can reciprocate... With someone who can enunciate... So my anonymous reader you will have to wait until tomorrow! Until then gaze at this beautiful turtle while he stares at you... Adios amigos!

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2012-02-08T03:42:00.000-08:00

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Small things matter... They come together to form something larger and more meaningful. If you change one small part of your life, it may lead to the birth of a whole new person. You will be surprised at its existence. Yet it will be there. That one small thing that you have to figure out and either embrace or reject. Trust me you will find it one day. And when you do, BAM! You will see your entire life change right in front of your eyes.

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2012-02-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

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Chandra Mahal is the current residence of the royal family in Jaipur. I had the privilege of visiting the Royal Palace and to photograph it. I thank the Princess of Jaipur H.H. Diya Kumari for giving me this opportunity. I was working on one of her interior design projects during that period. The palace has seven floors and each floor is unique with exquisite carvings, paintings and furniture. This photograph was taken in the Rang Mahal which is an entire floor painted only in blue and white. The archways are open and there are no doors or windows. This accounts for the bright airy atmosphere. I was lucky to have been able to spend some time there. It is serene and meditative. You also get a brilliant view of the city of Jaipur.

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2012-02-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

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Meet Mango! He is innocent, he is loyal and he cares... He is not mine but he still seems to love me! This one is for all the dog lovers out there! Go out and adopt one of these adorable darlings... They will always be there for you... When you come back home after a long day of work, they will lick your face and jump on you... Believe me, it is better stress release than ant smasher! For those in doubt, do watch the movie “Hachiko - A Dog's Story”... I guarantee that people who pretend that they don’t like dogs will also admit publicly that they love them! (I say pretend because it is humanely impossible to not like them...)

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2012-02-05T23:24:00.000-08:00

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Isn’t it the best feeling in the world to walk with the one you love? When two minds are in synch, the footsteps start matching automatically... To not have to put in a lot of effort sometimes makes life so much easier... You are already struggling at every other front... You deserve this happiness... To be able to just close your eyes and trust that you won’t falter is a feeling that can only be felt...

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2012-02-04T03:53:00.000-08:00

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Boring...Clichéd...Typical...You may say whatever you want...But when you get an opportunity to shoot a peacock up close and personal, you don’t bail out! All the bright blues and greens cloud your judgement and you end up being impressed by the sheer beauty of nature. And no, a peacock does not dance to welcome the monsoon! A peacock dances to attract the peahen during mating season. That is how nature works usually. The males in the species either emit bright colours or strong scents to attract the females in the species. Generally, they are also better looking than their counterparts in the opposite gender. Now, would that be true for humans? I wonder.

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2012-02-03T01:57:00.000-08:00

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That looks like a double headed bird! ;)

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2012-02-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

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Indians do have a sense of humour. Agreed that people overreact sometimes, generally they participate in self mockery and are light-hearted. I used to wonder why my dad enjoyed watching TV shows such as ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’ and ‘Comedy Circus’. I preferred watching Russell Peters (He is an Indo-Canadian stand-up comedian).

When I met Johnny Lever (India’s most popular comedian) in person, it brought back memories from my childhood. I remember enjoying his films and acts all through adolescence. To see him perform live was quite an honour. His expressions, his dance, his singing and his comic timing are all perfect! And not just him, there were three more comedians who took to stage and left the entire audience in splits. I found out today that sad affairs like poverty, hunger, disrespect and even death can be made the butt of odd jokes. Only Indians are capable enjoying self-depreciating humour. It is a positive quality because if you learn to laugh at yourself, life's going to seem a whole lot easier!

Sitting next to Johnny Lever is Ghazal Maestro Padma Shri Anup Jalota (Singer). He is a true artist and performer. He kept the audience engrossed by his music, his jokes and his laughter. More about Anupji some other time! Ciao!

Sitting L to R: Anup Jalota, Johnny Lever

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2012-02-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

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I did not upload this picture because the shape reminds me of a heart. I did not upload this picture because there is a cigarette butt at the corner of the heart. Yeah if it were the shape of lungs, then I would have taken that approach.

This photograph shows how meticulous and how consistent you have to be in order to conserve something. In our country, any new infrastructural development follows a pattern of rise and fall. For instance, in its heyday, a newly constructed flyover is glorified and in its decline, defiled by the same people. To maintain that which has been constructed, a protocol needs to be followed.

If you look closely, this is a photograph of a section of a road in England which has suffered some wear and tear. It has been marked and labelled. When I went to the spot after a few days, the road had been repaired and looked brand new. That is efficiency and taking care of tiny details. We always wonder how they maintain everything so well in the foreign countries. Well, that is how!

You may argue that they have more resources. We have more manpower. Why don’t we use it for our benefit? All I want to convey is that you have to start somewhere if you want a developed country. Start with the basics. Start small to achieve some greater goal. Infrastructural development is a continuous process not a one way graph. You cannot just keep constructing and leave it to rot!

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2012-01-31T11:13:00.000-08:00

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Routine is a word that I have never been able to relate to. My life is as random as it gets. Dynamic, unusual, nomadic, adventurous are words I can associate with. When things don’t happen in accordance with my state of mind, it tends to shut down. An envelope of some sort is created around me and I can feel myself getting lost into oblivion. I don’t talk to people, don’t reply to messages and shun all forms of technology that connects me to the outer world. It is also called going off the grid. Self-sufficient and self-consuming; two very similar terms and very different experiences, I love them both. This phase occurs in everyone's life at some point or the other. Some feel the need for it more than others.

Those moments in my shell are precious and often teach me something that I would never have known otherwise. Sadly such behaviour is not considered idoneous by most. To help myself get over these bouts of isolation, I started this project. Post one photograph per day for one entire year. Simple. If nothing else, this would force me to drag myself out of bed and communicate.

One month is otherwise a short time but it has been significant. I have developed a habit, a routine if you may say. Never before have I been regular at anything. I consider this a personal achievement. Thank you for viewing, reading and giving continuous feedback.

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2012-01-30T11:39:00.000-08:00

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Sometimes it just happens right... Everything magically falls into place... The universe has its own way of telling you what to choose... What some people call Karma and others call hard work, does pay off... If you work towards achieving something with all your heart and soul, no one can stop you... Somewhere along the path you will find someone to give you that extra push... And there is no looking back after that... What you desire the most becomes yours...

Specifications:

Nikon D60, 105mm fixed lens, aperture f/2, Shutter speed 1/4000s, ISO 100

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2012-01-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

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Event: Paul Van Dyk world no 1 DJ.
Artist Managers: Submerge.in
Venue: Hard Rock Cafe, Mumbai

Photographer: Yours truly
Date: 28^th January 2012

To view the rest of the photographs of this event, visit my website.

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2012-01-28T05:36:00.000-08:00

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No-TV day in Mumbai was a good initiative by Hindustan Times. It didn’t make much of a difference in my life since I don’t watch TV anyways. Outdoor activities were conducted all over the city and I am sure many families used this time to bond. I chose this day to look into my archives and am going to share one of my projects with you today.

This is a photograph taken from a giant wheel called the ‘London Eye’ and you can get the best view of the city, Thames River and the bridges along Thames.

As I was telling you yesterday, I spent a lot of time walking along Thames River in London observing people cross over bridges. I decided to continue a project I had been doing in Ahmedabad named ‘Crossing Over’. I took a lot of photographs in London both on digital and medium format film (Hasselblad). When I looked at the result, I thought any random person with a digital camera could have taken these photographs. Finally I chose to go to the countryside and document the small bridges. I came up with a series of photographs all shot on film using a medium format camera (Hasselblad). You can view the project here.

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2012-01-27T06:21:00.000-08:00

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A usual summer day in the United Kingdom looks something like this. It is almost always cloudy and it might rain anytime. People advise never to leave the house without three essentials: umbrella, sunglasses and jacket! A lot of commute happens on foot so you need to be prepared. The weather is so erratic that it can change any minute. One second a chilly wind is blowing and everyone is grabbing onto the railing to hang on. The next minute you see the clouds clearing and everyone takes off their clothes! No, I am not trying to be funny. People literally undress, apply tanning gel and sit leisurely in the parks. Within seconds you will see kids magically appear from nowhere, their parents sitting with picnic baskets and teenagers playing a rough game of football in the parks. There are plenty of parks and well maintained outdoor spaces to enjoy these activities.

This is a photograph of one of my favourite bridges, the millennium bridge. It is beautiful and I spent a lot of time observing people cross over from one side to another. More on that note tomorrow.

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2012-01-26T07:26:00.000-08:00

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In 2012, on India’s 63^rd Republic Day, a day that commemorates the implementation of the constitution of India and declaration of Independence, it is ironic to note that our freedom of speech is under attack. There are eight fundamental rights currently listed in the constitution of India:

- - Right to equality

- - Right to freedom of expression and speech

- - Right against exploitation

- - Right to freedom of religion

- - Cultural and educational rights

- - Right to constitutional remedies

- - Right to information

- - Right to education

However, in 1951, when the first amendment was made to the constitution, a clause was added which modified absolute right to speech to relative rights and said that these reasonable restrictions were in the interests of the general public. Now these reasonable restrictions are being exploited by political parties and religious leaders for their own benefit and the citizen of India have to suffer in return. Their individual liberty is at stake. Are we secular enough to truly be a democracy?

India is the world’s largest democracy and yet a situation has arisen where plenty of books are being banned and online content is being screened. People who speak out loud are being hushed. To top it all, they want to ban websites like google and facebook now?! If you really want to prevent your citizens from viewing offensive content, why don’t you first put a ban on all the ridiculous election campaigns that are going on? I find the continuous lies highly offensive and distasteful!

It is ridiculous that Salman Rushdie could not attend Jaipur Literature festival because the organisers felt that his presence would be a threat to the event. Rushdie has received several death threats ever since a fatwa was issued against his controversial book ‘The Satanic Verses’. Instead of providing him with protection, he was advised not to attend the event. Whereas, when he spoke at the literature fest in 2007, his trip had gone pretty smoothly. This shows a major shift in people’s ideology in the past five years. On one hand, we are talking about being heard globally and on the other; we are preventing creative ideas to flow freely.

This is a photograph of an avid reader’s book corner. I am worried that if this trend continues, all she will get to read is fairytales. New and radical ideas to instil change towards development will never reach the reader. They will simply be reasonably restricted (= BANNED)!

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2012-01-25T07:34:00.000-08:00

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Had a very busy day today with three back to back meetings. And then got stuck in the wonderful Mumbai traffic without my camera! Hence, a short post with a short message.

This photograph is a continuation of yesterday’s post. It carries a simple message, don’t steal their childhood.

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2012-01-24T04:15:00.000-08:00

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In today’s paper I read, “CBSE students to get virtual laboratories.”

Are you kidding me? No more physics and chemistry labs in school? They might as well just make the kids sit a home in front of their TV/Computer monitors all day. Why even send them to school? Take them on virtual field trips. Show them videos of how things work. Teach them math online. They will grow up to be really healthy and learned.

If not in the laboratories, where will they experiment and explore? Remember your childhood and the joy you felt in the lab pretending to be Dexter? Mixing different salts together to get beautiful colours... Playing with the tuning fork to trouble the teacher... Sometimes trying to prepare an indigenous bomb to blow up the school so you could get a vacation... And don’t forget the H2S preparations to make the entire school smell like rotten eggs!

I am not the kind of person who goes running after kids pulling their cheeks and raving about how cute they are. I am the kind who loves to give them a tough time, every once in a while hang them upside down or give them riddles they can’t solve. That is only because I know that kids are very intelligent. They know very clearly what they want and they know how to get it. A puppy face and a few tears can help them get anything in the world. And they are well aware of this.

All I want to say is instead of encouraging kids to go out and explore, our education system is making them couch potatoes! Give them a chance to discover their inborn intelligence and make the best out of it. Let them play, let them experiment!