An engineer turned journalist's story
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.
Take Care,
Ciao
Fourth from the series of street scapes from the Kala Ghoda Arts Fest.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 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
T44XXYXQ6AQ2
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
I am sorry for the delay in putting up the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) 2009 photographs. No i wasnt short of time or anything, just a typical Taurean trait coming to the fore here, laziness. Am posting a few photographs now, will update this post pretty soon.
>> A graphiti artist painting the Kalaghoda green.
>>The sketching on the spread across the parking lot went on….
>> ….and on
>> This art installation within the parking lot had a lot of speakers jutting out from all sides, sound quality of the audio wasnt that great though:P
>>A sculptor was busy etching out the faces of his customers on this piece of clay. This was something quite unique and taking live potraits to another level altogether.
>> An art installation within the Parking Lot that talked about sanitation woes in a crowded city like Mumbai. It was the only installation with lots of material to read alongwith it.
>> Sudharak Olwe, a photographer par excellence, who’s work on the life of Commercial Sex Workers was on display in the Parking Lot.
>> Calligraphy as an art form, courtesy Achyut Palaw.
>> Performance by the Indian Whistlers Association, wherein they belted out KishoreDa’s numbers, whistled their way into the hearts of the audience.
>> Unpertubed by the bustlign Kala Ghoda Fest, the regular pavement artists around Kala Ghoda were at their work.
>> The David Sasson Library under lights.
>> The Grand Finale at the Asiatic Library where Shaan was performing.
Take care
Ciao
Shutterbugged 
