Tag: mumbai

Wanna Race?

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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

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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

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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…

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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

My Daddy Strongest!

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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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Red Sea..

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The occassion was a family trip to a beach resort near Mumbai. My cousin was walking along the shore when i captured his silhouette. I love the sunsets on any beaches. I remember when i was in Goa in 2006 i used to be at the beach especially to capture the sunset, even though everyday the clouds used to block the sun. But the changing hues in the sky and their reflecations on the great Arabian Sea keep me glued to the shore. I guess being a Mumbaikar, one automatically falls in love with the sea.
Tried to capture as much warmth in this photograph as i could. The sea acts as a lovely mirror reflecting the mood in the sky.
Take Care
Ciao

Ye Re Ye Re Paawsaa….

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Ye Re Ye Re Paawsaa,
Tula Deto Paisa,
Paisa Zala Khota,
Paaus Aala Motha.

The title is taken from an old poem that i had heard as a kid. It invited the rains to grace us with their presence on the promise of some bribe (paisa). It so happens that the paisa is false and it rains very heavily.

The monsoon season this year has been the worst ever!! I have never in my 25 years of existence seen Mumbai so dry in the months from June to September. The photograph was captured when i had gone to one of the lakes that supply drinking water to Mumbai. Saw this one drop languishing on the twig, just like the clouds loom over Mumbai at times, but the drop didnt fall, just like the rains have taken an off here.

Take Care,

Ciao

Towering!

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I am a sucker for the British Gothic Architechture across the CST – Fountain strech. I have been there on countless occasions with my camera, trying to capture the beauty of the buildings all around. Needless to say, the appetite for that is insatiable.

This is the LIC building located just after the alley separating it from Siddharth College. The spot from which i took the photograph has many Vada Pav, Chai vendors, as its a major junction for college students as well as Office going janata. The Standard Chartered Bank is just behind this LIC building.

I had captured this building before as well ‘Old World Charm’. But at that time i had just concentrated on one aspect of the building. This time though i wanted to showcase the structure through a different perspective. I wanted to highlight the architechture, as seen from a person standing below the building. I love trying out various angles.

Take Care

Ciao

Speed = MUMBAI!!

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Bombay, Mumbai – means different things to different people. But for me Mumbai is equivalent to speed. Life here is all about speed. Those who keep up with it, survive, as for those who are slow, get left behind. I mean look around you, someones running to catch the train, someones running to catch his bus, others are rushing to get to their places of work, children are rushing so that they dont get late, the works.

Clicked this atop the Marine drive flyover. Just wanted to capture the trailing lights, so shot on slow shutter speed. I am not completely satisfied with the result as i feel there is lot of noise in the image. Plus there has been a lot of fringing. So yeah, this isnt a perfect photograph, but i really love the motion in it.

Take Care

Ciao!