IFocal: Train Journey
*If you like this photograph, you might want to check out my Instagram stream.
*If you like this photograph, you might want to check out my Instagram stream.
Mumbai defines me and in my being, I add to the millions that define this city.
It’s no secret, my grand love affair with books. I’ve also written about my obsession with bookstores, big and small. Flipkart has replaced Landmark in my affections because it’s so much more convenient. But I do miss the adventuring that went with real world, poking-through-shelves book browsing. A bookworm needs…
That patch of yellow in the corner isn’t an indication of autumn (Do we get that in Mumbai?). The minute the street-lamp is turned on in the early evening, and just for the short while that there’s evening light, the tree looks like it’s blushing yellow. Is that too poetic…
On the first week of June, Mumbai welcomed the monsoon of 2008. I watched it arrive, alone…which is probably the best way, with the rain. The skies heralded the season of water.And then I watched the drops paint the sidewalk a shiny, sheeny gloss of life.The traffic revved, feet sped…
You know how the fashion industry says things like ‘Great style should be effortless’? This is my take on the idea.
We live in cold storage during the week, shutting away emotions, fears, aches and fevers till such a time that we can experience them ‘on our own time’.
That was somebody’s suspicion. Authorities found nothing. I was clear about it. Why this should happen, I don’t know. The photography clause is simply not clear, and whoever raised the complaint has caused a little harm. I don’t want this to happen again- I want to keep taking photos!
I too took plenty of photos of trains, but the authorities and some very uneasy travellers now take offence to photos being taken on trains. What’s their problem? We’re taking photos as an art, not for the purpose they think we are- actual spies are a lot less visible when they’re taking photos or videos. Makes me wonder whether the most target-rich destination in the world for photographers is also camera-hostile. The pay-for-permission clause is highly questionable.
@Arjun Mohan: I think there is a privacy intrusion that people (rightfully) protest. I wouldn’t like a random stranger to be shooting photographs of me, either. How can I judge whether its being done for artistic or voyeuristic (or even more diabolical) purposes? Besides the definition of art varies from person to person. I try and shoot people either with their permission or where that’s not possible, I shoot so their faces are not clear (a compromise no doubt, but at least their privacy is respected).
Which is the most target-rich destination in the world for photographers, by the way? And what’s this pay-for-permission?
I take precautions not to get people’s faces clearly in my photos, and avoid uniformed personnel. In my photo blog, you rarely see people’s faces clearly. In one incident, I wanted to capture graffiti outside the tracks between Mahim and Bandra- and someone caused a stir. Messy thing. I then asked some hobby photographers who record trains, and they say you pay the Railways for taking photos, but if I have to pay for taking photos that don’t feature Railway property, it’s stupid. I feel photographers should get that law amended, so that at least they declare their photos when questioned, and let go when nothing’s suspect. Photographers hauled up for taking innocuous photos is questionable. Actual spies don’t even show themselves taking photos!
Award-winning photographer and Nikon ambassador Vincent Versace says India is the most target-rich destination for photographers. He’s right about that. He’s lucky not to get hounded like most others are. Security is much tighter in the United States or Europe, but you don’t get hounded for taking photos.
@Arjun Mohan: You’re talking about the graffiti on the walls outside the railway track, facing Tulsi Pipe road? I think you’ve been taken in by someone. Because I was part of all the wall project drives there and took/posed for plenty of pictures without any problems.