before I present a selection of my pictures I would like to share with you
pictures I would like to share with you
pictures I would like to share with you something about the process I have
something about the process I have
something about the process I have developed all these years one from all
developed all these years one from all
developed all these years one from all these the processes I have developed
these the processes I have developed
these the processes I have developed while working from the birth of an idea
while working from the birth of an idea
while working from the birth of an idea to its desired end which generally is a
to its desired end which generally is a
to its desired end which generally is a book followed by an exhibition so where
book followed by an exhibition so where
book followed by an exhibition so where do my ideas come from the triggers that
do my ideas come from the triggers that
do my ideas come from the triggers that inform my ideas are varied and numerous
inform my ideas are varied and numerous
inform my ideas are varied and numerous some ideas I fall into by chance
some ideas I fall into by chance
some ideas I fall into by chance others are generated from memory of a
others are generated from memory of a
others are generated from memory of a place a person a thing a time or by
place a person a thing a time or by
place a person a thing a time or by space or even an object or a particular
space or even an object or a particular
space or even an object or a particular situation my most recent project which I
situation my most recent project which I
situation my most recent project which I have just completed was inspired by one
have just completed was inspired by one
have just completed was inspired by one single village photography studio that
single village photography studio that
single village photography studio that led me to find 70 more in the country
led me to find 70 more in the country
led me to find 70 more in the country but more about that later
but more about that later
but more about that later I have learnt the hard way that most
I have learnt the hard way that most
I have learnt the hard way that most ideas that for me just don’t work the
ideas that for me just don’t work the
ideas that for me just don’t work the few that do are the result of very hard
few that do are the result of very hard
few that do are the result of very hard work I also learned that thoughts and
work I also learned that thoughts and
work I also learned that thoughts and ideas need to be explored before
ideas need to be explored before
ideas need to be explored before embarking on a project or after a
embarking on a project or after a
embarking on a project or after a project but not during the actual act of
project but not during the actual act of
project but not during the actual act of photography that act needs to be
photography that act needs to be
photography that act needs to be spontaneous and fluid as I’m not a
spontaneous and fluid as I’m not a
spontaneous and fluid as I’m not a commercial photographer working in
commercial photographer working in
commercial photographer working in accordance with the brief my work
accordance with the brief my work
accordance with the brief my work generates many surprises and experience
generates many surprises and experience
generates many surprises and experience teaches you which surprise to go with
teaches you which surprise to go with
teaches you which surprise to go with and so it is quite often that good
and so it is quite often that good
and so it is quite often that good pictures are somewhat intuitive today
pictures are somewhat intuitive today
pictures are somewhat intuitive today I’m going to share with you the ideas
I’m going to share with you the ideas
I’m going to share with you the ideas that have helped me in my work I will
that have helped me in my work I will
that have helped me in my work I will begin with examples from my earliest
begin with examples from my earliest
begin with examples from my earliest work and end with my most recent first
work and end with my most recent first
work and end with my most recent first what makes a good picture
what makes a good picture
what makes a good picture you do need some key ingredients and
you do need some key ingredients and
you do need some key ingredients and these the basic ones are light form
these the basic ones are light form
these the basic ones are light form timing and luck the perfect picture
timing and luck the perfect picture
timing and luck the perfect picture according to the great French
according to the great French
according to the great French photographer Orry Cartier Bresson is a
photographer Orry Cartier Bresson is a
photographer Orry Cartier Bresson is a combination of all of these as
combination of all of these as
combination of all of these as happen in a fraction of a second and
happen in a fraction of a second and
happen in a fraction of a second and these require the heart the mind and the
these require the heart the mind and the
these require the heart the mind and the eye to work in sync he called it the
eye to work in sync he called it the
eye to work in sync he called it the decisive moment on the process of
decisive moment on the process of
decisive moment on the process of photography he said it is seldom you
photography he said it is seldom you
photography he said it is seldom you make a great picture you have to milk
make a great picture you have to milk
make a great picture you have to milk the cow a lot to get plenty of milk to
the cow a lot to get plenty of milk to
the cow a lot to get plenty of milk to make a little cheese i milked a lot of
make a little cheese i milked a lot of
make a little cheese i milked a lot of cows to produce my first book title
cows to produce my first book title
cows to produce my first book title Bombay mix which was a compendium of
Bombay mix which was a compendium of
Bombay mix which was a compendium of street pictures taken over 20 years now
street pictures taken over 20 years now
street pictures taken over 20 years now when I look back at my contact sheets I
when I look back at my contact sheets I
when I look back at my contact sheets I can recognize in them my training ground
can recognize in them my training ground
can recognize in them my training ground as a photographer there were some hits
as a photographer there were some hits
as a photographer there were some hits but there were a lot of misses from this
but there were a lot of misses from this
but there were a lot of misses from this work I have chosen five images to show
work I have chosen five images to show
work I have chosen five images to show you for their recognition of a moment
you for their recognition of a moment
you for their recognition of a moment one of the first lessons I booked to
one of the first lessons I booked to
one of the first lessons I booked to practice as I started as a photographer
here we see the moment that a child
here we see the moment that a child performer is hurled into an unending sky
performer is hurled into an unending sky
performer is hurled into an unending sky I feel we are more fearful for her than
I feel we are more fearful for her than
I feel we are more fearful for her than she seems to be for herself
next we catch a moment of three moods
next we catch a moment of three moods and gestures the pencil pensive richly
and gestures the pencil pensive richly
and gestures the pencil pensive richly attired phallic her furry clad sister
attired phallic her furry clad sister
attired phallic her furry clad sister who’s jumped into the frame as she seen
who’s jumped into the frame as she seen
who’s jumped into the frame as she seen me and her board rather distracted
me and her board rather distracted
me and her board rather distracted grandmother they’re all going somewhere
grandmother they’re all going somewhere
grandmother they’re all going somewhere we don’t know where they’re going and
we don’t know where they’re going and
we don’t know where they’re going and when they’re going but this was a moment
when they’re going but this was a moment
when they’re going but this was a moment that I was able to catch the next is a
that I was able to catch the next is a
that I was able to catch the next is a more dense picture a more crowded
more dense picture a more crowded
more dense picture a more crowded picture it’s off a street wedding in a
picture it’s off a street wedding in a
picture it’s off a street wedding in a Muslim neighborhood in Bombay where
Muslim neighborhood in Bombay where
Muslim neighborhood in Bombay where there are singers who live in cotys and
there are singers who live in cotys and
there are singers who live in cotys and the groom has just come in he shouted
the groom has just come in he shouted
the groom has just come in he shouted he’s being welcomed by a failed member
he’s being welcomed by a failed member
he’s being welcomed by a failed member of the bride’s family and neither of
of the bride’s family and neither of
of the bride’s family and neither of them can see what I’m seeing through my
them can see what I’m seeing through my
them can see what I’m seeing through my camera which is the various mood
camera which is the various mood
camera which is the various mood and gestures of the wedding party around
and gestures of the wedding party around
and gestures of the wedding party around them here here are you can see a woman
them here here are you can see a woman
them here here are you can see a woman smeared with ash on her face and she
smeared with ash on her face and she
smeared with ash on her face and she looks as if she’s in a trance she seems
looks as if she’s in a trance she seems
looks as if she’s in a trance she seems unaware of the festive crowd around her
unaware of the festive crowd around her
unaware of the festive crowd around her while the goddess gallery behind her
while the goddess gallery behind her
while the goddess gallery behind her seems to protect her and here we see a
seems to protect her and here we see a
seems to protect her and here we see a moment of a sleeping man it’s as if his
moment of a sleeping man it’s as if his
moment of a sleeping man it’s as if his fatigue has seeped into the basket of
fatigue has seeped into the basket of
fatigue has seeped into the basket of coals behind him and he’s in a dream and
coals behind him and he’s in a dream and
coals behind him and he’s in a dream and we just don’t know when he will wake up
we just don’t know when he will wake up
we just don’t know when he will wake up so we all benefit from an inspirational
so we all benefit from an inspirational
so we all benefit from an inspirational teacher my mentor was Raghubir Singh the
teacher my mentor was Raghubir Singh the
teacher my mentor was Raghubir Singh the great Indian photographer who passed
great Indian photographer who passed
great Indian photographer who passed away in 1999 when he was only 57 he
away in 1999 when he was only 57 he
away in 1999 when he was only 57 he helped me not just foster my visual and
helped me not just foster my visual and
helped me not just foster my visual and technical skills but he taught me really
technical skills but he taught me really
technical skills but he taught me really importantly how easy it is to miss a
importantly how easy it is to miss a
importantly how easy it is to miss a good picture and how easy it is to make
good picture and how easy it is to make
good picture and how easy it is to make bad pictures as cartier-bresson said on
bad pictures as cartier-bresson said on
bad pictures as cartier-bresson said on the process because by the time you
the process because by the time you
the process because by the time you press your arm the shutter once more and
press your arm the shutter once more and
press your arm the shutter once more and maybe the picture was in between
maybe the picture was in between
maybe the picture was in between Raghubir also made me aware of my
Raghubir also made me aware of my
Raghubir also made me aware of my strengths and my weaknesses I was better
strengths and my weaknesses I was better
strengths and my weaknesses I was better upfront and personal when taking
upfront and personal when taking
upfront and personal when taking photographs I was more daunted in large
photographs I was more daunted in large
photographs I was more daunted in large crowds it was a weakness he helped me
crowds it was a weakness he helped me
crowds it was a weakness he helped me overcome and the only way I could
overcome and the only way I could
overcome and the only way I could overcome it was to go out everyday into
overcome it was to go out everyday into
overcome it was to go out everyday into the crowd and take pictures in those
the crowd and take pictures in those
the crowd and take pictures in those days there was no internet so he
days there was no internet so he
days there was no internet so he introduced me to the great masters
introduced me to the great masters
introduced me to the great masters through books so I had all the hundred
through books so I had all the hundred
through books so I had all the hundred books of all the great masters of
books of all the great masters of
books of all the great masters of photography from Eugene Archie to Gary
photography from Eugene Archie to Gary
photography from Eugene Archie to Gary Wayne Oh grand and he also privileged me
Wayne Oh grand and he also privileged me
Wayne Oh grand and he also privileged me by introducing me to some great American
by introducing me to some great American
by introducing me to some great American photographers who has friends Lee
photographers who has friends Lee
photographers who has friends Lee Friedlander William get me and Bill
Friedlander William get me and Bill
Friedlander William get me and Bill christenbury all of whose dark rooms I
christenbury all of whose dark rooms I
christenbury all of whose dark rooms I had the good fortune of seeing in person
had the good fortune of seeing in person
had the good fortune of seeing in person I began to see what made them such
I began to see what made them such
I began to see what made them such pioneers each a master with a unique
pioneers each a master with a unique
pioneers each a master with a unique vision for cartier-bresson aw it was the
vision for cartier-bresson aw it was the
vision for cartier-bresson aw it was the moment for Gary winner grand it was the
moment for Gary winner grand it was the
moment for Gary winner grand it was the tilt for Robert Frank
tilt for Robert Frank
tilt for Robert Frank it was the poetry of America and for
it was the poetry of America and for
it was the poetry of America and for Diane Arbus the often controversial
Diane Arbus the often controversial
Diane Arbus the often controversial sometimes grotesque
sometimes grotesque
sometimes grotesque but always haunting portraits of
but always haunting portraits of
but always haunting portraits of marginalized people I started my career
marginalized people I started my career
marginalized people I started my career using the fast and magical Leica m6
using the fast and magical Leica m6
using the fast and magical Leica m6 camera ideally suited to street
camera ideally suited to street
camera ideally suited to street photography later I graduated to the
photography later I graduated to the
photography later I graduated to the Mamiya m6 a medium format camera which
Mamiya m6 a medium format camera which
Mamiya m6 a medium format camera which was slower and better suited to
was slower and better suited to
was slower and better suited to portraiture i dwelt in this square
portraiture i dwelt in this square
portraiture i dwelt in this square format for the next two years to produce
format for the next two years to produce
format for the next two years to produce two more books – in spotting in a
two more books – in spotting in a
two more books – in spotting in a certain grace the story of twin spotting
certain grace the story of twin spotting
certain grace the story of twin spotting goes like this
goes like this
goes like this after my marriage I moved to London
after my marriage I moved to London
after my marriage I moved to London where in 1995 at a Diwali party hosted
where in 1995 at a Diwali party hosted
where in 1995 at a Diwali party hosted by the Patel community my husband is a
by the Patel community my husband is a
by the Patel community my husband is a Patel I chanced upon a Patel community
Patel I chanced upon a Patel community
Patel I chanced upon a Patel community directory an exhaustive record of every
directory an exhaustive record of every
directory an exhaustive record of every Patel settled in the UK and they were
Patel settled in the UK and they were
Patel settled in the UK and they were more than there were Smith’s listing
more than there were Smith’s listing
more than there were Smith’s listing names addresses birth dates and village
names addresses birth dates and village
names addresses birth dates and village origins in Gujarat and so on browsing
origins in Gujarat and so on browsing
origins in Gujarat and so on browsing through the directory I noticed many
through the directory I noticed many
through the directory I noticed many repeated birth dates which was
repeated birth dates which was
repeated birth dates which was indicative of twins in families and then
indicative of twins in families and then
indicative of twins in families and then reminded of the iconic Diane Arbus
reminded of the iconic Diane Arbus
reminded of the iconic Diane Arbus picture of twins that was the idea that
picture of twins that was the idea that
picture of twins that was the idea that just sort of spurred me at that moment I
just sort of spurred me at that moment I
just sort of spurred me at that moment I just thought bizarre as this sounds let
just thought bizarre as this sounds let
just thought bizarre as this sounds let me find all the twins of the Patels in
me find all the twins of the Patels in
me find all the twins of the Patels in the UK and I even went to India later
the UK and I even went to India later
the UK and I even went to India later and see if I can do a portrait of this
and see if I can do a portrait of this
and see if I can do a portrait of this community through their twins so I found
community through their twins so I found
community through their twins so I found a hundred sets of twins from the age of
a hundred sets of twins from the age of
a hundred sets of twins from the age of 17 months to 70 years and my search took
17 months to 70 years and my search took
17 months to 70 years and my search took me beyond London all over the UK and
me beyond London all over the UK and
me beyond London all over the UK and finally to 40 villages in the chera the
finally to 40 villages in the chera the
finally to 40 villages in the chera the district of Gujarat which was the Patel
district of Gujarat which was the Patel
district of Gujarat which was the Patel homeland so I’ll show you a few pictures
homeland so I’ll show you a few pictures
homeland so I’ll show you a few pictures from this so this was the book
so here are Rhydian CD age 7 their
so here are Rhydian CD age 7 their parents migrated from East Africa and
parents migrated from East Africa and
parents migrated from East Africa and they live in Norbury they run a
they live in Norbury they run a
they live in Norbury they run a dry-cleaning business and here is millon
dry-cleaning business and here is millon
dry-cleaning business and here is millon and Mayu a TV salesman and a bank
and Mayu a TV salesman and a bank
and Mayu a TV salesman and a bank accountant in the bedroom that they
accountant in the bedroom that they
accountant in the bedroom that they share in Anand Gujarat and then we have
share in Anand Gujarat and then we have
share in Anand Gujarat and then we have shopkeepers Ramesh and Suresh in
shopkeepers Ramesh and Suresh in
shopkeepers Ramesh and Suresh in Ramesh’s house in Wembley and I call
Ramesh’s house in Wembley and I call
Ramesh’s house in Wembley and I call them my danny davito twins and they were
them my danny davito twins and they were
them my danny davito twins and they were wonderful people and they had a great
wonderful people and they had a great
wonderful people and they had a great story to tell me so they came if they
story to tell me so they came if they
story to tell me so they came if they migrated from Uganda
migrated from Uganda
migrated from Uganda they were both post masters in the UK
they were both post masters in the UK
they were both post masters in the UK before they became shopkeepers and
before they became shopkeepers and
before they became shopkeepers and wanting to save every rupee that they
wanting to save every rupee that they
wanting to save every rupee that they had every pound that they had they
had every pound that they had they
had every pound that they had they didn’t insure their first shop well it
didn’t insure their first shop well it
didn’t insure their first shop well it caught fire and they lost everything
caught fire and they lost everything
caught fire and they lost everything they had already lost everything in
they had already lost everything in
they had already lost everything in Uganda but by the time I photograph them
Uganda but by the time I photograph them
Uganda but by the time I photograph them they were now running three shops they
they were now running three shops they
they were now running three shops they were prosperous and they didn’t look
were prosperous and they didn’t look
were prosperous and they didn’t look back at all they just said if you can
back at all they just said if you can
back at all they just said if you can work hard and have a sense of humor you
work hard and have a sense of humor you
work hard and have a sense of humor you will always go ahead so from the Patel
will always go ahead so from the Patel
will always go ahead so from the Patel journey I learned that at the turn of
journey I learned that at the turn of
journey I learned that at the turn of the century two consecutive monsoon
the century two consecutive monsoon
the century two consecutive monsoon failures in India prodded some young
failures in India prodded some young
failures in India prodded some young Patel farmers to seek their fortunes
Patel farmers to seek their fortunes
Patel farmers to seek their fortunes elsewhere in East Africa like the
elsewhere in East Africa like the
elsewhere in East Africa like the forefathers of Ramesh and Suresh and
forefathers of Ramesh and Suresh and
forefathers of Ramesh and Suresh and here are Shilpa and Sheetal the first
here are Shilpa and Sheetal the first
here are Shilpa and Sheetal the first set of twins I photographed in their
set of twins I photographed in their
set of twins I photographed in their father’s gleaming first car so their
father’s gleaming first car so their
father’s gleaming first car so their forefathers should be moved to the next
forefathers should be moved to the next
forefathers should be moved to the next slide and this is luv and Kush in
slide and this is luv and Kush in
slide and this is luv and Kush in Thermage Gujarat and I photograph them
Thermage Gujarat and I photograph them
Thermage Gujarat and I photograph them from outside their classroom and I tried
from outside their classroom and I tried
from outside their classroom and I tried to use the window pane as a kind of
to use the window pane as a kind of
to use the window pane as a kind of divider to show them as twins but also
divider to show them as twins but also
divider to show them as twins but also to show their difference as well as
to show their difference as well as
to show their difference as well as their sameness so so so their ancestors
their sameness so so so their ancestors
their sameness so so so their ancestors not theirs but the ones in the UK were
not theirs but the ones in the UK were
not theirs but the ones in the UK were their forefathers were dislocated by Idi
their forefathers were dislocated by Idi
their forefathers were dislocated by Idi Amin in Uganda and homeless they ended
Amin in Uganda and homeless they ended
Amin in Uganda and homeless they ended up predominantly
up predominantly
up predominantly shopkeepers in England thousands of
shopkeepers in England thousands of
shopkeepers in England thousands of miles from their country of origin
miles from their country of origin
miles from their country of origin so my Patel twins then became a visual
so my Patel twins then became a visual
so my Patel twins then became a visual record of the sameness and difference of
record of the sameness and difference of
record of the sameness and difference of an enterprising migratory diaspora in
an enterprising migratory diaspora in
an enterprising migratory diaspora in two very different landscapes and
two very different landscapes and
two very different landscapes and settings in India and the UK and I had
settings in India and the UK and I had
settings in India and the UK and I had and I had Raghubir in my life who took
and I had Raghubir in my life who took
and I had Raghubir in my life who took this work all over the world to find me
this work all over the world to find me
this work all over the world to find me my first publisher and I don’t think I
my first publisher and I don’t think I
my first publisher and I don’t think I would have had the guts to do it by
would have had the guts to do it by
would have had the guts to do it by myself so I really thank him for that
it was also by accident that I
it was also by accident that I encountered the Sydney community driving
encountered the Sydney community driving
encountered the Sydney community driving through a village in the gear forest on
through a village in the gear forest on
through a village in the gear forest on a family holiday curious how a community
a family holiday curious how a community
a family holiday curious how a community of African origin came to settle in
of African origin came to settle in
of African origin came to settle in Gujarat I later discovered their roots
Gujarat I later discovered their roots
Gujarat I later discovered their roots date back to almost thousand years when
date back to almost thousand years when
date back to almost thousand years when they came in three waves as traders
they came in three waves as traders
they came in three waves as traders mercenaries Mariners and slaves in
mercenaries Mariners and slaves in
mercenaries Mariners and slaves in Gujarat they found home and patronage
Gujarat they found home and patronage
Gujarat they found home and patronage from a local king who was so impressed
from a local king who was so impressed
from a local king who was so impressed by their line tracking skills and their
by their line tracking skills and their
by their line tracking skills and their loyalty that he gave them two villages
loyalty that he gave them two villages
loyalty that he gave them two villages Jambu and Sylvan in the middle of the
Jambu and Sylvan in the middle of the
Jambu and Sylvan in the middle of the gear forest so if you go to the guild
gear forest so if you go to the guild
gear forest so if you go to the guild forest you will find two villages of
forest you will find two villages of
forest you will find two villages of Sidney’s in in the middle of the forest
Sidney’s in in the middle of the forest
Sidney’s in in the middle of the forest others dispersed to Hyderabad Goa and
others dispersed to Hyderabad Goa and
others dispersed to Hyderabad Goa and Karnataka unlike my earlier projects
Karnataka unlike my earlier projects
Karnataka unlike my earlier projects where I had unfettered access first as a
where I had unfettered access first as a
where I had unfettered access first as a Bombay native and next because I was
Bombay native and next because I was
Bombay native and next because I was married to a Patel access to the city
married to a Patel access to the city
married to a Patel access to the city was difficult as the community tends to
was difficult as the community tends to
was difficult as the community tends to remain exclusive and not exactly
remain exclusive and not exactly
remain exclusive and not exactly welcoming of outsiders I had to earn
welcoming of outsiders I had to earn
welcoming of outsiders I had to earn acceptance and this took time and it
acceptance and this took time and it
acceptance and this took time and it took going and meeting various members
took going and meeting various members
took going and meeting various members of the community without a camera this
of the community without a camera this
of the community without a camera this task took a few months and also it meant
task took a few months and also it meant
task took a few months and also it meant journeying to different parts of the
journeying to different parts of the
journeying to different parts of the country some quite remote my efforts to
country some quite remote my efforts to
country some quite remote my efforts to gain their trust would get greatly
gain their trust would get greatly
gain their trust would get greatly abetted by here by been a dynamic
abetted by here by been a dynamic
abetted by here by been a dynamic elder who took me under her wings and
elder who took me under her wings and
elder who took me under her wings and helped Prime many closed
helped Prime many closed
helped Prime many closed my book is dedicated to her and I’d be
my book is dedicated to her and I’d be
my book is dedicated to her and I’d be happy to show you some pictures so this
happy to show you some pictures so this
happy to show you some pictures so this is Margie then Hussein they were the
is Margie then Hussein they were the
is Margie then Hussein they were the first people I met and I did not
first people I met and I did not
first people I met and I did not photograph as I entered the village they
photograph as I entered the village they
photograph as I entered the village they were playing carom they had baseball
were playing carom they had baseball
were playing carom they had baseball caps and they looked at me as if to say
caps and they looked at me as if to say
caps and they looked at me as if to say just get out of here you know and I
just get out of here you know and I
just get out of here you know and I tried to say well I had come there to
tried to say well I had come there to
tried to say well I had come there to meet here by then and all that and they
meet here by then and all that and they
meet here by then and all that and they said well you’ll have to call her you
said well you’ll have to call her you
said well you’ll have to call her you know she has a phone you know and this
know she has a phone you know and this
know she has a phone you know and this by the time I got to photograph them and
by the time I got to photograph them and
by the time I got to photograph them and they got to like me it took it took a
they got to like me it took it took a
they got to like me it took it took a couple of months they were uncertain and
couple of months they were uncertain and
couple of months they were uncertain and suspicious of my motives one of them
suspicious of my motives one of them
suspicious of my motives one of them asked me are you photographing in black
asked me are you photographing in black
asked me are you photographing in black and white because we’re black another
and white because we’re black another
and white because we’re black another wanted to know what exactly I was going
wanted to know what exactly I was going
wanted to know what exactly I was going to do with these photographs and
to do with these photographs and
to do with these photographs and photograph photographing the city over
photograph photographing the city over
photograph photographing the city over the many years that I did although
the many years that I did although
the many years that I did although enormous ly rewarding for me and made me
enormous ly rewarding for me and made me
enormous ly rewarding for me and made me privy to the enormous problems affecting
privy to the enormous problems affecting
privy to the enormous problems affecting this much neglected community a lot
this much neglected community a lot
this much neglected community a lot needs to be done and I hope my pictures
needs to be done and I hope my pictures
needs to be done and I hope my pictures can reach the places to people who can
can reach the places to people who can
can reach the places to people who can actually be in a position to do
actually be in a position to do
actually be in a position to do something can show the next few pictures
something can show the next few pictures
something can show the next few pictures next next next Thanks yeah
next next next Thanks yeah
next next next Thanks yeah yet I’m acutely aware that a
yet I’m acutely aware that a
yet I’m acutely aware that a photographer’s mission cannot be that of
photographer’s mission cannot be that of
photographer’s mission cannot be that of an anthropologists or a social workers
an anthropologists or a social workers
an anthropologists or a social workers photographers work to quote the
photographers work to quote the
photographers work to quote the photographer and writer rod rod Robert
photographer and writer rod rod Robert
photographer and writer rod rod Robert Adams is to affirm life without lying
Adams is to affirm life without lying
Adams is to affirm life without lying about it and then to behave in a chord
about it and then to behave in a chord
about it and then to behave in a chord with our vision next in conclusion I
with our vision next in conclusion I
with our vision next in conclusion I wish to touch upon how shifts in
wish to touch upon how shifts in
wish to touch upon how shifts in technology can can force a change in how
technology can can force a change in how
technology can can force a change in how one works
one works
one works I was wedded to conventional photography
I was wedded to conventional photography
I was wedded to conventional photography using film and chemistry and working
using film and chemistry and working
using film and chemistry and working exclusively in black and white for over
exclusively in black and white for over
exclusively in black and white for over 20 years
20 years
20 years remarkably late in 2015 I embraced color
remarkably late in 2015 I embraced color
remarkably late in 2015 I embraced color and digital photography forced to do so
and digital photography forced to do so
and digital photography forced to do so by dwindling supply of conventional film
by dwindling supply of conventional film
by dwindling supply of conventional film and chemistry finally accepting the new
and chemistry finally accepting the new
and chemistry finally accepting the new I set out to test my skills and start
I set out to test my skills and start
I set out to test my skills and start where I had once been 25 years ago back
where I had once been 25 years ago back
where I had once been 25 years ago back on the street and back with the magical
on the street and back with the magical
on the street and back with the magical Leica this time a digital one the m9 and
Leica this time a digital one the m9 and
Leica this time a digital one the m9 and I walked the streets of a village called
I walked the streets of a village called
I walked the streets of a village called Minori and I’m showing you some pictures
Minori and I’m showing you some pictures
Minori and I’m showing you some pictures this was my entry into color and it was
this was my entry into color and it was
this was my entry into color and it was here on the streets of Minori that I
here on the streets of Minori that I
here on the streets of Minori that I stumbled upon a rundown and neglected
stumbled upon a rundown and neglected
stumbled upon a rundown and neglected photo studio where the germ of a new
photo studio where the germ of a new
photo studio where the germ of a new idea was then sewn so a year and a half
idea was then sewn so a year and a half
idea was then sewn so a year and a half later I went on to find 70 more Studios
later I went on to find 70 more Studios
later I went on to find 70 more Studios around the country which gave birth to
around the country which gave birth to
around the country which gave birth to my newest work title still lives so this
my newest work title still lives so this
my newest work title still lives so this is in Jaipur so I found these old
is in Jaipur so I found these old
is in Jaipur so I found these old studios that are all on the brink of
studios that are all on the brink of
studios that are all on the brink of closing down this is Jaipur this is Bob
closing down this is Jaipur this is Bob
closing down this is Jaipur this is Bob Nagar Gujarat and this was if you can go
Nagar Gujarat and this was if you can go
Nagar Gujarat and this was if you can go back this was a model of Gandhi that was
back this was a model of Gandhi that was
back this was a model of Gandhi that was a hundred years old because the studio
a hundred years old because the studio
a hundred years old because the studio was a hundred years old and the grandson
was a hundred years old and the grandson
was a hundred years old and the grandson who now runs print studio said in those
who now runs print studio said in those
who now runs print studio said in those days children would come to sit
days children would come to sit
days children would come to sit I Gandhi and get themselves photographed
I Gandhi and get themselves photographed
I Gandhi and get themselves photographed and so I thought it was a very
and so I thought it was a very
and so I thought it was a very interesting prop which is of course now
interesting prop which is of course now
interesting prop which is of course now not used that much next this was in
not used that much next this was in
not used that much next this was in Trivandrum a young Malala boy had come
Trivandrum a young Malala boy had come
Trivandrum a young Malala boy had come in to be photographed for something and
in to be photographed for something and
in to be photographed for something and I asked him if I could take a picture of
I asked him if I could take a picture of
I asked him if I could take a picture of him and this is in my menorah studio
him and this is in my menorah studio
him and this is in my menorah studio which was called Jagdish photo studio
which was called Jagdish photo studio
which was called Jagdish photo studio and it was either so it was a lucky day
and it was either so it was a lucky day
and it was either so it was a lucky day for me so the children were all coming
for me so the children were all coming
for me so the children were all coming in and the parents and all really
in and the parents and all really
in and the parents and all really beautifully dressed up and so I had a
beautifully dressed up and so I had a
beautifully dressed up and so I had a very lucky day that day and got some
very lucky day that day and got some
very lucky day that day and got some good pictures this is a village in
good pictures this is a village in
good pictures this is a village in Orissa and this is also in Orissa where
Orissa and this is also in Orissa where
Orissa and this is also in Orissa where the studio owner actually paints his
the studio owner actually paints his
the studio owner actually paints his backdrops and now his trade is coming to
backdrops and now his trade is coming to
backdrops and now his trade is coming to an end because he doesn’t have any
an end because he doesn’t have any
an end because he doesn’t have any business so I would like to end with a
business so I would like to end with a
business so I would like to end with a quote by Robert Adams again on why
quote by Robert Adams again on why
quote by Robert Adams again on why people photograph when photograph when
people photograph when photograph when
people photograph when photograph when photographers get beyond copying the
photographers get beyond copying the
photographers get beyond copying the achievements of others or just repeating
achievements of others or just repeating
achievements of others or just repeating their own first accidental successes
their own first accidental successes
their own first accidental successes they learn that they do not know where
they learn that they do not know where
they learn that they do not know where in the world they will find pictures so
in the world they will find pictures so
in the world they will find pictures so if you had asked me while I was doing
if you had asked me while I was doing
if you had asked me while I was doing portraits of Patel twins in the UK
portraits of Patel twins in the UK
portraits of Patel twins in the UK whether I would photograph a Gujarati
whether I would photograph a Gujarati
whether I would photograph a Gujarati speaking African tribe that came
speaking African tribe that came
speaking African tribe that came centuries ago to India or whether I
centuries ago to India or whether I
centuries ago to India or whether I would find 70 village photography
would find 70 village photography
would find 70 village photography studios at the brink of change mirroring
studios at the brink of change mirroring
studios at the brink of change mirroring my own brink of change I would never
my own brink of change I would never
my own brink of change I would never even have remotely guessed thank you
even have remotely guessed thank you
even have remotely guessed thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment