I took this picture at night on the streets of Chennai. I was extremely hurt by this scene. I may be a novice in photography. But my request to the reader while looking at this image is not to look at it as a photograph, but as a question on our so-called 'developed' and 'modernised' society. While the busy traffic passes by with it's 'important' engagements, another face of India stays unnoticed and in need of help.
18 comments:
This is a breath taking photograph and not because of the skill used to get the right light or exposure time or to combine the irony or the crazy traffic vs. the stillness of humanity, but because it shows truth. Rarely do we as photographs want to show truth. We ask for the world to pose in ways that we would like it to pose but we never just say "World show me who you are and I will be here" this is a perfect image of that...you have captured the world. Amazing shot.
I wish Eiehua that the world had thought in the way you have thought. Our world has so many brilliant studio photographers. But it pains me to see that their talents do not contribute significantly to the human race. My picture will make no difference as I am not 'famous'. But some famous people could have used their fame for doing good things. But they never did. It really calls for great commitment to be a Raghu Rai or John Issac. But unfortunately, a lot of talent is going to waste. What needs attention is always ignored. That is an unsaid rule of humanity.
Hi Subhanjan,
I dont know what to say about this photo .. its so sad .. it reminds us that maybe we are living life in the fast lane and there's no room for the simple things like basic humanity or simple joys of life like spending time with aged grandparents.
Kudos to you for bringing this angle to photography.
hey by the way, what happened to the mindblowing snap of frooti? I can no longer see that post. Although i do have it in my feed reader, I wanted to comment on that post.
I will give that picture some other time. It is a simple table top. The current picture has a different and much more important mood. I will upload table top images sometime later.
Your very right when you say that needs attention is often ignored. And it makes you wonder, why do we ignore it? because we believe the problem is above us? or because we are simply selfish and since it does not directly effect us it does not exist? How much longer will the world live in there individual solitary world? Continue buying expensive name brand clothes, and such. I find myself guilty of it at times but its hard not to be so self centered and get caught up in your simple day to day issues. Photography like this, although raw helps to keep my grounded and remind me that I am not my own world. Thanks again. Check my blog comments for my reply to your comment.
I am so very sorry Subhanjan, but I cant seem to bring my words out of me. Please read my new post and you will hopefully understand why.
(my reply to your comment)
I agree with you, to truely learn how to love oneself is to be able to find your other match. I think when u come to terms with who you want to be as an individual then you will no longer feel the need to be someone else for the sake of anothers love...Does that make any sense? I see that without that love should never even come to be uttered from your lips, and how are you to know that you truly understand yourself? I suppose when u can be content in your heart with your solitude and like Rilke stated, when you understand that "All companionship can consist only in the strengthening of two neighboring solitudes", maybe then are you read to utter the words love. I suppose what Ive learned most over the years is to question everything....always question your feelings and your motives....because if you question yourself you ask your mind to understand yourself and to understand that you are an individual. If you never question yourself you never speak to yourself and it is of the up most importance to speak to yourself because you have many different voices speaking inside of you, unless you listen closely youll never hear them become one....
Dear Subho,
How can I be happy with such realities of my home? I am not being philosophical but there are many reasons which makes me perpetually sad. Yes currently I am escaping, that state is sad in itself.
We are not a developed society to say the least.
Look at our homes and extended families you would find arrogant, ignorant, rude, uncouth and absolutely psychotic people who talk like rioters, killers but can't do anything as they are scared!
How can we be developed if we are so insecure in general.
Thanks for merging your thoughts with your clicks. You are doing well.
Dear Tanmoyda,
Sometimes I ponder on Sir's fear of the country going to dogs and I feel bothered. I ask myself: What if he is so right that one day the country becomes so much of a thoroughly disturbed place that it goes out of control? I am really afraid. I simply have no idea of how this damage can be undone.
For example, what is happening in Kolkata regarding autos! Can you imagine this kind of violent actions in a major city on petty issues such as these at a time when we are yet to get over our biggest national security threat?
I know many of your young friends would love to vote for change (as democratic power is the only thing we have) but it is sad that you would only have those people to vote for who initiate such violence!
I share Suvroda's comment totally because I have tried to see these issues very deeply. I am just wondering how to battle the situation in my mind that we are nothing but mere puppets. I find it so hard to accept the reality.
Anyway sorry to have digressed quite a bit.
I would just urge - be a nice man and don't have strong ideas which are not flexible especially which concerns supporting any cause beyond humanity.
I am sure you shall do well.
Broadmindedness perhaps makes each one of us better global citizens.
You are quite right Tanmoyda. But then sometimes what might seem a trifle might not be a trifle at all. The auto rickshaws use a type of fuel that is literally poisonous. The gas emitted by them is increasing the rate of cancers. Alongside that there is a large number of non-licensed auto rickshaws. But then removing them from the roads and bringing an end to the livelihood of those whose earnings are dependent on driving auto rickshaws is no solution at all. There might be a lot of politics involved in this too. But the core thing is that this entire country is overwhelmed with so many problems that none of them is a trifle and for bringing about a change all the problems have to be addressed.
I cant say it is a nice picture though it is but yes it is sad that some stories are unnoticed.
Very sad.
I agree with Elehua that the strength of your photograph lies in the truth that it shows. I think the same is true of all art, including my own medium, poetry. We recognise truth in a photograph or a poem and respond to it. You may not be famous but you are doing what you can and who knows but what this might lead to...
kiranoncemore mentions the simple life and basic humanity. here in the U.K. we are in recession and somevoices are already saying that we need to return to the simple life and what is most important.
Thank you for visiting my blog and for your sensitive reading of my poem 'Skin'. You have shown me what it was that I found unsatisfactory in the poem.
True Madam that this recession is a good teaching to us. Too many of us had grown greedy and had thought that the party would go on for ever. Money had ceased to mean to us, and the deprived are seeing worse days as every day passes by. Things will worsen if we - the bourgeoise - do not realise our mistakes and make our lives simpler by not growing obese with brands and addictions.
You write well. But make your poems more exhaustive and run down to the core of issues. Take your time. And thank you for visiting my blog.
Most Indians have come across a scene like this sometime, and so have I. But your photograph is disturbing, it brings me face to face with the Indian reality once again.
You are right, it would be callous to comment on the photographic merit of the shot. I only wish you continue to take photographs like this, and find a bigger audience to communicate your feelings.
With a lot of wishes and hopes from my friends over here, two things come to my mind. One is whether I am really doing enough to deserve it or not. The other one is that whether I can meet up to their expectations or not. I pray God to give me the power to make a difference. I must be of some use to this world.
you do not seem like a novice photographer! i love photography and really, all forms of art, for the social commentary that it can convey. good work.
Post a Comment