Wanderlust*

Destiny's Children

2012-01-07T22:59:00.000-08:00

2012 is here with promises made to get back into photographing more and organizing less! Hopefully that will ensure that the blog stays up to date with more images and travel notes.

Here's a quick assignment I did for the January edition of the Motherland magazine along with writer, Annalisa Merelli.

The assignment was to photograph women serving prison time who lived with their children inside the Tihar Jail - wasn't very easy because of the access and the time of day that ensured that most women were at 'work' along with the fact that we were asked to leave not too long after we got there. Some of the stories were chilling, most of the women we spoke to were doing prison time for the murder of a husband or an in-law.

Cause when we've taken 'too many pictures' its time for fun!

2012-01-07T22:39:00.000-08:00

In November 2011 I was a part of an incredible crew of photographers who worked with the children of Anjali House in association with the Angkor Photo Festival. This was my third year in Cambodia and second year as tutor of the kids photo workshop - and what a grand time! More then the kids learning from us - I think there is a lot that each of us had to learn from the kids.

On the last day of the workshop the kids had taken 'too many pictures' and wanted to have 'fun'...

To Manali and back (not the moon this time)

2011-08-25T07:31:00.000-07:00

I went to Manali to work on a project a couple of weeks back - well, the project is another story all together but this photograph is of my favorite Manali child, Sanjeet.

To the moon and back

2011-08-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel that blogging can be pretty pointless.

Why? Because I don't feel like letting go of the experiences I'm going through, the moments I'm experiencing and the thoughts on my mind. I want to hold on to things forever and savor them bit by bit.

This summer took me through moments of pure joy, excitement, love, happiness, curiosity, carelessness, intensity... and the list goes on. It tested my limits, made me more aware of who I am and what I want, throwing challenges at me one after another that said, 'lets see how you deal with this'. From New York City to Argentina to Manali and all the things that went up and down in between - what a mindblasting summer!

I saw a lot and I was inspired a lot. Inspiration came through its various ways - through friends, through the bazillion images that I saw and mostly through the experiences I went through.

Summer of 2011 goes down in history and reiterates 'never give up'.... ever.

Yamuna Yatra

2011-03-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

The Yamuna river travels over 1200 km through several states of the country. Nearly 60 million people are dependent on the river as a water source for day to day living - washing, bathing and praying. Most of the clean water is stopped at the Wazirabad Dam leaving sewage and chemical waste material to go over into the next sector. The water past the Wazirabad dam is filthy black in color and the stench is unmistakable. People living on the banks of the river often fall sick as a result of waterborne diseases and suffer from various skin problems. The thriving forests, once the play ground for varieties of deer, antelope and other wildlife is now dead and barren land - the water, undrinkable and the non-existent level of oxygen in the water making the possibility for survival of marine life next to impossible.

The Yamuna Yatra is a 45-day walk or procession from the source of the river Yamuna in Allahabad to New Delhi to protest, to ask and to demand a cleaner river. Millions of rupees were recently allocated towards the clean up of the river, houses and temples on the banks were broken in the name of a clean-up, plans were made to 'seriously' look into the matter and it's been months, if not years that the level of pollution in the river continues to rise. The Yatra arrives in Delhi on April 15th to protest against the government and if all fails they 'will break the Wazirabad dam'.

fa-shun.

2011-03-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

I'm not a fashion photographer and will never be.

A quick attempt today for a friend's new summer collection.

Chandelao/Rajasthan

2011-03-02T02:01:00.000-08:00

Chandelao is a quaint village an hour away from the city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan. These are a few images from when I traveled there in January 2011 on assignment --

Mansi Midha/2011.

A new lens

2011-01-29T11:41:00.001-08:00

I just treated myself to a new lens. The Canon 35mm 1.4 L.

It's amazing how good glass feels - so effortlessly sharp, so easy to focus and just all around great. I'm a 28mm fixed focal length photographer (unless on assignment) and felt increasingly irritable with the inability to get what I wanted from my image. I gave into temptation, overstretched my pocket, my wallet, everything really... and found myself in pure ecstasy.

TO-go-TO LIST!

2011-01-29T11:26:00.001-08:00

These are a few of the places I've been drooling over in the recent past -

1. Zanzibar, Tanzania

2. Peru

3. Laos

4. Andamans

5. North-East India

6. Bhutan

7. West Gujarat

8. Eastern Europe

9. Cuba

10. Bolivia

My top 10... err 5

2011-01-03T09:09:00.001-08:00

I travel a lot. I also tend to 'fall in love' with a lot of places, things or just moments... the moments that come out of being in a new place :)

This a list of some of my favorite places, in no particular order -

1. Kadikoy, Istanbul, Turkey

Kadikoy is the better part of Istanbul I'd like to think. Istanbul is divided into two parts, the European side and the Asian Side. Kadikoy is a large cosmopolitan district on the Asian Side. I was in Turkey for a workshop in the summer of 2010 and Kadikoy came to be our 'home'. Its less touristy, more 'real' interms of people, prices, food etc. Since most of the tourist attractions (blue mosque, hagia sophia) are on the European side lesser tourists venture over to Kadikoy... which to me is AWESOME! Little do they know what lies on the other side of the Bhosphorous (shhhh don't tell them!)

View from the ferry to Kadikoy

2. King's Cliff, Ooty, India

A long-ish drive from Central Ooty (long if you are used to short distances and short if you come from Mumbai) will bring you to the charming King's Cliff. It's a stunning property set amidst tea estates and panoramic views. The restaurant, Earl's Secret is the finest in Ooty.

Small intimate dining areas and private living rooms complete with a fireplace make it a must visit if you are in the area. Oh, and they even encourage you to carry your own spirits.

Imagine a cool winter evening, watching the sun go down over the hills, sipping red wine, a bunch of awesome people, an old-home, old-world, creaking-wood-under your-feet type of feeling, a fireplace and the best-est tiramisu. Sold?

3. Mumbai, India

Oh MUMBAI - you crazy crazy thing!!! What can I say?! Nothing really, except that I'm not a Delhi-ite who would take part in the Delhi-Mumbai war because I'm unsure if my loyalty rests with my home ground!

4. McLeodgunj, India

McLeodgunj, the home of calm and home to the Dalai Lama.

I visited McLeodgung in 2009 and stayed at Pema Thang. I don't know what it is about McLeodgunj that attracted me to it, it was probably the people and the heavy buddhist presence that brought about a sense of calm the minute I set foot in. Not to forget a chance meeting with the Dalai Lama himself and the blessing of my camera.

5. Rabbit Island, Cambodia

Read this.

... to be continued.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T01:14:00.000-08:00

Wishes for a fantastic year ahead!

With the new year I hope to blog a bit more regularly. I seem to be missing out on narrating a lot of great experiences and moments! With 2011 I look forward to spending a considerable amount of time working in the South of India on a personal project and then in South America.

A lot of things brewing at the moment - looks like it's going to be a good one. Salud!

Anjali House

2010-11-08T00:51:00.000-08:00

I'm almost on my way to Siem Reap for the 6th Angkor Photo Festival.

This year I will be joining an amazing crew of photographers to teach photography to the kids of Anjali House. I'm really excited to see the work the kids will produce this time. From the 2008-2009 photo workshops for the kids a book has been produced, launching this year at the festival.

Running parallel to the photo festival and the workshop for the kids at anjali house will be the workshop for young emerging photographic talent from asia, a workshop that I have attended in the past.

I love Cambodia and I love the spirit of it's people - this has been the trip I've waited for all year long!

Durga Puja in Calcutta

2010-10-29T22:47:00.000-07:00

Durga Puja is an annual festival in South Asia that celebrates the worship of the Hindu goddess, Durga. The festival is the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society that takes place annually over a period of six days. At the end of six days, the idol is taken out of homes and places of worship, in a procession amidst loud chanting, drumbeats and dancing. The idol is immersed in the holy river which symbolizes the departure of the goddess from her maternal home to to reunite with her husband.Durga Puja celebrates the power of good winning over the evil. To describe it in words simple for the western world – Durga Puja to the Bengali community is what Christmas is to Christians. Or like my Bengali friend says ‘It’s like Mardi Gras minus naked women’

The dance of flying plastic.

2010-09-06T01:23:00.001-07:00

So it's been a while since my last blog entry.

Often, you need a trigger to get you going again.

Yesterday was one of them,

and today I feel inspired to post.

It's been a crazy summer with the workshop in Turkey, getting it together, logistics, all round madness - meeting 150 crazy inspiring photographers, making new friends, building new connections - having a blast - the efes way!

I can't describe it, but Turkey was a feeling and a feeling that I want to go back to someday. At this rate, falling in love with each place I go to - god is going to have to let me live longer so I can re-visit every place 'one more time'.

I feel like the year has just begun, with all the travel coming up. Leh, Kerala, Calcutta, Orissa, Varanasi, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam are on the horizon.

Back to yesterday,

A friend and I were on chat, the nocturnals that we are said 'fuck this shit' (sleep) - lets go shoot instead. There we were at 5am, bleary eyed with our cameras, some film and unfortunately a digital. We were to start out at the wholeseller's flower market, onto walking around in Connaught Place (the heart of delhi) and the finally into Old Delhi.

Luck... err weather had it so that we got 'stuck' at our first destination because of rain... and it was gorgeous!!!

So exciting, seeing the buzz, the flower sellers running all over, trying to get these massive sheets of plastic up to save their flowers. It was like a dance, of flying plastic, overlapping the other - hands in the air, flowing, trying to keep the plastic up... people running helter skelter - and in the midst of it all, the shopping still went on.

Some images, just for fun :)

p.s the colors are as they are - just a tonne of different hues from differently colored plastic :)

These are the times I realize how much I love photography, it makes me so happy -

so much that even the fight is worth it.

Saturday : photographic and inspiring.

2010-05-09T01:28:00.000-07:00

Saturday was spent in the sweltering by lanes of Chandni Chowk. To those unfamiliar, Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest parts of Delhi. It's a combination of old residential havelis, markets buzzing with activity : the spice market, the wedding market, the silver market, the paper market, the camera market, the paranthe wali gali and what not.

The sights, smells and sounds can be overwhelming at first but once you're 'in it' there's no escaping the glory of it. Chandni Chowk is truly wonderful in its own way... I love this electric hell (you would know what I'm talking about if you saw the thousands of wires thrown across buildings for power). I first went to Chandni Chowk when I started photographing - It became my play ground. The people, warm and welcoming and the faces truly fascinating. It would be easy to get lost within the maze and really absorb all that was happening around.

It had been long since I photographed for myself. This time, I wanted to just go - switch off and aimlessly photograph like the old times. It was good getting out and feeling the buzz.

And not just that - I even got to drool over some beautiful medium format cameras... soon baby soon!

Ready to Foundry!

2010-05-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

It's already May and it feels like the year has just begun.

There's so much to look forward to!

Next headed to Istanbul for the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop, an exciting week

of photography, community and inspiration. I'm helping on the organizational side of things and we are upto our necks with class placements. With 15 world class, prize winning photojournalists coming in as instructors - there is bound to be a fight!

Foundry 2009 in Manali, India.

Blast from the past

2010-01-28T21:58:00.000-08:00

As I walked back into school after almost 8 years of graduating, pieces of the past flashed by.

Giggly girls talking about boys, the boys who thought showing off their boxers was cool (really? is that still in?), the untucked shirts, and the maroon of the sweaters... the office bhaiyas who were still the same but a little greyed and the teachers who never seemed to have aged. It was almost like I had never left. Just, the kids were different, yes, kids, my 15 year old sister's classmates.

The chairs were the same, if not a bit faded, the steel tea cups reminded me of board exam days, the little corners where we would hide to escape march past or 'bunk' PT often getting caught and having to run ten rounds of the football field as punishment. The kabaddi in the rain, the loud cheers during basketball tournaments, the hand cricket we played on the terrace - getting caught when the ball actually fell on a teachers head. The water fights, the distractions, serenading (umm harassing?) the class teacher with the 'happy birthday' song every day that she walked into class, of crocodile skins and swimming pools, yoga retreats to the beautiful 'art room'.

So many memories and so much warmth, returned today in just a flash... flooding back like it was always a part of me.

And this time from the other end, just like my mom would, 'How did she do in class?' trying hard to hold a straight face. Yep! If looks could have killed, I wouldn't be writing this now. Well thankfully she seems to be making up for me in the studies deparment. Don't read this young one, you definitely need to brush up on your history lessons.

Go study!

Ready to go

2010-01-28T07:41:00.001-08:00

My hands are itching and I can't wait to hit the road again, to feel that high of making images and connecting with people. To go with the flow and to be in a moment where everything seems just right.

I'm really excited about my upcoming adventures, if only time wouldn't play such a spoilt sport.

Hurry up already.

'But you love what you do!?'

2010-01-20T01:27:00.000-08:00

At a recent event...

'So what do you do?'

x - 'I'm an investment banker etc.... I'm always working or traveling.. I'm exhausted'

What do you do?

me - 'I'm a photographer'

x - 'but that means you love what you do!?' almost to say how is that possible?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It is possible to love your job. I love what I do and I do it for myself because it makes me happy. So so happy. I'm glad I figured this one out before getting stuck in the job which I was going towards. Yes that would have been more offbeat then regular jobs still, but I don't see how I could have been at a desk executing ideas... although a steady income might have not been bad.

Life is about having no regrets and I certainly have none. I know the path I'm on is the right one.

Koh Tonsay

2009-12-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

A hidden island, or one not frequented by many - the perfect escape.

A 4.5 hour ride from Phnom Penh to Kep and then a short boat ride brought us to beautiful Rabbit Island or Koh Tonsay. It was perfect, in words that I can not describe.

Rustic, easy living, no fancy hotels, streets... or street lights! Yes, no power indeed.

My favorite moment and possibly the highlight of my trip was swimming at sunset, the sight of this amazing expanse, absolutely breathtaking sky, feeling content and very very happy. An indication of life and the amazing opportunities it will present... to sieze every moment and to never look back!

A crazy week!

2009-11-26T19:44:00.000-08:00

Today was the last shooting day for the 28 workshop participants at the week long Angkor Photo Workshop, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Tomorrow is the slideshow presentation that will mark the end of the week.

The week proved to be a big learning for all of us -

I was in the group that was being mentored by Philip Blenkinsop, an awesome awesome tutor, very inspiring and hugely motivating.

I look forward to what comes after this amazing experience!

In class with Philip

(l-r) Vivek, Christo, Ore, Jyotika, Abhijit, Philip

On the eve of my last trip for the year

2009-11-15T05:22:00.000-08:00

ok, well, second last!

While bringing in 2009 on a train trip to McLeodgunj I made a few promises to myself...

among other things I vowed to do a trip a month, for every month of the year... I vowed to not get 'stuck' (photographically ofcourse) and I made promises to push my work further.

It started in McLeodgunj with the Dalai Lama's blessing, went into Rajasthan, down to Goa and to the construction sites of Mumbai, back to Mumbai and Goa then to reunion with some wonderful friends In New York, straight up north to Manali, further into Kashmir and then to the borders of Amritsar...

Now I'm off to photograph in Thailand and Cambodia and will hopefully round off the year with a trip into the jungles and bring in 2010 in yet another inspiring location.

I'm happy, but I want even more - I'm at my happiest when I'm out and about, making connections, meeting real people and in part discovering something new each hour, every day. Sometimes I feel I can't relate to the real world around me - yet I know that it exists.

I've loved every second of it - now hoping for a first class finish to the year! woooohoooo!

With His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at his home

in McLeodgunj, January 2009

Indian Society with women in Independent roles

2009-09-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

Being a photographer, and the kinds that needs to travel a lot, be 'independent' and make your own decisions doesn't seem to go down well with a lot of people - especially if you belong to the female species AND are in your mid twenties.

I've been learning and struggling with that since I first picked up the camera a few years back.

I've learnt how to dodge, dive and escape questions relating to what I do...

hearing the 'how cool!' from the young and the 'oh!' from the neighbourhood aunties is something i've gotten quite used to.

NO YOU WILL NOT GET IT, and no, I do NOT want to explain it to you, and photography is NOT my hobby.

When I travel alone, locals try to figure out who I am - It's like a guessing game. In Hindi, 'Is she Indian?'...'Maybe NRI' (Non resident Indian) right in front of my face, looking for a reaction to see if I understand. Fair enough.

I am very much Indian and proud to be one but the problem is that in India, women do not travel alone. It's almost like an 'un-auspicious' deal, something that is just not done. It questions your Indian-ness and your 'purity' (an indian will know what that means!).

Being questioned, talked about and assessed isn't always a pleasant feeling. I don't have to explain myself - I LOVE what I do.

For me, these things affect me less now then before and all I care about is my work and where I want to go with it (really).

Thanks to those who support what I do and who believe in me - I love you.

My new 'proper' website is finally here!

2009-09-14T03:05:00.000-07:00

www.mansimidha.com

It's been a long time coming!

Love to hear what you think.

When your wishes come true

2009-08-27T02:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while I was with the film crew at the Maqbool Sahib mosque a goat was being led into the grounds. The goat was going to be sacrificed because someone's wishes came true and this was their way of thanking allah. The meat was going to be distributed amongst worshippers.

In between shooting for the film crew and waiting for them to return from a mens only zone I saw people running towards a man with a basket - it was the cut pieces of raw meat being brought out for distribution. People appeared out of no where to claim their share using women and children to gain sympathy votes.

Being in Kashmir during Ramadan...

2009-08-27T02:15:00.001-07:00

... is a different thing altogether - beautiful & serene.

Everyone works like clockwork around the fasting and prayer rituals. Drivers and Boatmen will not leave for any place before 5.30am (their last meal for the day is at 4.30am before praying at the mosque until 5.25am), internet cafes, shops and such establishments close for half hour 5 times a day. Everything stops working, restaurants are empty or under renovation and when it's time to break the fast after sun down the roads are clear, the servers at restaurants are hunching behind counters waiting for the time so that they can have their first sip or bite of anything. Usually fasts are broken with the customary glass of seasoned milk.

It's a great time to be here and to be immersed in another way of living.

'No Internet. Sorry'

2009-08-27T02:03:00.000-07:00

Living without being in touch with the real world can be quite daunting at first - however it has it's perks. Being on the road and having no internet takes a bit of getting used to, when even a little bit seems like luxury.

I am now checking in after 3 days. Hello.

Either it's the power or the internet itself - having one cafe in the entire neighborhood obviously doesn't help. No internet however ensures more sleep - quite different from pulling thru the 4am's thanks to facebook and other such 'important' distractions that 'must' be catered to.

Life is good, sometimes without internet.

A beautiful morning

2009-08-22T22:39:00.000-07:00

5.30am is when a small corner of the Dal Lake sees hectic activity.

It's the vegetable market!

A little bit of an adrenaline rush (?)

2009-08-22T22:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday in Srinagar was a day that the town was declared shut due to tension over the Prime Minister's speech. While Dar Yasin of the Associated Press gave David and me a walk about town we heard voices and Dar said get your cameras ready! It did turn out to be a bit of a hue and cry over nothing. Police reinforcements were brought in, tear gar was handed out, the police were ready for some heavy stone pelting action. What it really was, was a few kids playing the police - the mob dissolved before it actually became one.

A first view - the Dal Lake

2009-08-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

too scared to cough

2009-08-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

The buzz in the air quite literally is the H1N1 Swine flu. Yesterday, I took the flight from New Delhi to Srinagar, Kashmir and there were many a masks in sight, people covering their mouths and in general the raise of an eyebrow at the sound of a tiny sniffle.

Let's just say that being on the backend of the flu (not swine), with a bottle of throat relievers and a pack of tissues in hand, I wasn't their favourite person.

Arrival in Srinagar ensured a different level of craziness. Everyone was in masks, people arriving were being videotaped with health forms and doctors galore.

I was trying hard to not cough, having clearly marked on the form and signed a declaration that I did NOT have fever, cold, throat problems etc in the last 10 days.

Lets just say that walking out of the airport was sweet relief and i'm really excited about this journey.

I am last minute mansi

2009-08-17T03:02:00.000-07:00

To those who know me,

you KNOW what I'm talking about!

On the eve of departure, I am usually always a mess... working with deadlines, getting my gear together, making plans (and yes, this is usually always on the night before I leave when I don't sleep). The sweetest relief is getting into the car, plane or train and saying 'woohoo' I made it.

Every time I travel, I think i'll do it differently, I'll be better planned... but meh, whats the fun working under no pressure? I thrive on it.

I'm leaving in a few hours and things are no different.

Lets go with the flow yes?