Saturday : photographic and inspiring.

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!

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

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

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!?'

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

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!

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

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

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!

www.mansimidha.com

It's been a long time coming!

Love to hear what you think.