India Photo Tour – Batch 3
BLOG: On Location in India, January 2011 – Images by Art Wolfe
India’s diversity surprises you with great images. We found women beautifully dressed in bright colors, yet carrying dung on their heads for cooking and heating their homes. Ancient erotic art adorns temples. How interesting from a culture that doesn’t allow on-screen kissing in their very large and popular movie industry. Ceremonies along the Ganges, celebrate light and life with the poorest of the poor. City life and country life are expressive via the lives of the people and animals. Even a savvy street dog is found suckling from a sacred cow.
Damoiselle cranes could easily fit into the pages of my book titled Migrations. It is a never ending theme of fascination, beauty and the power of nature that arroused me once again. These beautiful graceful creatures in large numbers are an experience that I love to revisit and watch those that are witnessing this phenomenon for the first time.
It really funny how everyone finds to poorest of places to visit and take photographs. There are so many other beautiful places both cities and outdoors. Wonder why no one is a fan of those kind of images.
For example, when people go to San Fran, they shoot Golden Gate and not the Soup Kitchens.
Dear Karan-
I appreciate your comments about my images from India. I take tours to India and many other countries to show others, through imagery, the many differences from what we know here in our culture. I never intend to exploit anyone or anything, but to try and find the beauty and grace in the environment and people of that culture.
I would hope that you see my images as uplifting, and not degrading or exploitive. Everywhere I travel, beauty shines forth and this can be in a lavish ceremony or a simple dog’s face.
It’s true that third world countries have large populations of poor people. Countries like India reflect an abundance of riches that are not the result of having money. Bringing images to those that aren’t aware, is important and valuable.
I do believe that you could photograph the soup kitchens in San Francisco and come away with some beautiful images. Dignity and respect is always the first order of business.
Thank you,
Art Wolfe
I liked the rest of the images. Thank you for sharing Art.
Hi Art,
Thank you for your reply. Don’t take me wrong. I have been following your work for sometime and I am a fan.
I am from India, I have seen many places of beauty, both nature and culture and people and everything else. But every time I see anyone going to India ( Including Natgeo and other such reputable organization ) they try to put forward the POOR part of the country. I am not saying that we should not. Its a big concern in our country that there are millions of people below poverty line. But if we only keep seeing such photographs, then thats the impression the developed nations will get about our country (or any other country for that matter).
There are so many festivals that happen, with so much history behind it. Nobody bothers to capture the 1000 yr old temples, or the Forts, or the beautiful outdoors and the coast line and the wild life refuge, the mountain ranges .. etc.
People like you have the power to show both sides of the coin.
I am not angry at you or your images. Infact I am not angry at all. Its just a pattern i have noticed, and was just stating my opinion for the sake of discussion and to know your view point. I did not mean to offend anyway. Your work shows your hard work and honesty, that is why I am a fan of yours.
Thank you
Karan
Well put. Thank you for bringing up the discussion.
Here is my collection of photographs from Bangalore, Karnataka
The Information Tech Hub of the country. These are the parts of the city not a lot of insiders know about. Although I am not a photographer by profession, but I have tried to put in a mix in this album of 400-500 yr old temples, people, street, construction and architecture.
There is so much to see and every time I go back I try to explore a new part of the country.
Although I need to put more effort into it.
Thank you
Karan