MOVE IT 2016

MOVE IT was the glorious celebration of dance and performing arts in London. About 22,000 dancers and dance enthusiasts participated in this event spread across three days, on the 18th, 19th and 20th of March 2016. Dancers had the opportunity to showcase their performances on the main stage, take part in various dance classes and discover new dance career options, one can even shop all their dance wear and needs at the event itself. It seemed like a little world of dancers and anything and everything to do with dance.

When I first walked into the venue, ExCel London, I stood there just absorbing everything around me. Thousands of dancers under one roof and their passion and energy was beyond anything. Being a professional dancer, I could understand and relate to the heights of passion prevailing in that room and the orderly chaos. It was quite evident from the energy, that for every performer present there, in that very moment, dance was everything, dance was what was driving them, dance was their way of existence and dancing was life.

Every single person there had a story to share varying from sad and painful to fun and silly, a story that the rest of us could learn from.

The arena was filled with people of all ages, not just watching but performing as well. The commitment each of them had for dance was inspiring.

Fighting my way through the enthusiastic crowd I managed to reach the media area. I jumped here and there between photographers, trying to find a place with the right angle until I found a nice spot to capture the action on stage. Performances after performances were so amazing, that sometimes I stood there frozen in awe, just staring at the dance forgetting to take photographs. The impeccable performances made me want to capture the action both through the lens and live with my eyes. The energy and enthusiasm was absolutely exhilarating and maddening. I didn't want to leave the place, I was contemplating whether to miss my flight to Edinburgh late that evening or stay back.

I made up my mind to leave, but not before capturing as many photographs as I could before I left. Though I left very hesitantly, the thought of the landscapes in Edinburgh and Lake District brought back my lost energy. In a few hours, I was en route to the capital of Scotland.

Next blog  post coming soon...

London Fashion Weekend, Feb 2016

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to photograph two shows at the London Fashion Weekend. The event was held at the beautiful Saatchi Gallery. We had a small briefing by Canon company, telling us what we must and must not do at the fashion event. One might think that it's pretty simple to shoot a ramp walk, but it's not. The change in lighting setups and fast movement by the models make it quite a challenge. Well at the same time, what differentiates you from the photographer sitting beside you in the same photographers pit is something to think about. Catching the right moment and angle of the legs of the model and dress is important. Photographers are expected to post-process and mail the photographs during the short period between shows. These are my pictures at my first ever fashion event. I had to place myself on the spot with the right view in the photographer's pit with 50 others and stay there for the whole show. This was such a new experience for me, opening up creativity through restricted time and movement.

I'd like to thank Canon and London College of Communication, the University of the Arts London for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

Have a great weekend. Keep clicking!

Underwater Figure Photography

Over the last couple of months, I have been doing my research on underwater photography and the changes from silver to digital. Analyzing how it all started and why, and where it is taking us in the future. I must say I was hooked on it and wanted to try my hands at underwater photography. Cashing in on the Christmas break, I traveled to a more sunny side of the world, my base, Chennai, India and decided to collaborate with my friend Tanitha Periera, who is a fashion blogger (TEAL). We were both excited to explore how much control we would or would not have underwater, both as a photographer and as a model. I have done all my research, I have all my references, I have theoretically understood the laws of water and its effect on camera... I have my iPhone with a waterproof case (Digital) and a Kodak disposable underwater camera (Analog) that I bought from the Boots store in London which is also available on Amazon. We jumped into the pool in our bathing suits and threw in a bright colored dupatta to break the hue from the blue water. All done and set. Let's shoot and get some amazing pictures, I thought. Ahaaa!!

Not that easy. Hurdles a photographer can expect shooting underwater,

1. You need to find the right model who is comfortable with you and the water. Not everyone is fully aware of their body underwater but Tanitha knew exactly what she was doing. It is quite evident from the output.
2. You and the model have to be in sync, this applies to pretty much all genres of photography, but a little extra emphasis on this point when you shoot underwater.
3. Model's outfit and props, as the water makes clothes seem heavier, choosing the right kind of material is important. You don't want it to weigh you down.
4. Lighting, due to the law of refraction most of the light that passes through the water is dispersed. Shooting when the daylight is at the maximum is important though this problem can be solved with the help of external flashlights.
5. You have the freedom to shoot from literally any angle but the problem arises when water makes the subject seem almost 25% larger than it actually is. This is usually corrected by the use of dome ports.

It was an amazing experience. If you get a chance, go give it a shot and you know what to expect. Here are a few pictures from the shoot. Hope you enjoy them. :)

I'd like to thank Tanitha Periera for readily accepting to do this shoot with me. Follow more of her work on Instagram & Facebook.

7 Inspirational Underwater Photographers

Can the laws of gravity be replaced? Photographers answered this question with the invention and evolution of underwater photography. Over the years, the improvement of camera housings and underwater equipment have changed underwater photography. We can also see the ways in which underwater photography has not changed.

Here is a list of underwater photographers who've inspired me.

1. Toni Frissell (1933-1967):

   One of the first photographers to take lifestyle and fashion away from the confines of the studio.

2. Bruce Mozert:

Bruce Mozert took underwater photographs of women performing above ground activities, such as playing golf, peering through a telescope, and barbecuing.

3. Sam Shere:

Photographed an underwater fashion show hosted by the Miami fashion council, that took place in 1947.

4. Emma Critchley:

'In water not only are shape and form suspended, but so is time, words, limbs and breadth float in an eternal present moment, neither past nor future, neither moving nor completely still'

-Emma Critchley, At the still point of the turning world

5. Zena Holloway:

‘Cameras capture too much sometimes and the water takes it back a step, takes it almost being like a painting’, she says.

6. Howard Schatz:

American based ophthalmologist and photographer. One of his many books is "Waterdance" published in 1995.

7. Elena Kalis:

Elena Kalis, the Russian-born who practices underwater photography by the deep blue sea in the Bahamas. Elena’s fine art background has helped her create a unique painting like style in underwater photography.

Coming up next is a blog post of how these photographers have influenced and inspired me. Watch this space for more!!!

When London surprised me.

Leaving home was not easy but was exciting at the same time. The day I got to know that I could do my Masters in London, I had a million thoughts running through my head. It was an opportunity for me to learn the newer technologies and methods of photography. But oh boy, was I in for a surprise.

I landed in London on an early winter morning. The first thing that hit me was the gloomy, uncoloured life. I thought it was just a new calm and a zone outside my chaotic comfort zone. The first week was about what is in and around the university and familiarising myself to the weather and the gloominess. Strangely, I found it beautiful in its own way. It started to sink in and I was enjoying it. As I started settling in, we had our first class on the history of photography and cameras.

During the course of these classes, I familiarised myself with the fellow students and their view on the world of photography. What fascinated me was their method of photography. Kong still uses a film camera and Zhou uses just an iPhone to capture her world. It was different from the world of DSLRs I thought of.

It got exciting when I got the opportunity to try the Pentax. The challenge was to capture a new city, from an outsider’s viewpoint – with an Illford HP5 black and white 36 film roll.

I had one week to capture the moments that got me and just two days away from returning the camera, I had just 7 pictures, because I couldn't wrap my mind around THE 36 shots I'd like to take. I decided to take this as an opportunity to use my day off, to walk around the city and see what would connect to me.

 

With the roll filled with the city, my next task is to bring them to life. The darkroom is my next stop, I'm really looking forward to bring these moments to light. I am looking forward to the experience.

Till then, let the camera keep clicking. :)