Copyright Carla Fiorina
Why we liked it: the backroom of an old man turns into an allegory of the third age, narrated with a very personal style and technique.
Carla, a few words about you and your relation with photography.
I’ve always liked taking pictures – a lifetime of family and travel shots. Unexpectedly, about ten years ago, I became seriously interested in photography. Then interest became love, passion, dedication, an urge to see, understand, document, live life through a lens. I am an amateur and intend to continue being so, free to choose my own projects, free to try to find answers to my personal quests through photography. Right now I am especially interested in sociological issues and people’s spiritual life and how it helps them to cope with life’s difficulties.
What motivated you to participate in our contest?
I decided to take part in the contest when I read that you asked photographers to show ‘the spirit of India’, for me that would rule out the usual images of poverty, beggars, people in illness and distress, children rummaging in trash compounds. The true spirit of India lies elsewhere.
What about this picture?
I took this shot at the entrance of a little mosque in a small town on the road between Ajmer and Jaipur . It was late morning, we were welcomed to get into the building where we were offered tea. We sat there for an hour or so, enjoying the shade and the devotion of people coming in to pray. As I was leaving the place I noticed a small room with the old man watching a religious saga on TV. I went in and slowly made my presence accepted. I sat on the floor and after a while I started shooting the scene, never interfering with it.
What are your stylistic inspirations when it comes to photography/postprocessing?
I almost always convert my shots in black and white because most of them would be defined as socio-photojournalism shots and I think that color there intrudes with the story. My inspiration is photojournalist Glenn Capers.
What are your trying to convey with your pictures?
My pictures usually try to tell a story, each picture should stand on its own and prompt the viewer to wonder – what is going on here? why is this going on? what are these people feeling? what lies beneath the surface of this particular place and moment in time?
Do you travel a lot?
I do travel quite a lot, never on organized trips and never hopping from place to place. On each trip I spend time to try and understand the place, its people and the reason for what I see, what shaped, caused it. I don’t shoot buildings and don’t go to museums. I try to meet people and hear their stories, and capture reality through their eyes. In recent years, beside India, I have been to Cambodia, rural China, Tibet, Indonesia, Malawi, Israel, Iceland.
Have you been to India many times?
India just got under my skin. I will be there in January 2013 for the third time.
What is your take on the country and its people?
India’s rich culture is worth analyzing from many different points of view and at many levels. Certainly some of its aspects are controversial and do raise western eyebrows. My interest is humanistic, social, spiritual. I approach the Indian culture with no preconceptions, or having a western cultural bias. The true spirit of India lies in its people’s resilience, their admirable stubbornness to live life as it is shaped by their destiny. And their capability to enjoy the small things that happen in their often hard daily life as much as the collective joy of religious festivities and gatherings. The spirit of India lies in its people’s smiles, colorful saris, bright colored walls… and the acceptance that the gods bestow pain and happiness at their will. And in the end it all comes full circle.
What is your long term goal with photography?
I’m planning to publish a book on spirituality in different cultures. Mine included… that will be the real challenge.
“India!”: 1000for1’s International Photography Competition is open until the 29th of December. Have you been inspired as Carla? Then create a profile and submit your indian pictures!
