Blog

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 29^th of December. Have you been inspired as Carla? Then create a profile and submit your indian pictures!

Copyright by Javier Arcenillas

Why we liked it: Javier’s powerful black and white and outstanding composition provide a unique perspective on India’s countryside.

Javier, who are you? how did you start with photography?
I am a freelance photographer, member of Gea Photowords. I develop humanitarian essays where the main characters are integrated in societies that borders and sets upon any reason or (human) right in a world that becomes increasingly more and more indifferent. I started with photography in 1992 and since then I am only saying thanks for having such intense passion for photography. I continue to dedicate my life to photography. You can see more of my work on my website.

What about this featured photograph?
It is a photograph taken for a Spanish NGO called Calcuta Ondoan, they are friends that work without any financial consideration. They have a microcredit project in a small village called Noapara near Kolkata.
For a little over a week the people of Noapara welcomed me into their homes and I could live with them. It was incredible…
The image you’ve featured represents a little girl who helps her brother carrying baskets

What are your trying to convey with your pictures?
I want to tell stories.

Do you travel a lot? where have you been recently?
No, I do not travel much, my last big trip was to Honduras in August for a month. I do tend to stay for long periods of time in a single place to be able to tell my stories though.

Have you been to India many times?
I have been to India four times and every time it was a unique, different experience.

What is your take on the country and its people?
My experience is simply enriching infinity, it is a country full of life and culturally impressive. All Indians I have had the pleasure of knowing, dis nothing but thought me things and gave me love.

What is your next planned destination?
El Salvador in Latin america again.

What is your long term goal with photography?
Remain happy, continue taking pictures, keep telling enriching stories.

Looks like we survived the end of the world. “India!”: 1000for1’s International Photography Competition is open until the 29^th of December. Like Javier’s, are your pictures able to tell a story? Prove it! Create a profile and submit your pictures!

Copyright Narayan D. Patel

Why we liked it: Narayan’s picture is a lovely image of what childhood can be, it transcends the borders of India and seems to promote a universal message of happiness for children all over the world.

Narayan, can you tell us something about you? how long have you been a photographer for?
It was then in 1978, at the age of 20 yrs. having finished my Bachelors of Arts and was pursuing Diploma in Labour Laws Practice when the family asked me to opt for separate source of earning. Since childhood I always saw lot of positive energy and scenes around. Photography was always my prime idea of prayer to my inner soul.
The very time one studio gracefully offered me a part time job as a dark room assistent.
I started with dark room processing using various primitive tools of developing and printing a normal Black and White Photograph. Yashika Mat – 120 was my first ever camera. It was indeed great privilege and fun to educate and transform myself into a Pro-Photographer. With the passage of time, from black and white dark room processing to 35 mm colour film photography and now very much digital era of photography. I have grown by with techniques and the medium of printing.
In 1991, almost after 13 years of assisting experience, I started a small but decent venue of my own in birthplace Vadodara (Gujarat, India): Darpan Photography Studio. The word darpan means mirror in Sanskrit and several local languages of India, and I thought it to be an ideal name to reflect my inner soul.

What about this picture you’ve submitted to the contest? what feelings inspire you?
It was the 21st Day of October 2007 one of the most memorable day of my life, I was passing by a small village called “‘Bodeli” near Vadodara – Gujarat, India – I stopped over a shallow river bridge to take a quick break from my pictorial tour, I saw a group of village children enjoying the most beautiful time of their life-‘Childhood’, I wish I could be one playing with them but then I realise I can at least capture that moment and live it for ever. It is indeed my vision of hope to a very bright future.

Do you travel much?
I have never been out of India but had seen almost every small part of my country in search for great moments. I still find it a never ending journey because India is so beautiful and endless to generate powerful images.

What are your trying to convey with your pictures?
On the verge of retiring as a commercial photographer I have grown to a computer literate just to share my work and prayers in form of photography across the globe. Internet is the best medium to promote my ideas. To me photography is not about going places but it is about discovering and memorising it because every new step is a new place and I find it beautiful.

“India!”: 1000for1’s International Photography Competition is open until the 29^th of December, join Narayan’s vision of hope by creating a profile and submitting your pictures!

Copyright – Marco Urso

Why we liked it: Marco captured a quiet moment during the Holi festival, an original idea that nonetheless conveys the energy of the festivities.

Marco, can you tell us your story?
After managing for almost thirty years a multinational tour operator, I have recently changed life and job and can devote more time to my passion of ever: Photography. I have an analogue background and switched almost completely to digital over five years ago. I prefer travel and wildlife photography, trying in both fields to get the inner feelings of the subjects. You can check my website for more.

What about your photograph?
This picture was taken in Mathura, during the Holi festival, last year, at the beginning of March. The spot was so crowded with an unbelievable atmosphere. I was in the middle of the action for a while and got all colored with powder and liquid colors, both my body and my camera. I was recovering from the crowd sitting on the stairs and noticed in front of me these six characters who were  resting as well and looking in different direction and somehow chromatically matched the wall. I shot.

Do you travel a lot?
I normally travel to India , Kenya, Tanzania, Costa Rica and Alaska. This year I managed to travel to the Arctic as well. I have been to India  three times so far, but I will travel again there  in February for the Khumba Mela  and in March for the Holi festival  both in Mathura and in the Rajasthan.

What is your opinion of India?
Photographically speaking India is a paradise, every corner can give inspirations. People are great, smiling , open and their faces have dignity and charm. I do try to catch this spirit.

What is your long term goal with photography?
I would like to give myself self assignments  so I can write a story with my pictures. I have already published a couple of articles on specific subjects  and wish to do more  in the next future.

“India!”: 1000for1’s International Photography Competition is open until the 29^th of December, need a life change like Marco? A new camera might help: create a profile and submit your pictures!

Copright Dave Wilcox

Why we liked it: Dave managed to capture a rare, non stereotypical image of the Taj Mahal. The building becomes just an eerie background for an interesting subject on the foreground.

Dave, can you tell us something about you?
I have been interested in photography since the mid 1970s, when I first bought a SLR. I used to develop and print my own black and white pictures in the bathroom, but family and the need to earn a living took priority over my hobby during the 1980s and my photography went on the back burner so to speak.
As the family grew up and moved away I started to again take and print some monochrome pictures. In 1994 I visited and joined the local camera club “Upminster Camera Club“.  The lectures and club competitions really encouraged me to further my photography.
I found the move from film to digital allowed me to move into colour printing and also be more experimental. You can see more of what I do on my web site or more pictures from India and the other trips on my Flickr site.

What about your photograph?
The featured photograph was taken at dawn on the Yamuna River. The group of friends that I was with from Upminster Camera Club, paid the boatman to take us out onto the river with the intention of getting the Taj Mahal reflected in the river at sunrise… well that wasn’t to be, as the morning was so misty we could just about see the Taj Mahal, but the position I was on in the boat was ideal to wait for the boat to swing around to put one of the boatmen in the foreground and the Taj in the mist behind. The single shot made the whole early morning start really worthwhile!

What do you like with photography?
I just like making pictures but I suppose my biggest love is meeting and photographing people, which is why I found India so fascinating.

Have you been to India many times?
This was my first trip to India but the diversity and photo oportunities will draw me back in the future I am sure.

Do you travel a lot?
In the past few years I have done a fair bit of travelling with a trip to Namibia with my daughter in law, and a fantastic trip with my wife to New Zealand which also included Singapore, Sydney and Las Vegas.

What is your next planned destination?
I would love to visit the canyons “Grand, Antelope and Bryce” in America but Vietnam is also high on my list…so who knows?

What is your long term goal with photography?
It is to just keep doing what I am doing for as long as I possibly can, producing pictures that give me pleasure and are appreciated by others.

“India!”: 1000for1’s International Photography Competition is open until the 29^th of December, have you been able to see through the mist like Dave? Then create a profile and submit your pictures!

Copyright Dionysis Kouris

Why we liked it: from the subject, to the composition, to the look on the Sadhu’s face, everything in Dionysis’ photograph paint an unexpected yet insightful picture of today’s India.

Dionysis, can you tell us who you are?
I was born in Greece. My interest in photography started after having acquired a BA in Economics. I have a degree in Photography from the Arts University of Bournemouth, UK and an M.A. in Photojournalism & Documentary Photography from the London College of Communication. After working for more than twelve years in Greece as a studio and editorial photographer collaborating with many magazines and newspapers, I started traveling extensively in Africa realizing a project on the tribes of South-West Ethiopia, concentrating on the groups of families of the Hamar and Konso tribes. I have exhibited extensively with most recent participations at the New York Photo Festival (2011), Delhi Photo Festival in India (2011), London Photo Festival (2012), Santorini Biennale (2012). I will be featured at the Format13 photo Biennale in Derby, UK.

Unfortunately my website is under reconstruction at the moment. Some samples of my work, in multimedia form, could be seen at vimeo: http://vimeo.com/dionysiskouris

What about this picture you’ve submitted to the contest?
It’s an Indian Sadhu (Hindu holy man) during the Ardh Kumbh Mela, the biggest religious festival on earth, in Allahabad, 2007. The sadhu listens to a “robot” fortune teller. Kumbh Mela is full of such bizarre moments. The 45-day festival commemorates the mythical conflict between gods and demons over a pitcher filled with the “nectar of inmortality”. Devotees believe that taking a holy dip in the Ganges at this time washes away their sins and paves the path to salvation.

What are your trying to convey with your pictures?
I’m interested in the sense of place and time, sometimes mixed with surreal elements.

Do you travel a lot? where have you been recently?
I have been traveling extensively for the past 10 years. My most recent trip was to Ghana.

Have you been to India many times?
I have been to India four times spending between 20 to 40 days each time.

What is your take on the country and its people?
India it is truly an amazing country. Diversity of people, culture, food and landscape. Although it is usually crowded and could occasionally feel a bit hectic, especially in the big cities, you always have the feeling that you are being protected.

What is your next planned destination?
I would like to attend the next Maha Kumbh Mela the following February in India.

What is your long term goal with photography?
Difficult question! I would like, after some years looking back at my images, to be able to have 10-20 that are still powerful albeit the time passed. And I hope that in the end, not even in a single photo I took, I have not abused or mislead the people included in them.

“India!”: 1000for1’s International Photography Competition is open until the 29^th of December, follow Dionysis’ example, create a profile and submit your pictures!

Copyright Eulalie Varenne

Why we liked it: Eulalie’s photography frames one of this “only-in-India” moments compelling us to smile together with the girls upon which he elephant’s blessing is bestowed.

Eulalie, can you give us a few details about your biography?
I am a student, I’ve been pursuing art at university for five year, initially in France and this year in Chile. Travel photography is not my speciality. I like capturing some imaginary pictures too. I work across dream, the absurd, childhood, fantasy, sweetness and poetry. I try to show a soft and peaceful world through my photos.

Where was this picture taken?
This picture was taken at a temple’s main entrance. In India, in front of temples, there are often elephants blessing people in exchange of food or money.

What are your trying to convey with your pictures?
I try to show the atmosphere of these places. India is a peaceful, colorful and welcoming country, it’s exactly what I want to show through my photos.

What pushed you to participate in a contest?
For me a photo is made to be shown. And a contest is a good place to share work with people who like the same thing.

What are your plans for the future?
I’m in Chile right now so I want to take the most out of this opportunity to travel in South America. I’ll go to Brazil, Peru and Bolivia soon.

“India!”: 1000for1’s International Photography Competition is open until the 29^th of December, come and join Eulalie, create a profile and let us see your pictures!

Copyright Sanjay Patil

Why we liked it: every photograph taken during the Holi festival is a whirlwind of colours and this is no exception but we particularly appreciate this one as “the lonely chanter”  extracts himself to celebrate a festival of his own.

Patil, something about you.
I am a Chemical engineer by qualification and work for a one of the largest petroleum company in India. At a young age of 18 years, I started taking pictures with point and shoot film camera. My hobby during childhood days was drawing and painting and that sowed seeds in my mind that I can also shoot pictures. I went on to buy my first SLR camera from Kathmandu, Nepal, a journey of more than 1500 km and four days of travel from my home town. Since then, it’s almost more than two decades now, I am doing photography.

When and where was the picture taken?
The picture was shot in March 2012 in the North Indian village of Barsana, near Mathura, India.
One of the major festivals of India, Holi is celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun which is the month of March as per the Gregorian calendar. Holi is also called the Spring Festival – as it marks the arrival of spring the season of hope and joy. During the colorful festival of Holi, men and women, boys and girls spray colors and distribute sweets and exchange greeting and sing songs. The picture reflects the joyous mood during Holi celebration. The lonely chanter caught my attention as the event was in full gusto and the place was drenched in colors.

Do you travel a lot around India? What did you gather from travelling around this country?
I live in Mumbai, India. Of late, I have been travelling a lot in India but I also visited some parts of Europe and also to beautiful Himalaya state of Sikkim (India) for mountain photography this year. Truly the strength of India lies in its diversity, a land of more than thousand languages, many religions, year round festivals, cultures and vast differences in socio–economy. People have warmth in their heart and are very colorful as it can be seen in their attire, festivals and homes.

What are you trying to convey with your photos?
I always try to make a point that my picture tells the audience the feeling of joy and happiness, sense of accomplishment and celebration, portray love and togetherness that the human race has since its existence.

What are your plans in the short and long-term run?
The Kumbha Mela, one of the largest human congregations on the Earth (Allahabad, 2013), coupled with other spring festival in north India are on my wish list for 2013.
My dream is to become a messenger to all my fellow human beings to tell how beautiful the planet earth is and protect it from diminishing cultures, social values and ecology through my images.