Cairo Impressions

I am now sitting in a internet bistro opposite the egyptian museum. in the last few day I was here, I have seen so much and I hope I remember most of the impressions of this place, when I get back to Chennai, where I will continue this post.
today was filled with adventure in the desert. The Dashur pyramid is magnificant. after looking at the collection at the Egyptian museum, I imagine what this civilization would have been like at its prime.
I don't want to write anything more now, I have only a few days left here and I want to use it. I am goin out walking around the streets of cairo now.
I will write a full blog post with pictures when I go back to Chennai.

Spirit of Women

an exhibition of photographs at Alliance Francaise, Chennai.

Photographing Women

The Alliance Francaise here asked me if I have any pictures of women, that they can put up for an exhibition on women's day, I do have pictures but most of them of women in rural settings and a few assorted portraits, which are very nostalgic and nice, but I wanted to do something interesting that can serve as an inspiration. I wanted to do portraits of interesting women who are going after their dreams, who have traveled miles and miles and faced a lot of hardships to go after what they want.
Erina and Arisa are such people who are doing amazing things in their lives, I am inspired by them, and I wanted to showcase their photos that I have done. the photos are full of movement and energy.
And as a variation for this project I choose to photograph more or less " head shots" of more interesting women, it was quite challenging because I have only their face to work with and its very still without any movement, but the picture should still be able to convey something. the Portrait of Ingrid is one such photograph.

Tod Hunter Nagar

I have recently taken to walking around the city. at night and very early in the morning, much to the irritation of the gate keepers who view every stroller as a prospective criminal.
Chennai looks and feels different during these hours, and since I work all day, it the only time I can go around taking photos, will build up a collection of images like these soon.

Today

I heard a violin today, I trembled.
there is a dusty violin in a corner of my room.

a page from an old sketch book

while looking through a cd of imges I came across a photograph of a page from an old sketch book of mine. - Indian Ink - early morning - tea - bamboo stick - are the main ingredients of the time.

How to Hate India

Here is a list of things that you can do which can sap your energy and will make you hate India.

1. Apply for a driving License.
2. Apply for a voters id.
3. Apply for a passport.
4. Go to the post office and try to get something done.
5. Try to drive any vehicle anywhere in the cities.
6. Watch Television.

This list is by no means complete, but the first five things I could think up today morning.
PS: I still do love India, but for different reasons.

10,000

now its 10,000.

Arisa Kasai

Today a sample photo-book came into my hands. It has been quite some time since I have seen it, and I am still thinking about it.

Arisa Kasai is a photographer based in Tokyo,Japan. she has done a photo documentary of a Japanese women who has Cancer, but these photographs are not about pathos, neither do they beg for people's sympathy, it does not have filmy drama images, it does not have the images one usually associates with cancer patients or people with illness in general, in fact there is no indication that the person photographed has cancer, everything slowly unravels and acquires momentum as the pages turn the intensity of the images is hard to handle. Arisa kasai presents a new way of seeing, which will make many photographers question their own ways of seeing.

I had a strange feeling when I was looking at the photographs. The same feeling I get when I look at a Van Gogh or when I listen to Mozart, I enjoy looking at a Vangogh but at the same time I am depressed that I did not do anything as intense or as worthwhile as that.

I hope Arisa Kasai's book comes out soon, since the book is probably the best way to exhibit these set of pictures, they have a feeling of intimacy that would be lost in an exhibition hall or in an online gallery. I do wish we could see some of this wonderful photographers work online. she as of now maintains a very low profile online.

That beautiful Dance

Engulfed – is the word that comes to my mind when I think about the performance last evening. I am not a dancer, I don’t know much about dance, I have watched quite a number of performances though. But the one I watched yesterday evening is something special.

The month of December is probably the best month in Chennai, the day is not so hot and the night is pleasantly cold, and the auditorium in the city fills with Music and Dance, everyday almost around the clock you can go to any performance halls in the city and it will be full of activity. The sheer volume of performances that happen this month is incredible.

Last year around this time, I was swept off my feet by the most beautiful and enchanting performance I have ever seen. Nrityagram an odissi dance group from Banglore came to Kalakshetra and I became their fan. Ever since then I wanted to see them perform again.

And yesterday they came to this city, to Krishna Gana Sabha, to do magic yet again. And this time, I got permission to photograph the event, without a tripod it was little difficult. But I am not complaining.

How exciting to see Bijayini Satapti perform again, other performances I can watch and enjoy, but my level of participation is somewhat diminished, I can feel I am watching a performance nothing more than that. But to watch Bijayini dance is something so wonderful that it’s hard to describe, I don’t feel I am watching a performance anymore, the edges begin to fade, the crowd disappears, and everything vanishes except Bijayini and the spell the casts’ sets me in a trance. There is some sort of playful innocence in her smile, dancers usually “wear a smile” - even though what they are doing is physically taxing and requires hours and hours of practice and discipline, they smile when they perform- sometimes this smile looks mechanical because of the amount of strain that the dancer feels when they perform, but Bijayini’s smile plucks at my heart.

She is beautiful and displays a wide variety of expressions and all of them excite the senses. When she is performing all my senses surrender to her.

Yesterday’s evening’s performance was a little slow compared to the last year’s one, they had only one “allegro” item, but it in no way diminishes the beauty.

I am still reeling from the effects, If Nirtyagram is performing with Bijayini in it and if I have enough money, I will follow them wherever they go to watch them dance.

9009

now its 9009

hello green fairy

will say hello to green fairy soon, and then will write about it.
salut "La Fée Verte"

Three crows and a sleepy Dog

Three crows, a sleepy dog.
two children walking
" kaka oru roobava thukitu poiduchu" said little girl
" touruku pogatha" said little boy.
"craw craw kraw kraw" said Ka ka.

act not in anger.

act not in anger.

Was looking at the news today, it looked like a scene from a movie.
Terrorists have took over the Taj hotel and other hotels, and more than a hundred people are dead.
I am sad.
Terrorism is only effective as long as it spreads terror, or when it cripples peoples lives with terror, and I think the only way to defeat terrorism is to come together and live on. it is only by living on with freedom can we defeat these merchants of death.

some words from afrin who puts the idea more clearly.

"in our desperation to 'do something' just to see some immediate action, we will cause damage far worse than what these 12 men have caused us. If the seed of hatred in our hearts to our brothers continues to grow, then we're playing right into the hands of what the terrorists what us to do - this is exactly the reaction they're hoping to get. Fear, anger, and hatred - like cornered animals and not thinking humans."
www.indiadailyphoto.com/2008/11/29/let-us-remember/#comme...

This picture was taken many years ago, with my film camera. I fished it out today.

Refresh

http://features.ibnlive.in.com/chat/view/211.html vince:Is not it time for us to reform our political & review our policies. How to reform those ?

S Hussain Zaidi: our approach towards pakistan and terrorism should be very direct and blunt. if its India's 9/11 then India should fight it like one --- without hesitation us attacked afghanistan..its time for India to invake POK, forget international furore, and clearly warn that if next attack happens they will reach Islamabad Joel: " Recently Many people are talking about Mumbai attacks as Indias 911, Pleasee stop that.  lets be more forgiving and forgetful than to act in vengence" .

Tales from Thousand Lights

Tales from Thousand lights.

Thousand lights, is the name of a mosque in chennai, India. Eventually the whole area around that mosque was named Thousand lights.
it is a predominantly Moslem neighborhood, but it has its share of Hindus and christians. and it is also one of the oldest parts of Chennai.
walking along the streets of thousand lights, it was very moving to see the painted statements on the walls which cry out statements of religious tolerance, one can find Murugan ( A Hindu God) Jesus ( the christ), Ganesha ( the remover of obstacles) and Mecca Masid, and a Cross.
they seem to say " No matter how different we are, we can still live together peacefully"

Tamil

I have been trying to write something in Tamil, and I could not decide on what to write and how to write it, and decided to paint the letters, throwing words together and am trying to bring out some kind of meaning visually if not in form of phrases and sentences.

ஒரு சில நேரம் சின்ன சின்ன அர்புதம்

ஒரு சில நேரம் சின்ன சின்ன அர்புதம்



கருப்பு வெள்ளை படங்கள் எடுக்கும்போது சில நேரந்கலில் அற்புதம்மான நிகழ்வுகள் நடக்கும்.

8001

8001

An accident

Five minutes ago, I saw an auto going before me tumble down and crash on the railings in front of the governor's house, luckily no one lost their lives, there was a couple traveling in it and the husband's left middle finger was damaged.
1:45 pm oct27

A conversation

Sunday afternoon. I was walking towards the bus stand in saidapet, when an old women sitting with a little sack of rice on the roadside called me, when I went near her, she told me that the rice that was selling for 20 Rupees last week now costs 32 Rupees.