Joel Suganth

India is a complex place; every existing description still cannot completely describe the country. It's been over two years since I last visited India. The longer I stay away, the more I think about home.

One of my favorite things to do is to hop on a train and go on long trips around India. I've crisscrossed the country a few times over the last two decades. And I've taken thousands of photos. Sometimes, my favorite moments in India are my early morning walks with a camera. It is usually quiet, and the morning ritual of life unfolds on the streets.
The photos in this exhibition are a small selection of moments from my morning walks. 

Marina Beach - I


I love how the shoreline of the beach attracts a wide range of people throughout the day. People carve out small pockets of private spaces on this public beach. If you are close enough to the beach, you can block out almost everybody around you, enter your own zone, and do your own thing.


Marina Beach - III


There are several vendors ranging from peanut sellers to fortune-tellers on the beach. There are also vendors selling ten-minute horse rides.


Kasimedu, Chennai.


Fishermen set out to sea from Kasimedu port.

This port makes an appearance in several gangster flicks in Tamil. However, for me, it is an interesting place to quietly walk around and watch life unfold.


Marina Beach - II


Marina beach is the longest beach in India and the second-longest beach in the world. There was a period in my life when I would go to the beach almost every day and try to cover the entire stretch of the beach.

I often feel that the beach is the only place that is free for everybody in Chennai.


Marina Beach - IV


Marina beach is also a great place for photoshoots. The morning light is beautiful, and even on cloudy days, the soft colors make everything on the beach cinematic. I`ve shot several dance videos and photographs here.


Udaipur - III


This ghat is quite crowded in the evening. However, in the morning it is quiet. You can hear the sounds from the temple nearby. It is also a popular place for wedding photoshoots. I guess the hundreds of pigeons in the ghat make for a dramatic background.


Udaipur - I


Just looking.

There were several people at this ghat - performing pujas, taking a bath, brushin teeth - There were also some people - without their phones out- just looking at the soft sunrise over the hills behind the lake.


Jodhpur - I


One of the gates to Sardar Market in Jodhpur.

There are several elements in this picture that fell together perfectly. The arch, flag, cross, and floating balloon seemed a bit surreal.


Udaipur - II


Photography can be many things. In this series, it's mostly about selective looking. Forcefully discarding certain parts of real-life and showing one moment, one frame that paints an incomplete picture. The goal of photography sometimes is to transform reality.


The bridge I was standing on was pure chaos and I looked down and saw this serene scene.


I was wearing earplugs to block out the noise and jumped over puddles of stuff before taking this photo.


Jodhpur - III


Before, when I did not wear a watch. I`d observe the rituals people perform to figure out the different times of the day. There is something beautiful about looking at the vast sky and performing an act of acknowledgment.


Jodhpur - II


Bottle Light.

If you`ve been to India, you can probably hear this picture. The friends talking, dogs making dog sounds, and the sound of the autorickshaw that will soon drown out all sounds.


Saidapet, Chennai


This is close to where I grew up. I`ve been to this market hundreds of times, it still feels like a maze that I can get easily lost. The market is filled with the smell of fresh vegetables, fish, and meat. Early in the morning, it is a lot quieter.


Jodhpur - IV


Work is worship.

You can find this quote by Gandhi in several workplaces in India. The eyes, hands, and the mind of this Jelebi maker seemed to be in the same line. I took some photos of him and drank some Masala Chai at his shop.


Assi Ghat, Varanasi.


Mornings in Varanasi are special. There are several poojas in the morning, and the river is filled with boats full of tourists and pilgrims ready for the sunrise. I often like to spend a quiet sunrise in Assi ghat where there is a small tea stall selling tea in clay cups.


Using Format