Once in a Blue Moon

I'm back! It has been far too long since my last photo entry, so I'm glad to treat you to the people photography I promised myself I would start shooting more of. These are the folks in my life right now.
I'm going to slowly work my way to shooting strangers.
It is a tentative process for me.
So without further ado..

Kanchan. Boss Man no. 1. He is in France right now, representing Inner Circle at the Marseilles Advertising Awards.

Sugato. Boss Man no. 2. Talker, thinker, creative spearhead and a man on a mission. Inspiring.

Antara. We call her Anty. Here is a woman not afraid to speak her mind and stand her ground. Copywriter galore. Strong woman? More than ever.

Amitabho. Quiet and stealthy. Strong and troubled. Bengali copywriter. Full of lovely and strange surprises, this kindred spirit.

Murali. You've met him before. He needs no further introduction. Except that on this day he was saluting the rain Gods.

Mentor and protege.

Anty, Ahona and Shreya. Ahona was quite troubled this day, and for the days before and for the days after because of nutso clients. Her phone was ringing every 3.8 minutes. Can you tell?

Gonesh. Our temporary driver. He drives like a maniac and cannot live without the car horn. I realised this when ours broke and yet he would frantically honk the horn with no response, to my utter delight.
This was the only photo I took while I was sick, outside my doctor's home.

Aisha. My second cousin! We are the same age, and the same sign. Her smile is as bright as the flower's glow.

Amrita. Aisha's older sister. Sweetest girls alive. It's so good to have family my age again.

Krittika and Priyanka. Another lovely pair of sisters. These girls are golden.

Strangers. A maid helping the little one on with her sandals.

Puchka-walla! My favourite road-side snack. The sight of this man makes me very happy. You'd have to try them to appreciate them. And for that, you need to come to India, any takers?!

This kid was enjoying some puchkas too.

Until his mummy came to take him away.

Street football, and by football I mean soccer for you North Americano's. This is what you call hardcore, I dont think I saw a single kid wearing any shoes.

Calf and mother mooo. Poor souls were tied up all morning and the cow would not stop mooing. Her leash wasnt even long enough for her to turn around to face her calf. For most of the morning the calf was probably sniffing the cows bum.

Mummy and Auro Uncle. I saved the best for last. Mamoni's dad and my mum together. This photo makes me very happy.

Thats all I'm willing to share for tonight. Tomorrow is Sunday and I shall be heading out, quite early, out of the city with the Inner Circle folk for a change. I'm sick of the city. I'm sure you will see all about it.

I hope your experiences today have really been once in a blue moon. I remember the last blue moon like it were yesterday. It was the first time I met my BO. Ive been thinking alot about you my LanBam!

I was walking through the moon-lit tennis courts tonight and I stopped and bathed in her beauty. I took in all of the life around me, a frog hopping close by, large and small bats flying around everywhere, the infinate crows and gazzillion insects and mosquitoes. I then wondered if the moon could affect me so, I wonder what it must do for natures other creatures. I will probably keep wondering till the next blue moon.

Off to do my moon salutations before bed.
Love,
Rohini

Virused

I finally have enough strength to sit in front of a computer,long enough to make this post. And boy, Im glad its not going to be my last one. I wasnt thinking like this a couple of days ago. Remember that eye infection I mentioned in my last post? It was brief, I said it sucked, you know the one. Well it really kicked into high gear the same night, spread to my other eye and subsequently the rest of my body was infected. Not infected in a pussing, oozing, sort of way, but in a much more painful way. My body temperature soared and its been quite high till today. Thats 5 days of body ache, legs, back, neck, head, throat, ears, eyes and nose. My mother,an angel really, has nursed the life back into me. I woke up today with no fever, and no pains in my legs, hips and lower back. Im still dealing with my entire head being congested, but that I somehow can cope with. If anyone knows anything about me its that I dont often get sick, and when I do, Im over it pretty quick. I come from good, no scratch that, GREAT genes (touch wood), so this was as much a pshycological blow as it was physical. I gave blood and urine samples in the last two days, and I dont have malaria, which was a huge relief, and I dont have typhoid. Its an obscure virus that really did (and is still doing) a number on me. I went to my pediatrician, a lady that practically raised my brother and I (according to Mum) and within minutes she knew what was wrong. Bless her Soul. I havent been taking any anti-biotics because they dont exist for unknown viruses so Im battling it with vitamins, fluids, and love. And I havent been going to work,obviously, actually I havent been doing much of anything really, but what I miss the most is taking pictures. And since I promised myself that Im only going to be shooting people this role, its been really limiting. I was blog surfin a bit yesterday and I came across this guy, Neil Gunner, whos got The Toronto People Project going. It was so inspiring, and made me miss Toronto immensely, so I think you should all check him out, since I have no photos to offer: http://www.torontopeopleproject.com/index.htm
He is also a copywriter, which is strange because that is what I am slowly getting into here at Inner Circle. Anyway, he shoots film with an old SLR 50mm lens, like me, so the quality of the photos are immaculate, the colours vibrant, and the subject matter ceaselessly intruiging. I was totally meant to stumble across this site, and Im so glad I did. I think I am going to have a little harder time than he has approaching people, mostly because of the language barrier and my mild case of timidness. Check out some of his other photography as well. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Send some good, strong energy out there for me please, so I can get back to my every day life of crime fighting!
Love to all,
R

Verbal Diarrhea

Sarah Bodri, a wonderfully talented photographer took these photos, she knows my lust for mangoes, so these two photos have been appropriately married. Taken in my last weeks in Toronto, on our photo shooting adventures.
There is a link to her blog from my Flickr photo blog.
For anyone who hasnt seen much of my other work you can check out my Flickr photoblog, the link to it is on the right link bar under "Star Servant."
While youre at it, check out all the other awesome words and photos of talented individuals that Ive had the pleasure of being acquainted with.
I have an eye infection right now. It sucks.
Monsoons are finally here. It doesnt suck.
I went shopping yesterday, and bought some nice kurtis. Now I wont look like such a firang (foreigner). Its step one in the process to becoming Indian again.
Ive been feeling rather blue lately. Something is missing in my life. Why am I never fully satisfied?
Are you?
I need to get out and start talking to people on the street.
The bridge down the street from my house is across from the Calcutta Jail. I dont know if this is a coincidence but under the bridge are many shantys, and strolling along the bridge at any given time of day are prostitutes. I want to talk to them, photograph them. I asked my co-workers if they have seen the documentary 'Born into Brothels." No one has even heard of it. No surprises as it is about the children of the prostitutes that live in North Calcutta. It has a lot to to with the emancipation of these children through the gift of photography. One of these days Mamoni and I will make a visit there.
I want my photography to have meaning, to offer some insight into 'reality.' A reality that many ignore, like the plague. I want to provoke, invoke, anger, offer solace, maybe even add laughter to peoples lives, my own life. For that, I also need a new camera, some new lenses, more expertise. I am an amateur photographer with two goals in mind, to never stop learning (and consequently educating) and to never stop clicking away.

Ok, so tennis time but no swimming today. Im going to try and hit some balls with one eye and one racket.
Goodness gracious, I ramble on.

Je suis fini.
Ta-ta.
-Robo

Black met White and they made Grey.

Yesterday I went for a swim at the club and while I was in the shower, a brief one, maybe 5 minutes, all of my Indian ruppees were stolen right out from my wallet. They left what little Canadian and American money was in my wallet, nothing else was taken. It wasnt much, maybe Rs. 100. I was pissed, not exactly about my money having been stolen, but the fact that someone had the nerve to go through my things. Its a violating feeling, and anyone who has had something stolen from them would understand this. Whoever took it, and Im pretty sure I know who, needs the money more than I do. Regardless, I was a bit shaken up by it.
On a lighter more refreshing note, the monsoons have finally arrived, and its wonderful to see everyones lively spirits. I want to have a dinner party at our place one of these days, perhaps to celebrate, but who needs a reason to have a party anyway?
Anyhow, onto more interesting things, or not. This is my first roll of B/W, I shot a roll of Ilford HP5, a roll I brought with me from Canada and my favourite film to shoot with. However, the developing wasnt done by myself, nor was it done in an Ilford developer, so the results are rather grey and mucky. I could go into them and clean it up, but a.)I dont have the means to do so, and b.)I like my raw prints.
Regardless, Ive chosen a few of my favourites.
Ive promised myself two things: i. Im going to make a more concious effort to start shooting more people and less things, as Im finding Im getting a bit bored, mostly because the novelty of this world is slowly wearing off and there is so much more character and story in a persons face than in a brick wall. And ii. I am going to take the lovely Julia's advice and starting pulling out more and attempting a larger perspective in my photography, she wants to actually see India. I dont blame her, I want to see India too.

Enough blabber, lets begin..

Meet Ahona. This girl is solid. I adore her because without her Inner Circle would fall apart. Another self-professed nut-job.

From left: Ahona, Shreya, Kanchan (boss man) and Moida at CC&FC collecting players for a football shoot.

Rugby Season! Mmm..strong men in short shorts.

Players, Crows and Bros.

I didnt take this photo. I was teaching a friend, Priyanka, how to use an SLR, and I think she took this by accident. Regardless, Im glad she did. This is Mamoni, remember her? Yes, shes a sexy goddess, I know...

Murali, in a taxi, on our way back from the editing studio.

This dog isnt dead, I think hes just napping on the cool sand.

Billie Goats.
Old World.This one speaks for itself.

Some of these are going to look so cool when I get to print them myself.
Goodluck to my brother Rahul, who is running for Class Rep at the Richard Ivey School of Business in London, Ont. While he has bravely gone back to school to do his MBA, I have boldly taken a giant leap away from it. Life is full of mysteries.

Thanks for watching.
Happy Summer Showers to one and all!
Fill your belly's with good food and dont forget to feed your pets!

Love,
-R

Quiet Observations

Oh what a week its been..
I've recently joined this incredibly spirited advertising agency called Inner Circle. The gift of chance landed me in this quaint, thriving agency full of possibilities and overflowing with positive energy. I wish I could express with words how special all the people I'm surrounded with are. They are all self-professed nut jobs, so I fit right in..
I can't actually claim that I am working, because im not really working, I'm shadowing, going to meetings, movie screenings, interviews, philosophising and generally cavorting with the people I "work" with. Im sure you will slowly meet everyone through this blog as I will continue to photography the kindred spirits around me..
Other than that, I've been trying to play as much tennis and swim like the madwoman I know I am. Oh to be able to swim under the starry skies again..
I have so much more I want to say about life here, but I have a lot of photos, so I'll just get started..


I didnt notice the actions of the ladies on this clay pot until I looked at this photo. You can make of it what you will..

To keep the robbers out, broken glass and barbed wire.

The Inner Circle office is located right near the Chief Minister's house so security is tight. I like.
If you want to know about random, this plate is it. Enlarge and find out.

The lovely Shreya, this girl is as good as Gold.

These last phots were all taken around Inner Circle, so much character oozes from every brick, every mossy exterior, every random clay pot.

Murali, what a wonderful kid. On our day out doing field research for Marrakesh-a lounge bar. He's a wonder kid cause he can fly.

This man chops tabbacco with his machine and then packages for people to chew on or smoke. A modest living, but I'm sure he does fairly well.


The most blatant of human exploitation in India, man -powered rickshaw drivers. (I have been corrected by my mother that this form of exploitation only occurs here in Calcutta! Anyone dare to take on this human rights challenge?!) You should see some of them go, its nearly super-human.

This was a wonderful hole in the wall with delicious curry, best of all, it was only Rs. 3. That doesnt even register in Canadian currency. He should raise his prices so he can feed his children too..maybe give them an education to boot.

This is the Sikh deity of Guru Nanak.

Even in the midst of these shantis there is so much colour.

Some people call this home.


This photo might look a bit crude because the pup in the middle is taking a shit. These three pups just loll around all day, what a life.


This one is for Roger Federer, for still not managing to claim the prestigious Roland Garros clay court grandslam tournament title. This year, Rafael Nadal continues to rule the unforgiving red clay for the 3rd year in a row. Grrr..

My father, Bikram Das, immortalised (or so to speak) as an athletic legend along with other respective athletes, since even before my time.
Two of my favourite pastimes, swimming and playing tennis, conveniently located right next to each other.


I wish I could start shooting some photos of Mamoni that aren't underexposed!

My Mummy getting the party started, as soon as her partner and her got onto the dance floor everyone else followed. But, of course.


Im exhuasted and running on 8 hours of sleep in the last 60 hours..so I'm readily eyeing my bed.
Thanks for checking out my blog, its really w hat keeps me going. I hope you enjoy this week's edition.
Oh, and Mummy, I know this isnt a terribly pretty posting like I promised earlier but such that is life..
See ya'll again soon and I'll catch ya on the flip side!
Luff,
Ro(ho)bo