August 2007, Paris.

I wanted to start my Paris photo series with a conventional photo of the Eiffel Tower. Instead, I decided to post this shot of two children in the Montmartre area as the taking of this shot, even if it lasted but a few seconds, was so special. These two were so happy when I started to take their photo that they both broke into beautiful smiles (which I hope I’ve captured). Even after I finished taking this shot and started to walk away they continued to smile and wave so happily that I couldn’t help but smile and wave back. Their innocence and happiness was highly contagious 🙂

Fujifilm Neopan 400

What use is love for those whose hands stink of death?
What meaning does humanity hold for
those laughing through tears?

Where were the answers printed in gold?
Where were the guardians of hope on a day
when blood splattered faces spoke of a
madness that came home to roost?

We will shed two tears, perhaps burn a candle or three.
But who will wash the crimson smears off our common spaces?
Who will awaken our sleeping senses?

Stainless steel plates and plain blue chairs try
to shield a private sadness from prying public eyes.
Are you watching? Go ahead, step over crumpled
bodies, skewered limbs and satisfy your blood lust.

An eye for an eye you want in the vain hope that
you can sleep better then and dream of a world
where only the righteous punish the sinners.

These rivers of dark blood smear our foreheads
and drip from hands clenched in fury.
But who will spare a thought for those whose
stories stopped with a phone call?

Winter 2003, Hyderabad.

Another one from my old alma mater, University of Hyderabad. This was part of an anti-Iraq invasion art show put up by various students of the Sarojini Naidu School of Fine Arts at the University’s tea shop and student hangout area. It is a wonder that I captured something as it was night and the only available light sources were a few light bulbs.

Konica VX-100N

It totally slipped my mind that this photoblog had completed two years of existence a couple of weeks back! As they say better late than never 🙂

A big and heartfelt thank you to all the visitors here. In addition, my gratitude to every one among you who has voted for, nominated or publicized this photoblog on the net and elsewhere. Your support means a lot to me. The past year has been quite fruitful photographically. I hope the next year will be the same and perhaps even more so do keep visiting these parts. Have a wonderful weekend!

Oh and if you are interested you can view a couple of thematic slideshows set to music I made below:

1. We Are All Strangers

2. Postcards From The Edge

July 2007, Nice.

June 2007, Düsseldorf.

A small part of the huge serpentine queue for a Pearl Jam concert.

Ilford HP5 Plus

July 2007, Nice.

(Press F11 to view the photo properly) 

July 2007, Eze.

February 2007, Cologne.

January 2005, Hyderabad.

Today India celebrates the 60th anniversary of her independence from British rule. It is a time to celebrate, reminisce, take stock and of course look forward. As The Guardian put it succintly, “India is the best place in the world to be born right now”. Indeed.