ODE TO THE STREET

As I write this article, I feel very happy for two reasons – first, because I have been given this opportunity by one of the most prestigious photography magazines of Kolkata. Secondly, because 19th August is World Photography Day and I am writing this article for the August Issue. So I want to start by wishing all my fellow photographers a very happy World Photography Day!

But this also brings a thought to my mind that is it only one day in the whole year that we celebrate photography? Definitely not. It is actually every day for most of us. We live with photography every moment, even if we don’t go out and shoot every day. Though the pandemic has taken away the beautiful photo walk days from us, but the spirit within us is still very much alive, and probably our mind is thirstier now than ever before to go out on a photo trip with friends, right? So, let’s hope and pray that the situation normalizes fast and we can again usher in the new and fresh world with no fear of travelling and photographing in the streets that we all love.

So, what exactly brought you to street photography? If you know the answer, then I can tell you that you take fantastic photographs (though any form of art is subjective and might not have similar appeal to everyone). This is applicable for any field. If someone has pushed you into something, then you will never enjoy it and will not be able to produce good result. But, if your love and passion has got you there, you are sure to succeed. My next few lines will be written with the assumption that you have taken up street photography because you love it and you have a strong passion, and nobody has pushed you here. I too came here because I enjoy it, love it.

In the last few years, some photographers have left a strong impact in my life. They are not only the masters like Henri Cartier Bresson or Alex Webb, but many contemporary photographers from India and abroad. I don’t shy away from saying that close friends as well as today’s younger generationboth teachyou a lot and I have learnt from them and have been influenced by them too.

Within street photography, there are some unsaid sub genres. If we closely study, then we will see that some photographers work on high lightcolor contrast, some work on actions in silhouettes, some prefer to work on moments and emotions, some lyrical, some even work on abstracts of human bodies or faces coming out of different elements, some emphasize more on Juxtapositions, and some on pure story telling. But at the core of all lies the spontaneity and surprise that a street photograph should bring. Then it’s a wow!

Let me also tell you, street photography is not rocket science. You may not know the jargons that are often used in theory, but if you practice a lot and train your eyes, you will get there. Photography is a vision of your mind, it is your language of expression. So you will automatically discover within some days what your frame is telling you, what your sub-genre is looking like. Concentrate in getting that right moment in your camera – whatever you call it, “stolen moment” or “decisive moment” or “magical moment”, etc. That is what will bring in the element of spontaneity and surpriseinto the frame. Remember, in today’s world, when millions of photographs are being posted every day on social media, people will know you through your photograph, of course if it strikes a chord with viewers. So, try to create some signature photographs, in your true original style, so that people know you through them. Nowadays people get worried about likes and comments on social media – please don’t go by that. When I curate my images from my contact sheets, I choose the best ones basis all regular criteria and comparing all frames in the sequence. But a frame is “good” to me, only if I feel that it can be part of a full page print in a photo book. As I flip through the pages of Raghubir Singh’s “Calcutta”, I imagine my frames of Kolkata and visualize if they would fit the pages of a book like that. If the answer is yes, then I have it. That’s a photograph that makes me happy!

So, be happy and shoot more and more. The more you practice, the better you get. The better you get, you produce great frames. The more you produce great frames, the happier you are! That is what is more important than anything else. Don’t worry about your camera, or your settings. Shoot in auto mode, no problem, but don’t miss the “wow moment” on the street. Streets will throw up endless possibilities if you go out each day with new challenges and thoughts in your mind, and surely with no preconceived ideas weaved by virtue of seeing images of other photographers taken in the same place.

BHASKAR KUNDU is a Kolkata based Street Photographer and an Educator. His photography journey started long back during his college days, however interest in street photography developed gradually during the last five years. His works have been published in the form of articles, interviews and photo series in several online as well as print magazines and websites like 121 clicks, Eyeshot Magazine, Dodho Magazine, Smart Photography, Lonely Planet India, National geographic Assignment and daily dozen, Indian Photographic Arts, APF Magazine, Exposure Magazine, Indian Express Newspaper, Deccan Chronicle, etc. He has also won several awards in his photography career and featured as finalist in some very prestigious contests like HIPA in 2017, Italian street Photography Festival in Singles as well as Mobile section in 2019 and Singles in 2020. His works have also been exhibited in different International and National Salons. He enjoys conducting photography sessions and workshops. He plans to have his solo exhibition soon and is also working on a book.

Bhaskar currently works as a Business Operations Head for East in the Nutrition Division of Nestlé India limited. Post his retirement, he plans to take up photography as a full time profession. He is yet to disclose his plans.

To follow his works, you can visit his website www.bhaskarkundu.com or his Instagram page:  streetphoto_bhaskar