Report: POddar Court & Nakhoda Masjid photoshoot

Location: Poddar Court Market and its vicinity and the Nakhoda Masjid
Date: 16th June, 2008.

Members present:
1) Anirban
2) Abhijit (chobiwala)
3) Sudip
4) Shamim
5) Suman
6) Aparna
7) Diganta (dizzie)
8) Somak
9) Ayan (flickr)
10) Aruni
11) Himadri
12) Abhijit
13) Debangshu

Guest Appearance:
Indranil & Sanjukta

Tag: KWS150608PoddarCourt&NakhodaMasjid

This was a much awaited shoot for me personally. I knew from conversations with other members that their last visit in this area was very fruitful (or is it momoful??).

We met at the bowbazar and central avenue crossing at 7am and proceeded to poddar court market. It was overwhelming to see the life that it exuded. It really was ideal for street photography. I noticed a marked difference from other places where I had tried shooting people in the past. You don't have to be brazen here. As long as we don't disturb anybody they are happy to let you do your job while they go about theirs. This was a welcome surprise to me. We clicked photos to our hearts content. There were many with whom we even struck up conversations. They really did have the best attitude and certainly were at their best behaviour. There were so many of us, and it did with time get a bit congested. Few of us were daft to the extent that they would shove the camera right up their faces. I requested them to take a leaf out of their subject’s books. If they respect your space, respect theirs too. It’s the thumb rule of street photography.

After we had shot to our satisfaction, we proceeded to the Nakhoda Masjid. While en route to Nakhoda Masjid, we got a few more street shots. We were also witness to the acrobatics, rather the attempted acrobatics of Anirban, while trying to shot a few bathing men. This was looking dangerous to all of us. I have got to give it to that boy. He really is dedicated to photography to such daring extent.

Then we reached Nakhoda Masjid. This is where the report now becomes comical, hilarious to be even more precise. We got confronted by few who work at the masjid. They asked us to get permission. This we could not get even by trying to explain to them our purpose. We could not make out, how, many and a considerable many could get pictures of the masjid, while we were being denied. The local police officer in charge of security came from the police station. He was really nice and helpful. But even he could not put any sense into them. We hence had to leave the premises with a handful of shots that we had managed, before we got stopped. But really, to explain the predicament we got ourselves into. Somak da got tagged as the conspirator-in-chief, charged for smuggling a tripod inside the masjid in a handbag, which was a baseless claim. Really next time he should pretend to be carrying a “bazooka”!! Someone from us who was supposedly taking macro shots got labelled as THE suspect. And then Aruni steals the show. I have never ever heard such a remark, as Aruni uttered there. The police were being told that we all had our Identity Cards. Aruni stood up and said “I have my ATM card”. Now, what can someone say to that? We were laughing our heads off!! Even the officer enjoyed it!

This fracas got followed by a brief spell at the Royal restaurant. We then proceeded to Bose Pacia, Park Street. Here Photographs by Trent Park are at display. The photographs are stunning and his use of light and shadow has considerably moved me. Concluding our photo shoot at Park Street, we headed back to our homes, thinking about our day, the photos we took and the many experiences of the day.

Regards,
Suman for KWS.

Members are requested to post their photos in flickr and orkut and add the tag.