I recently participated in a photo walk in Jaipur “See The Unseen” conducted by a photography club for The World Sight Day on 12th October. This world sight day event in Jaipur by way of a Photo walk took place in the walled city area of Jaipur and was attended by a large number of photographers – the highest in any photo walk that I have attended. Do you know Jaipur is one of the best places for street photography in India?
Participating photographers were paired together. One of them would click pictures while the other would be a navigator. The underlying idea was that the photographer needs to click pictures with a blindfold -it was a Street Photography without relying on one’s ability to see!
Read the previous post: Photo walk in Jaipur/ Street Photography – Faceless Frames ” Hands”
Since the event was for The World Sight Day, photographers were asked to click pictures relying on other senses like sound. That’s how a blind person clicks pictures. After a designated time, both would switch places.
The photo walk took place on a Sunday morning. It created a lot of stir as people on the road were amused to find blindfolded people armed with a camera clicking pictures. Many of them couldn’t contain themselves and came up to ask what this was all about.
The walk started at 7.30 AM even though the designated time was 6.30 AM. By 8 AM the bazaars were buzzing with activities.
Devotees at the temple, morning walkers congregating at eateries for the Sunday breakfast and Chai shops… the excitement and subjects swelled as the clock progressed.
I also captured a few frames blindfolded. It’s a different ball game when you lose the concept of composition. You are out of your comfort zone; just bring the camera on your eye level and click! A few important elements of photography like leveling the horizon, changing aperture or ISO settings become irrelevant. I shot the following pictures at a fixed setting – blindfolded.
Don’t miss: Photo walk in Jaipur/ Street Photography – Faceless Frames ” Hands”
The Sweeper!
This sweeper was distracted upon seeing a blindfolded lady with the camera!
Something new!
These rickshaw owners were amused to find a blindfolded person taking a shot at them and inquired what this was all about from the accompanying navigator. They demanded money for being subject. Upon realizing that there’s no money to be made here, they settled for tea instead! I guess they just weren’t lucky!
Breakfast point – The Poha seller!
The tea point!
Let’s light up a joint!
Street urchins
Street urchins waiting for the free food in front of a temple.
Vegetable seller outside a temple.
Sometimes you get it right, too!
If you are wondering how I shot these images, have a look at the below set of pictures which has a group of people chanting Bhajan on their way to the temple.
You have to keep clicking in succession hoping you will get at least one right!
I stood still and kept pressing the shutter button -one after another.
The milk seller!
This is the last picture I shot blindfolded! It was time to switch places with the navigator!
The concept was novel and none of the participants were aware as to how the walk will unfold until they were briefed. Unlike earlier photo walks in Jaipur, this walk ended with press coverage.
So what was great about this world sight day event in Jaipur? One, as a photographer you get exposed to the novel concepts which are important for your mental stimulation. Two, it is also a place where you can mingle with other photographers. Three, it’s great to see so many photographers attending a photo walk in Jaipur cutting across the age and gender. Four, there was no prerequisite of photography equipment. One could click pictures with DSLR, point, and shoot/ compact camera or a smartphone.
I have mentioned in my previous post that generally, I avoid photo walks because of distractions and concentration on the specific subjects but sometimes we need to break out of our shells and see things from a fresh perspective. Streetlife photography is an enriching experience.
Street Photography in Jaipur is quite rewarding with varied subjects and buzzing bazaars. Photography on Streets of India is a highly rewarding experience, something that Indian photographers will vouch for. Generally, people are okay with their pictures being clicked…..but there are exceptions too! TIP: For Street Photography you must be in the right place and the right time.
Don’t miss: Photo walk in Jaipur/ Street Photography – Faceless Frames ” Hands”
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Happy Diwali to you;) An interesting read and some of your photos are great despite the blindfold. I might pass this idea on to a friend of mine who works for guide dogs for the blind in the UK, it would be a good thing for fundraising I think!
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Thank you. Happy Diwali to you too! Go ahead and pass the idea! I’ll be happy if it helps in a good cause! Do ask him/her to share the experience. 🙂
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This was such a unique concept. I loved the idea of one guiding the other. These exercises help build a great rapport. I liked some of the images of the street scenes of Jaipur, its quite different from the touristy ones we see in magazines.
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Thanks, Ophira! Happy to know you liked them. Have you ever been to Jaipur in recent years?
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Great life photos!
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Thanks, Ritu! Happy to know you liked these pictures!!
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They capture so well the essense of every day xxx
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This is an amazing exercise! Not sure I have the confidence to try it just yet, but that really looks like fun!
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Do try it someday! 🙂
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What an experience. Just to be blindfolded is a leap of faith. Using other senses must have been neat as we rely on our eyes so much. But smell, sounds are also important.
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There wasn’t much to rely on smell. Sound? a bit not much because getting used to relying on other senses takes time. 🙂
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A great concept and it sounds like a very successful one..Some great pictures 🙂
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Yes, it was successful. Thanks for appreciating. I’m happy you liked the pictures. 🙂
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That’s a unique initiative…..and the pictures have come out superb…Jaipur has so much to offer, I have already experienced that during my visit some years back……would love to be part of such a unique walk in the Pink City….:)
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I love your pics! I’m going to have to visit your country some day! 🙂
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What a unique idea to take photos blindfolded. I can appreciate how frustrating it must be for an experienced photographers, like yourself, to be unable to apply all the usual settings. Yet your photos have turned out extremely well and I loved how you all caused such a stir in the street. It isn’t every day people see blindfolded photographers. 🙂
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Millie! I have chosen to put only few pictures on this blog. There are some completely “rubbish” pictures too! Anyway, it was all part of this program. Yes, it did create some buzz in the street! Thanks for taking out time to comment and share your views!
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This is amazing, truly inspiring and surprising results. Best blog I read today.
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Happy to hear this, Frank! Just followed your blog to hear and see your side of the world! 🙂
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I just learn new thing. I never even thought about this way of photograph. Thank you for the post
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Happy to hear this. Where are you based?
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A great concept and no doubt, a great challenge. I can’t wait to visit Jaipur in a couple of weeks time. Thanks for giving me a little insight into what to expect. Mel
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You are welcome. Happy to hear that you will be visiting Jaipur very soon. Enjoy your trip. 😃
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Very inspiring! Check out my blog about street photography in Athens.
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Thanks. Surely I will 😃
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This sounds like a great initiative. keep it up! now i want to try it too 🙂
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Sure. Go ahead. Would love to see your pictures. Please keep me posted. 😃👍
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I will try it out next weekend and let you know for sure :). Hopefully something good will come out of it. Until then, have a look if you got the time at my latest post from Dubai : https://mironaminca.com/2017/11/25/dubai-water-canal-and-safa-park/
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will await for your revert then, Miroma? Checking out your post now!
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Wow! What a unique experience…shocked at the beautiful pics taken while blindfolded. Incredible! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you. Only monochrome pictures were captured during blindfold walk. Rest of the pictures merely documented the event. Thanks for appreciating. 😃
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Still, what an experience!
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Surely, I’ll agree with you. 🙂
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This is such a neat idea! I’ve never heard of this
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Indeed, it’s a novel concept. Would you like to try?
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Awesome concept ! And perfect location, I wouldn’t wanna walk blinded in Jaipur’s traffic though 😃😃
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ha ha! If you have a navigator along, not much of a problem 🙂
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Very interesting photo walk. I like the idea of shooting blindfolded 😀
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Thanks Sander. Do you go for photo walks?
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Unfortunately not arv! I’m having trouble walking for more than 5 minutes.
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Oh. What happened?
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Nothing serious. Hurt my knee lifting too much weight in the gym. Had an operation, but recovery is very slow. Not as it should be. But if my knee does recover, I will defininitely join photo walks.
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oh! Cartilage issue?
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Yep
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🙂
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What a cool idea!
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I’m glad you found it interesting Coleen 😃
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Hahaha! What an interesting activity! Looks like a lot of fun as well. Also some amazing results there! Be sure to check out my blog mate. Its fairly new, but wait for more content in the near future.
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Thanks, Angga! Yes this was a cool thing to do. Fun? Certainly! Checked out your blog, I’m sure it’ll have interesting content soon.
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