MARCH MADNESS 2016

The March Madness basketball tournament 2016 - hosted by SOBC (Special Olympics of British Columbia) 

Our nephew and older daughters have volunteered at this event over the years, and last year I volunteered to take pictures.  I was very honoured when I was asked to do so again this year. I hope my photographs have been able to capture the enthusiasm and positive spirit of this tournament.

As the father of a daughter with Down's Syndrome, this event is even more special to me. Within minutes of our youngest daughter being born, the doctors told us that they were sure that she had Down's Syndrome. In an instant, life lead us to a road on which we had never travelled before nor had been expecting to travel.

There was so much to take in. We worried about her future, how the world would treat her and how her siblings would feel about her. These are all concerns that parents of "typical" children also share, but they are exponentially increased when your child has a disability of any kind. Our love for her was never in question, but our fear hung over us like a dark cloud. Gradually, we were able to see past the dark cloud. We knew she would require extra energy and time to achieve milestones, but she would do it. The feeling of community really meant a lot to us then and continues to do so.

The March Madness basketball tournament hosted by the SOBC (Special Olympics of British Columbia) is a perfect example of community.  It is an event which showcases the positive traits that exist in us as humans.  The athletes all play hard to win, but they also show true sportsmanship by cheering for their opponents and helping anyone who may be injured.  It's a place for friends and families to reunite and to meet new faces. Watching these wonderful athletes is proof that if we believe in each other and ourselves and push the barriers out of the way, great things can be achieved.

Gastown, Vancouver

Gastown, the heart of Vancouver, was designated a ‘National Historic Site’ by the federal government in 2009 and even today retains its historic charm. The place gets its unique name from John Deighton, popularly known as "Gassy Jack" who opened the first saloon there.

Gastown is perfect to explore on foot which makes it a photographer’s delight.  It is an eclectic mix of old and new alluring tourists while continuing to be a comfortable nest for its residents.

With neighborhoods that are characterized by irresistible intriguing passages and hideaways, it's independent spirit never fails to draw me. While it is great place for night portraiture and capturing light trails, the place buzzes with photogenic nooks everywhere.

One of my favourites is the Cordova Street Parkade. The intricate unique patterns of granite and steel inspired by 19th century train stations make for interesting shots. Adding to the charm is the fact that this architectural beauty was built using old pieces of Vancouver bridges.

Another spot that caught the fancy of my camera was the brilliant mural found between Cordova & Hastings. This art piece that pays tribute to M.C. Escher’s hand with reflecting sphere is Gastown's most colourful graffiti art.

If I am feeling particularly romantic, I like to stroll by the Gaoler’s Mews Courtyard. This cobblestone courtyard has seen many proposals and doesn’t fail to rekindle romance. A dazzling glass elevator shaft that surrounds solariums and burgundy brick walls make a striking backdrop and has lent itself to many wedding photo shoots.

With overexposure, the Gastown’s steam clock has been over-photographed but as I wanted a piece of the city in my camera, I couldn’t ignore this. However, behind the steam clock you will find and industrial-looking alley that has been home to many editorial fashion shoots

These spots are just the tip of the iceberg. Gastown is a treasure trove for a photographer. Even while holding firmly to its heritage, it was named the fourth most stylish neighbourhood in the world in 2012.   

Delhi Street Photography

Delhi – An emperor’s empire, a politician’s dream, a town with ambition and rivalry but most of all a town with a heart

Delhi is steeped in character, culture and history. Centuries of history on which this country is built upon and majestic architectural monuments gives Delhi a unique attractive force.

My thirst for exploring cities with character is what makes Delhi one of my favourites.

Walking on the streets of Delhi connects with me with the heart of Delhi and this is a city that is all heart.  Being the country’s capital, the buzz of the nation building is quite evident in the air.  However, there is much more to this city. Old Delhi is an acquired taste. The crowds, lanes, colours, textures, smell of spices, and its secular culture can be a bit too much for a new comer, but once bitten, this is what you crave to come back to.

It is special thrill to capture majestic architecture of Delhi. These architectural wonders are over a hundred years old and have stood the test of time, buildings that stand evidence to the good the bad and the ugly that the city has seen. The newer buildings are draped in designer components boasting of development while standing head to head with their older counterparts channel their own inner beauty.

I love shooting Old Delhi in the late afternoons during summer and in early morning during the winter.

During the summers, Delhi gets very lazy in the afternoons, boys and teenagers play cricket in the empty streets while onlookers become reluctantly involved spectators.

Winters lend themselves to amazing early morning image. Scenes of people walking wrapped in colour shawls protecting themselves from the biting crowd and warming their palms with hot cups of chai as the lazy dawn breaks into an optimistic day.

The challenge of street photography is the uncertainty. The joy of capturing that perfect moment cannot be described. It is state of pure joy when all elements, the subject, light, texture fall perfectly in place.

Street photography is very alike to wildlife photography; with this I mean that the emotions of my subjects are very pure. These emotions tell the stories that are unwinding around us.

Street photography is an eclectic mix of capturing present as well as past stories, living subjects as well as the brick and stone subjects that give the city its personality.

Subtle expressions that convey deep meanings. The long wait of the roadside vendor, the impatient urgency of a commuter waiting for his bus, the pure joy of the children jumping in the rain. Making these seemingly ordinary routine moments into stories what makes a good street photographer.

For the love of the beast

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“An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.” – Martin Buber

Probably the best part about animals is that they do not talk.  Talk, in words I mean. There is a lot of possibility of misunderstanding one another when you use words to communicate.

Animals on the other hand communicate using body language. They are never misunderstood within their own brethren. They emote through their eyes, they express through their bodies.

Happy and relaxed lions lick or gnaw softly at each other. Giraffes press their necks together when they are attracted to each other. Elephants show affection by entwining their trunks.

Animals respond to their surroundings intuitively and quickly. Never will you catch a fake emotion.

And this is precisely why, to capture an animal through your lens, the single most important thing you need is patience. Equally important is being alert.

Contrary to clicking a human subject, I cannot ask the animal to emote a certain way or hold the emotion for a wee bit longer till I get the light right!

I have had to wait, and wait, and wait for hours on end. And not for a minute, can I let my attention wander. For the right expression will only last a minute before the beautiful creature is distracted by something or someone else.

But never is this wasted time,  I have learnt that it takes a long time to get good wildlife shots, even longer to make great ones.

Getting the perfect expression on camera is like tasting blood.

Once you get the right picture, the thrill and the intense urge to capture otherwise unseen expressions of the gorgeous creatures that we co-inhabit this earth becomes an obsession.

An obsession that I do not ever want to give up.