Twisted Indifference

Even the best laid plans can be rendered ineffective. Especially if you happen to be me. The trip down to Bombay for the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival was not an easy one for this photographer. After sleeping only for an hour the earlier night, I get ready and step out to make my way to Pune Station. The first shock of the day, ATM card had expired a day before. I love my bank to death but it tends overlook these tiny details.

So with the little cash that I did have in my wallet I set out for Bombay in a cab, thinking I could attend the photography workshop and then borrow money from a friend for the ride back. Great plan, except that the cab I was in decided to break down in front of the sign that said Expressway Ends – 500m. After a long and painfull process (I’ll spare you the details) I reached the workshop an hour late.

David Desouza is brilliant at what he does. He is a great photographer. Older than me by at least a couple of decades, his mannerisms reflect the eccentricies of the profession. Definitely the mark of a photographer. His vehement disregard for boundaries was further illustrated by his insistance that if necessary even spitting betel juice can be used as a form of expression. ‘Paan Thook‘ reverberated through the auditorium everytime he wanted to make a point about breaking boundaries.

The workshop continues tomorrow, although the Kala Ghoda Association website says otherwise. I hope I can make it but the lack of an ATM card might just put a damper on those plans. So do go check it out if you can, the experience is definitely worth it.

I had a really heavy workload. Now that I am done with the bad puns, here goes.

I have been working with a publishing house shooting for their automotive magazines. Twisted Indifference Studios also has been active. My absence on Flickr and out here can be attributed to several reasons.

1. Work.

2. Restrictions on what I could publish.

3. Unscrupulous ad agencies that have the link to my Flickr page. I love Flickr for it’s protection but it’s not as good as the stuff I get on my own website.

4. Flash making it way difficult to nick photos from my website is good, but not good when it comes to updating them as I do not know flash.

5. I love my work, I put in a lot of effort into it and if people want to use my photos they bloody well can pay and credit me for it.

India does not have the most stringent copyright protection laws. Loopholes be damned, unscrupulous agencies and publishers trying to save money aren’t exactly concerned about the law. I have seen photos on Flickr where people are pretending to be requesting for permission to use a certain photograph since Right-Click, Download did not work. What does the photographer get in return? Photo Credit. Now if it actually was a publication worth its salt it makes sense though if it is really that big they can afford to pay you for it. The rest can please leave their e-begging gloves at the door.

So given this situation, all my photographs, regardless of being posted here or on Flickr shall carry copyright notices. I understand it might restrict getting a complete feel of the photograph but under the unending duress of people with complete disregard for intellectual property rights I have been left with no choice.

I can and will still guarantee great shots and great posts here. There is a lot that I have been shooting and can put up here. I have been thinking of new ways of displaying stuff and I think you will love it.