All images in this blog post are copyright of @Rendezvous with Rashmi. Do not use without permission.
Words | Rashmi Choudhary Photographs | Rendezvous with Rashmi
Have you ever fallen in love with a thing? Not a person or a place, but an activity; otherwise known as a hobby, outlet, creative endeavour, or passion? I hope everyone knows the joy of falling in love with a ‘thing’ at least once in their life.
It happened with me a few years back when I was on a break from my corporate career and was still reflecting and introspecting about what it was that I would love to do – that something which will fetch me inner contentment.
I have always been interested in photos. When I was younger, I used to pore through drawers of photos and photo albums that my parents made, looking at them, rearranging them and remembering the moment that they were taken. I was intrigued by photos because I felt that I could hold an instance of time, emotion, a memory, right in my hands. Little did I know that those pictures would someday help shape a great hobby of mine and I would integrate my passion into my work and pave a new path forward.
Having had a keen interest in photography over a long time, I decided to give it a shot. I learnt the technical nuances of the art and set my foot to explore. In a short span, it became my alter ego, my identity, my purpose in life. I love photography as a whole but the genre that’s closest to my heart is Street Photography.
Streets have always surprised me by their moment and people.
My eyes are always searching for different shapes, emotions, moments etc.
It provides me with an outlet for personal expression and exploration, distraction, meditation and catharsis.
It’s all about finding the calm in the chaos! Sunrise at Yamuna Ghat, Delhi
The joy of living and giving – somewhere in the by-lanes of Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi
The rich are restless while the poor sleep peacefully
The lady smiles at me in a local vegetable market
We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing’ – George Bernard Shaw. Seeing these kids play to their hearts’ content was a sheer joy for my lens
I walk through the streets for hours taking snapshots of moments that other people might not even notice. Streets are governed by coincidences, are not predictable and that makes them all the more beautiful and pristine.
Racing against time!! An artist works tirelessly through the hot and humid afternoon to shape up the idols before the Durga Puja. Now, when I see the final murtis (idols) in Durga Puja Pandals, I appreciate it much more
Someone else is happy with much less than what we have!
There’s contentment and fulfillment in the mundane smile
Heart wrenching, yet true! The baby grips the wrecked toy tightly, unwilling to let it go. Discarded by some, preciously possessed by others. Such is the irony of life. One needs to absorb the real atmosphere with all its senses. Photography is a great way to feel and show emotions
This woman (working out of home) gives finishing touches to the straps of chappals (footwear) while her two-and-a-half-year-old child clings to her and feels comfortable and protected. True, women are intrinsically multitaskers
For me, it is more than just going out and taking pictures of the street. Street photography is a philosophy. A philosophy that not only helps me to become a better photographer but also to explore the world in a different way. It has helped me appreciate the beauty of everyday life.
Street photography is a constant practice of gratitude. A practice of being grateful for being alive, for having eyes to see, and to be a human being (with fellow human beings to live with).
Gratitude has been scientifically proven to strengthen your immune system and make you happier and more optimistic, as well as less lonely and isolated. I don’t doubt it a bit!
No Comments
Leave a comment Cancel