KOLKOTA INDIA – Today we went down on the Ganges to a neighborhood that specializes in Hindu religious images. The process starts with a bamboo matrix that is fleshed out with straw. Artisans then apply multiple coats of Ganges mud, which is what actually makes the statues holy. They are then sanded and painted and decorated.
Day 3053 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.
On this date exactly seven years ago (day 496 of one photo every day): Dinner at the Knick
KOLKATA INDIA – Kolkata (ne Calcutta) is the third largest city in India – it is actually not visited by many tourists. It was the seat of the British Raj here until the government was moved to New Delhi starting in 1912 in anticipation of hostilities with Japan. Many of the large colonial-era monuments are in use as government buildings and are not easily accessible. We are spending most of our time on foot here in the extensive markets.
The first image below is my favorite of the day – it pictures a Hindustan Motors Ambassador, which were widely sold in India starting in 1955 or so; legions of them are kept alive here as taxis.
Day number 3052 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.
On this date exactly five years ago (day number 1226 of one photo every day): Tree at night Three frames handheld and stitched.
MAHESHWAR INDIA – A dreaded travel day – most of the day was spent traveling the full width of the Indiian subcontinent to Calcutta, our next stop. I managed to shot the parapet of the tower where we did our morning yoga before leaving. Not much going on.
Day 3051 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.
On this day three years ago (day 1955 of one photo every day): Heavy snow in nightlight
MAHESHWAR INDIA – We spent a day exploring on foot here.
Day 3050 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.
On this day eight years ago (day 128 of one photo every day): Milford PA image with a pinhole camera.
MANDU INDIA – Mandu is a ruined city of lakes and pavilions about an hour’s drive from Maheshwar built in the early Fifteenth Century and abandoned in the early period of the Mughal Empire at the beginning of the Sixteenth Century. There were vast, complex waterworks which are dry today, at least in the non-rainy season.
Later in the day we attended the music festival at Ahilya Fort which is owned by this area’s Maharaja, Richard Holkar, who had an American mother and was educated in America.
Day 3049 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life. This is one of those days when it was hard to get down to one.
On this date eight years ago (day 127): A pinhole image out my window converted to black and white.
MAHESHWAR INDIA – Arrived at last. This begins my 2018 exploration of India. For the next few weeks, some days will actually be galleries because it hard to edit down to a few “best” images without more distance. This is the first day of the Indian Classical music festival at the Ahilya Fort. on the Narnada River and attending an Indian classical music festival. “Classical” music here doesn’t mean Brahms: it’s traditional music played on a sitar, tabla and so on.
Day 3048 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.
On this day three years ago (day 1952 of one photo every day): 432 Park Avenue
DELHI INDIA – I spent the night here after a 14 hour flight from Newark, getting some rest before joining Maria and friends in Maheshwar, a small town three hours drive from Indore, which I’ll be flying to tomorrow morning. At Maheshwar we’ll be staying at the ancient Ahilya Fort on the Narnada River and attending an Indian classical music festival. This is out the window of the airport Hyatt.
Day 3047 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.
On this day five years ago (day 1221): Straight up in the dark. The fact that day 1221 is a palindrome is the only interesting thing that’s happened in my whole history of shooting on February 17. Looking up at night, hand held.
