Life at Chilika

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

India | Saturday, October 16, 2010 | 5 photos

Chilika, in Orrissa, is the largest sweet water lake in India. Bound by the Bay of Bengal on the east, this lake is a the source of livelihood for the people here. Fishing is the main means of livelihood in this area followed by tourism and animal husbandry. I had been to Barkul and Rambha (the north points of Chilika) in August’10 and have tried to capture slices of the lives, as they got presented in front of my lens. Each of my shot here has an element of water, since it is an inseparable part of life in this region. My shots depict lives, which starts from the dawn, rolls down the day and apparently comes to a halt by night – a brief quietness in the dark waters – perhaps a preparation for yet another day.
Though I am photographing since long, but am seriously in to it for the last 3-4 years only. I was quite addicted to ‘Photoshop Photography’ and was fond of digital darkroom. I took part in national and international salons of photography, which brought me handsome accolades and my acceptances soon swelled to around 1000 with approximately 150 awards.
But since last few months, I started feeling otherwise – and got turned towards straight-out-of-the-camera-shots. To justify this, for the first time, I went on a tour specifically to capture straight shots. AND NOW I AM INTO IT. I need to win this contest to nurture my new found love and refine my photography skills under the guidance of the very best.
Moreover, on my first visit to Bhutan, a few years back, I was fascinated by its beauty but thought my photographs then did not do the justice. What can be a better way other than to return and mend my earlier inefficiencies and return this time with flourishing colours.