Irani Cafes - An age old tradition

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 5 photos

Photography is as much an art as it is technical details. In light of the same philosophy, my camera is an extension and expression of my surroundings. Extensive travel globally, and within India have given me the eye to notice details in the otherwise routine life around us. Additionally, having pursued this passion for a long time now, and gaining professional guidance along the way, has enriched me with the technical expertise demanded by this role.

I bring to this assignment an incessant will to learn and the resolve to walk the extra mile that separates the best from the rest. I value lessons from an accomplished photographer’s apprenticeship, first hand, more that years of classroom learning. Hence, I view this opportunity as an important milestone in the pursuit of my life long passion - Photo-journalism.

The photos I have submitted along with this application intend to depict Irani cafes, a 100 year old dying tradition of Tea Café’s in India. Various details I have tried to include the following:

• To capture the uniqueness of Irani cafes ranging from their fascinating feel, the winsome atmosphere, amazing interior, trade mark menu, sign boards, utensils used, architecture and vivacious people coming here from different leagues of the society
• To depict how each day at these cafes is similar to every other day
• To see how the feel of Iranian cafés contrasts with that of modern cafes where the very definition of the experience a cafe provides has changed
• To dig out some unknown aspects of Iranian culture which are less conspicuous to people from other cultures, their special days and how all this reflects in the cafes.