India Documentary Photography

Merchant · Jun 14th, 2004, 00:43

Hi, folks. I have just launched my website, which may be of interest here. I'm working on a book on the Indian disapora (click on IndiaWorld), and there are two stories from India itself--the Fishers of Rameswaram and Jallikattu (under Galleries).

www.prestonmerchant.com

Enjoy. Feedback welcome and appreciated.

Merchant · Jun 14th, 2004, 23:53

Thanks, mpop!

jjacquemain · Jun 15th, 2004, 00:11

The pictures were wonderful! They made me want to be there. You have a great gift...It was powerful to see your photos of 9/11 as well.

Excellent job!

Jun 15th, 2004, 00:41

Merchant,

Let me add to the litiny of praise here. Superb pics. you really need to add bali and fiji...and maybe suriname to your diaspora collection...and make it a coffee table book...

Merchant · Jun 15th, 2004, 00:52

Yes, albaruni--that's the plan. Funds, of course, are not easy to come by. I also need to hit, at a minimum, Vancouver, the north of England, and South Africa--in addition to Fiji--before I have anything that comes close to being global. Thanks for your comments.

SitaParityaga · Jun 15th, 2004, 02:15

Enjoyed your website and good luck on your book. Don't forget Yuba City, California! You might find this link interesting:

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archive...diaspora.shtml

I'm planning on attending the parade there this year, I've heard its quite the big party!

-m2- · Jun 15th, 2004, 02:25

interesting project and very nice work. You should have some good travelling ahead of you to complete it, too!

Wanderer22 · Jun 15th, 2004, 05:19

Great Images. Love the B&W. Are you shooting negatives and scanning?

Wanderer22

volga_volga · Jun 15th, 2004, 15:24

Merchant,

i loved your portraits (actors and actresses) best.

this is not to say that i didn't like your Indian documentary photography... but i like to be able to see eyes... the mirror of the soul...

great pictures anyway!! thanks for sharing

v-v

Merchant · Jun 15th, 2004, 20:18

wanderer, it's all film (slide and neg), then scanned from prints. Thanks.

volga_volga · Aug 4th, 2004, 20:36

i have just come across a photobook "Asians in Britain" by Tom Smith (text: Naseem Khan). Tom Smith is a photographer based in Bradford (by choice

) and he has spent many years shooting Asians in that area of the UK...

omshanti · Aug 5th, 2004, 00:39

beautiful photos!

My dream would be to do what you do..... Did you visit the dhow while it was docked in UAE? That must have been quite interesting....best of luck with the rest of your project!

Merchant · Aug 5th, 2004, 02:13

I was with the dhow while it was docked in Sharjah. I spent several afternoons and evenings with the crew, who were there for two weeks before sailing to Kuwait, then Iraq. They invited me to go with them, but alas I had to refuse.

One thing I would love to do is to sail on a dhow from Gujarat to the UAE (about 5 days afloat), which I don't think would be terribly hard to arrange. Dhows represent fairly informal transport, and an owner (Gujarati businessman) might agree to my passage just for the novelty of it.

The only thing the West hears about dhows is that they smuggle drugs and guns. One was recently plowed under "accidentally" by the USS Kennedy, an aircraft carrier. All crew missing and no owner or agent has come forward to say one of his boats hasn't turned up.

For every smuggling operation, there are hundreds of legitimate ones, a large number of which are crewed by Gujaratis. The boats are little floating Indian villages, complete with tea, rotis, and Rani Mukherji videos.

velure · Sep 5th, 2004, 00:26

A bit of a latecomer to this thread, but just wanted to applaud you on your efforts. Particularly liked the body of work on the dhow, proivded a wonderful insight into these people's lives without turning 'em into destitute third world victims.

Merchant · Sep 7th, 2004, 21:57

Thanks, velure.

Jun 14th, 2004, 00:43	#1
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,079	India Documentary Photography Hi, folks. I have just launched my website, which may be of interest here. I'm working on a book on the Indian disapora (click on IndiaWorld), and there are two stories from India itself--the Fishers of Rameswaram and Jallikattu (under Galleries). www.prestonmerchant.com Enjoy. Feedback welcome and appreciated.

Jun 15th, 2004, 00:11	#3
jjacquemain Nothing is illegal until you get caught~ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA Posts: 534	The pictures were wonderful! They made me want to be there. You have a great gift...It was powerful to see your photos of 9/11 as well. Excellent job! __________________ There is no defense against chaos~

Aug 4th, 2004, 20:36	#11
volga_volga Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,460	"Asians in Britain" i have just come across a photobook "Asians in Britain" by Tom Smith (text: Naseem Khan). Tom Smith is a photographer based in Bradford (by choice ) and he has spent many years shooting Asians in that area of the UK... __________________ Tibetan Orphanage School in China My other favourite place is Pakistan Travel Forum

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Jun 14th, 2004, 23:53	#2
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,079	Thanks, mpop!

Jun 15th, 2004, 00:41	#4
albaruni Posts: n/a	Merchant, Let me add to the litiny of praise here. Superb pics. you really need to add bali and fiji...and maybe suriname to your diaspora collection...and make it a coffee table book...

Jun 15th, 2004, 00:52	#5
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,079	Yes, albaruni--that's the plan. Funds, of course, are not easy to come by. I also need to hit, at a minimum, Vancouver, the north of England, and South Africa--in addition to Fiji--before I have anything that comes close to being global. Thanks for your comments.

Jun 15th, 2004, 02:15	#6
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 889	Enjoyed your website and good luck on your book. Don't forget Yuba City, California! You might find this link interesting: http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archive...diaspora.shtml I'm planning on attending the parade there this year, I've heard its quite the big party!

Jun 15th, 2004, 02:25	#7
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,578	interesting project and very nice work. You should have some good travelling ahead of you to complete it, too!

Jun 15th, 2004, 05:19	#8
Wanderer22 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 448	Great Images. Love the B&W. Are you shooting negatives and scanning? Wanderer22

Jun 15th, 2004, 15:24	#9
volga_volga Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,460	Merchant, i loved your portraits (actors and actresses) best. this is not to say that i didn't like your Indian documentary photography... but i like to be able to see eyes... the mirror of the soul... great pictures anyway!! thanks for sharing v-v

Jun 15th, 2004, 20:18	#10
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,079	wanderer, it's all film (slide and neg), then scanned from prints. Thanks.

Aug 5th, 2004, 00:39	#12
omshanti mera dil hindustani hai Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: milky way Posts: 38	beautiful photos! My dream would be to do what you do..... Did you visit the dhow while it was docked in UAE? That must have been quite interesting....best of luck with the rest of your project!

Aug 5th, 2004, 02:13	#13
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,079	I was with the dhow while it was docked in Sharjah. I spent several afternoons and evenings with the crew, who were there for two weeks before sailing to Kuwait, then Iraq. They invited me to go with them, but alas I had to refuse. One thing I would love to do is to sail on a dhow from Gujarat to the UAE (about 5 days afloat), which I don't think would be terribly hard to arrange. Dhows represent fairly informal transport, and an owner (Gujarati businessman) might agree to my passage just for the novelty of it. The only thing the West hears about dhows is that they smuggle drugs and guns. One was recently plowed under "accidentally" by the USS Kennedy, an aircraft carrier. All crew missing and no owner or agent has come forward to say one of his boats hasn't turned up. For every smuggling operation, there are hundreds of legitimate ones, a large number of which are crewed by Gujaratis. The boats are little floating Indian villages, complete with tea, rotis, and Rani Mukherji videos.

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Sep 5th, 2004, 00:26	#14
velure Limca - The Zero Bacteria Drink Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 25	A bit of a latecomer to this thread, but just wanted to applaud you on your efforts. Particularly liked the body of work on the dhow, proivded a wonderful insight into these people's lives without turning 'em into destitute third world victims.

Sep 7th, 2004, 21:57	#15
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,079	Thanks, velure.