📸 Photo series #25: Faces in the urban frame
Photo series by Aniruddha Guha Sarkar
StoryDrops is skipping out on the Paris Photo event we were hyped about. Missing the chance to catch up with familiar faces worldwide and dive into a weekend of non-stop photography chatter.
On the flip side, we wish a happy Diwali to all our friends from India. For this special occasion, we would like to showcase the incredible work of Aniruddha, a well-known street photographer from this wonderful country. Get ready for a huge breathe of inspiration!
Brief update: There won't be a photo series in the upcoming week. Instead, our 26th edition will feature a survey to better understand your preferences. Your feedback is crucial to shaping the best street photography newsletter for you, so we eagerly await your thoughts next Sunday! 🙌
Grab your virtual front-row seat and let's make this end of weekend a blast with Aniruddha's incredible work 🍿.
Alter Ego by Aniruddha Guha Sarkar
⏱️ Reading time: 5 min
What we wear and what we try to look like is generally a reflection of what we are or what we want to become! That’s our Alter Ego! And that, in more than one way, reflects the society and the times we live in.
A famous photographer had once said that the best that an artist can do in today’s world is to experience and express the time and place that we live in. In that sense, these few images reflects our time and our society in India through our Alter Ego!
Written and shot by Aniruddha Guha Sarkar.
Who’s behind the lens?
Describe yourself as a photographer and where you are based
My name is Aniruddha Guha Sarkar. I live in New Delhi, am an Engineer by education, a part of the top management of an American I.T Services company by profession and a learning photo-artist by passion. Having been bored to death by corporate nothingness in various parts of the world for nearly 25 years, I took to the streets with my camera around 7 years ago in search of a better meaning. During this time, some of my work got exhibited in various international group exhibitions (e.g. in a few Italian cities, Moscow, Hamburg, Dubai etc.) and printed in various international/ national magazines. I am also a member of iN-PUBLiC and TTL collectives.
Artistic passion for creating a work of art and the craving for the joy when such rare occasions happen was always there in me and will be there in future too. However, I felt a growing need since the last few years that before trying to become an artist, one must first understand the time and place that one lives in. The moments that I express in my images must come out of such deep experiences. I am therefore trying street documentaries on social themes these days – in order to be myself. Despite the limitations of my talent and time (due to my crushing professional commitments), going deeper to understand and express the time and place that I live in remains the only responsible direction that I can take and will therefore continue.
My home is in New Delhi, India (I have lived in Munich and London for long times and they are like my 2nd hometown).
Your favorite camera and lens
I use Fujifilm cameras – XT20 and XT-3. I use a Fujinon kit lens 23-55mm (though I always shoot at 23 mm).
Your favorite places to shoot
I sincerely believe that, as artists, the best we can do is to experience and express (through our photos) the place and time that we live in.
Places with history therefore attracts me. Old Delhi therefore is a favourite place of mine. So is Varanasi.
According to you, what makes a good picture
A photo which doesn’t only reply on design, but tells a moving human story rooted in the place and time that it was taken in.
Your favorite photographers and where you get inspired.
Magnum photographer Raghu Rai, Raghubir Singh, Robert Frank and many other modern photographers.
Portfolio and/or social media links
Instagram : @aniruddha_gs
Thank you for featuring Aniruddha’s work and words. Inspiring in both aspects.