zaterdag, augustus 30, 2003
A street photographer scraping a living by selling snaps of tourists on the sidewalks of Bombay has found his work propelled into the pages of international magazines when he and his camera were first on the scene of a deadly bomb attack.
Dozens of people were killed when twin car bombs ripped through the heart of India's financial district on Monday, creating devastating scenes which 24-year-old K.K. Choudhary was quick to capture on film. Choudhary said he battled with his conscience in deciding whether to aid victims or take pictures in the hope he might convey the carnage to a wider audience. With foreign media now buying his work, it seems his gamble paid off.
"My eyes were blinded due to the thick smoke from the blast. I saw a boy whose head was badly damaged. I took the camera instantly and started shooting. The choice was to help or to shoot. I decided I will shoot. There was an inner voice telling me to help which I thought can be done later," said Choudhary, who earns about 300 rupees (6.5 dollars) daily. He shot 16 frames "for about 15 minutes" and then joined the volunteers who were out to help the victims.
More than 100 street photographers earn their living besides the monument, built in 1924 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay. At the time of the blasts, only a dozen photographers were at work, with others were either on vacation or were shooting somewhere else in the city of 13 million people.
The street photographers use old single lens reflex cameras and also hang a polaroid camera around their neck. They charge about 20 rupees for each print and 50 rupees for a polaroid or instant picture. Choudhary, who hails from the east Indian state of Assam, owns a Cosina. He came to Bombay searching for a job in 1996 and hit on photography as a profession.
"I did not think I will be able to sell my pictures to so many people. But one thing led to another. I would rather get famous shooting pictures of people being happy and not about to die. For sometime after the incident was over I started crying seeing so many people in pain. Once I saw my prints I overcame my emotions. In Bombay you do not get any jobs. Every night you pray there will be visitors at the Gateway of India," Choudhary said.
Bron: AFP.
foto Indranil Mukherjee
Dozens of people were killed when twin car bombs ripped through the heart of India's financial district on Monday, creating devastating scenes which 24-year-old K.K. Choudhary was quick to capture on film. Choudhary said he battled with his conscience in deciding whether to aid victims or take pictures in the hope he might convey the carnage to a wider audience. With foreign media now buying his work, it seems his gamble paid off.
"My eyes were blinded due to the thick smoke from the blast. I saw a boy whose head was badly damaged. I took the camera instantly and started shooting. The choice was to help or to shoot. I decided I will shoot. There was an inner voice telling me to help which I thought can be done later," said Choudhary, who earns about 300 rupees (6.5 dollars) daily. He shot 16 frames "for about 15 minutes" and then joined the volunteers who were out to help the victims.
More than 100 street photographers earn their living besides the monument, built in 1924 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay. At the time of the blasts, only a dozen photographers were at work, with others were either on vacation or were shooting somewhere else in the city of 13 million people.
The street photographers use old single lens reflex cameras and also hang a polaroid camera around their neck. They charge about 20 rupees for each print and 50 rupees for a polaroid or instant picture. Choudhary, who hails from the east Indian state of Assam, owns a Cosina. He came to Bombay searching for a job in 1996 and hit on photography as a profession.
"I did not think I will be able to sell my pictures to so many people. But one thing led to another. I would rather get famous shooting pictures of people being happy and not about to die. For sometime after the incident was over I started crying seeing so many people in pain. Once I saw my prints I overcame my emotions. In Bombay you do not get any jobs. Every night you pray there will be visitors at the Gateway of India," Choudhary said.
Bron: AFP.
foto Indranil Mukherjee
# posted by Jan-Edward : 18:29
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