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Your
Contribution: Imaging the Underdog
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By Gautam Narang
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May 1, 2005
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“In
India, I saw uncensored reality, real poverty, real madness, not the sanitized
cleaned up, behind closed doors society of Britain. But why are these themes so
interesting to me? Because they are more real, everyone identifies with the
underdog, not many can identify with the entrenched falsity of the ruling
classes.” (Gautam Narang)
Gautam
Narang is a British up-and-coming photographer with Indian roots. Only 21 years
old, he has already won three prestigious awards: He gained the 1st place in the
Canon Top Shots competition, two of his pictures were picked out of 25,000
entries and he gained two merits in the Fujifilm
Merit Awards, and he was also short-listed to the
top 5 in the MTV
Photo Essay Awards.
Gautam
is known for his outstanding use of color and original take on a range of
subject matters. His work has been exhibited in London, in New
York (collaborative work shown at Field
of New York) and in an exhibition held by the St.
Petersburg’s Modern Art Gallery
for this work on the theme of contrast.
In
this feature Gautam shares some of his favorite photos he made in India and
tells us what they mean to him:
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1)
This photograph was taken in New Delhi. Tea is one of Asia’ greatest
inventions. I love tea, and the old style and way of having a cup of tea is
timeless.
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2)
While I was walking around I heard these voices. They drew me closer; I had
never heard such beautiful voices. I came closer and discovered this group of
folk singers. It was like walking into history: Their faces are timeless. |
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3)
We live in a complex world where Eastern traditions combine with Western
materialism; these two signs represent that duality. |
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4)
I was driving by and saw this couple of kids playing cricket. There was
something special about the place so I walked on the cricket field which was
next to a mosque. I asked the kids if I could take their picture. When they
agreed I asked this kid to hold the bat. The next day I gave them a print. |
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5)
This picture is of a girl I came across in an Indian village. At first she tried
to take away her sari, but I thought it looked cool as it was. |
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6)
This is my dad, a great man. I call this picture “Think About It.” |
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7)
I came across this school by coincidence. It was the first time I walked into a
mosque and I was drawn by the beautiful voices. When I took this picture I knew
it would be good. That doesn’t happen often; it’s one of my favorites. |
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8)
This picture was taken in a mosque, hence the background. I asked some kids to
pose in front of a wall. They were all excited and gathered around each other.
In this village, Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs were all living side by side in
peace; this is the way it should be. |
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9)
The way I take my pictures is by just walking around and discovering. This is
how I came across this girl. I asked if I could take her photo, she nodded her
head and I took two frames. Not thinking much of the photographs, she didn’t
say a word. She belonged to a group of people who dress up in religious Hindu
clothing and ask for donations. |
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10)
To be different isn’t a bad thing. |
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You can e-mail
Gautam Narang at gnarang@flipeye.com.
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