Anchor in your heart daily,
do not wander in confusion,
World is a mere illusion,
people passing in confusion.
Today, while reading the above prose by Kabir on page 727 of Adi Granth, I was reminded of my walk in the narrow alleys of Bara Bazar in Shillong (Meghalay, India).
In the disorder, existed a perfect order.
People appeared to be walking around in confusion but on close glance, each was focused on their own task. In a strange way, no one seemed to know about the existence of another being, unless there was a need to interact on a transactional basis. Entire activity of the bustling marketplace was a daily illusion, lasting till dusk.
Such is our existence in this world.
I as a mere observer, just merged into the crowd, focused on my task of capturing portraits of people in Bara Bazar. Like them, I too did not desire for them to know of my existence and there was no need to interact with anyone. Just me and my camera, looking for that moment to freeze the expression of a momentary encounter.
Photo : A granny at Bara Bazar, Shillong
Photo : A porter at Bara Bazar, Shillong
Photo : A worshipper at Bara Bazar, Shillong
Photo : A customer at Bara Bazar, Shillong
Photo : A bystander at Bara Bazar, Shillong
Photo : A muslim lady at Bara Bazar, Shillong
Comments(13)
Hardeep Singh says:
May 28, 2014 at 8:34 PMAwesome! My favorite outing in Shillong when I was studying there were visits to the Bara Bazar. I simply loved to wander around that huge busy market lanes leading up & down the slopes.Strangely I always found myself at peace just watching the chaos.
Dhruv Jolly says:
May 28, 2014 at 10:23 PMMindboggling with beauty,creativity and your genius … just awesome …:)
adarsh says:
May 28, 2014 at 11:24 PMThis is nostalgic………I’ve lived in Shillong, seeing these expressions through your lens is indeed another level altogether, all of them are so familiar yet so different….the whole perspective has changed…..Beautiful indeed!!
Stephanie Sheppard says:
May 28, 2014 at 11:42 PMRiveting and somewhat hauntingly beautiful portraits. Your style is so unique and has a brilliant way of grabbing the viewer into your lens.
Wonderful work Amardeep.
Best,
Stephanie
Mohindra Chadha says:
May 29, 2014 at 12:22 AMDear Amardeep,
You leave your viewers spell bound with such creative genius you have with your words, quotations and your lens.
Mohindra uncle
Ritu Sharma says:
May 29, 2014 at 9:25 AMAwesome shots! Never much care to looked at life around Bara Bazaar , in my few growing up years in Shillong !
Jagjeet Kaur says:
May 29, 2014 at 9:26 AMPoignant pics, the deep wrinkling and extreme photoageing is very well highlighted but Iet me tell they are actually at least 5 to 10 yrs younger than what they look.
Capt Suresh Sharma says:
May 29, 2014 at 9:26 AMPerfect light on the face and all the details are so sharp…Amazing work…
Pratap SJB Rana says:
May 29, 2014 at 9:27 AMThe eyes! !! Bravo!
Harawant Singh says:
May 29, 2014 at 3:02 PMCheck the google map then I knew where Shillong is.
Possible of a meeting point during the earlier silk trade. The features of your subjects are quite indicative.
Matters aside, the quality of the pictures are superb and they are very sharp to a point that the outline of the cameraman could be seen on the worshipper’s eyes. Syabas.
Surupa Chatterjee says:
May 29, 2014 at 3:17 PMShillong….a tiny jewel among clouds… and like clouds as you have evocatively stated things are there yet not…. quiet patches among seeming chaos….special place and special connect for an audience who was born in the Northeast…Wonderful moods, expressions captured..
Karamjeet Singh says:
May 31, 2014 at 8:22 PMVery nice portraits of the common folks of Bara Bazar,Shillong.Its in part anthropology in action with your camera.Great!!
Geetali says:
June 9, 2014 at 6:04 PMMesmerising portraits. Hard to pick which one I like best. Very evocative. Very eloquent.