Inder Gopal Photography: Photographing the photographers

Photographing the photographers at Pushkar Fair

So many things kept me away from blogging and I have quite a backlog to cover up. There was this trip to Ladhak last year, then there was a tracking to the Kumaon area in Uttara Khund, India plus a tit bits here and there that needed to be here. I need to catch up fast, hopefully I can do it.

I have just returned from one of the very famous fairs of Rajasthan, India. The Pushkar Fair is a one of those fairs that attracts hordes of photographers to it. Being there in person I do feel there would be a time when it would be a one to one ratio of photographers with cattle traders this includes amateurs, passionate and commercial photographers not forgetting the mobile phone shoots. There were the very young ones and the very young ones on the other side of the age to the young ones.

So many nationalities are found to be there in one spot of a ten days fair. Well some arrive early to catch the folks bringing their cattle, setting up their camps in the open massive desert ground. The traders come to sell camels, horses and donkeys but prominently camels and horses. It is lively through out the fair period.

This was my second visit to this fair. The last visit was quite many years back. I reached when the traders were leaving with their animals. I really have a very bad sense of direction. The evening we reached I saw lots of camels herd moving pretty fast. I thought they were reaching the fair grounds, to my disappointment in the morning I got to know they had left the venue. The camp area was nearly empty.

This time around I was a little alert with some of my problems reduced I planned to reach in the early days when the traders come with their animals to sell. FaceBook has been quite a source of information as so many photographers have made it a business to organise photography groups taking them to so many places of interest. So many workshops are taking place as well. The affordability of digital cameras in so many models has increased the number of photographers all over the world. Let us not give a miss to the mobile phone cameras that are extensively used by many. Accounting them in the number of photographers surely they would be quite close to the ratio mentioned earlier with the traders.

One of the photographers,Mr. Jasminder Oberoi, I had been having an interaction only in FaceBook was traveling by bus to Ajmer then from there Pushkar about 10 kilometers by taxi. So I had my ticket booked in the same bus run by the Rajasthan Government. He was also doing a conducted photography trip though his under studies were reaching Pushkar from different cities. Another group he would have come in on the 24th of November 2012. He had booked his accommodation quite a distance away from the camp grounds. I was lucky to have got my accommodation just 3 minutes from the main action area. The Aroma Hotel was good enough for the stay. The owner was very friendly and helpful. I had my stay planned till the 24th but due to an urgent meeting I had to cut short my visit and spent only 3 days and 2 nights. In the hind sight I feel it was enough, but in a photographers life nothing is enough where photo opportunities are multiple.

Still one feels getting stale where one needs to get away for a short break to restart shooting. Of the ten days the last four to five days lots of pilgrims come for the holy bath in the pond where the Brahma temple is situated. It is only one of its kind temple in India, though our temple in Garhganga is another that has a Brahma Temple. Do not why but temples dedicated to Brahma are not there as we find of other deities.

It was great to have met Sanjay Narain an old photographer friend in the morning while I was returning to my hotel room after a failed search of a sports wirst band for my strained wrist. A full day we spent together shooting plus early morning hours of the next.

Well next day evening came across another photographer Mr. Dalip from FaceBook. It was nice to have had their company.

There was so much of photography equipment that I have never seen in my life being in action. It was pretty interesting so I started photographing the photographers in between looking up my images. All these are grab shots that I like to share in this blog. I am sure many would be interested to visit this fair next year.

Photographing the little boy who was very shy
and the parents tried to make him come out to be photographed

Reflections in water

Lots of sand makes it tough to walk

On the look out for a frame

There were many who wanted a photo taken
the they would demand money

Where to go and shoot was always a question disturbing the lensmen

Cashing on the strategic view point

A group of a conducted photography tour

One does require a few bodies with different lenses to avoid changing lenses

Today it looks odd to me carrying so much of gear,
but did the same when I was young

He is fully geared up for dust and heat

After many announcements could the organisers
get the photographers off the main center of action

Lovely and beautiful couple who enjoyed the action from a height

After many announcements could the organisers
get the photographers off the main center of action

A young lady in action capturing the beautiful fleeting moments

After many announcements could the organisers
get the photographers off the main center of action

Something not clear, it seems

She was being photographed, just got two guys framing her

He was doing video and was guiding what and how these guys were to act

Some video guy on a trolley

Enjoying a comfortable drive around the camp area

Compact gear

One young boy came over dressed and made up as Shiva

What caught my eye was the way this gentleman sat/lay in the camel cart
with the same pose and expression.
I shoot single frame and there was enough time that lapsed but he remained in the same pose.