One of the worst inventions to disgrace this planet, without which life is unfathomable - plastic

One of the worst inventions to disgrace this planet, without which life is unfathomable - plastic
Originally uploaded by "SD (off more often than being on)"

...dunno what are we leaving as legacy behind for our future generations? :(

Today's heavy shower in Bangalore, left our apartment complex inundated with water. It was completely waterlogged for nearly 2 hours. I took a chance and did not move my car, but most others did and moved it outside the complex. When the water receded, I went downstairs to check the car - it was all safe, water had not seeped inside. But I was aghast at seeing plastic bags, bottles, soap cake holders etc, strewed everywhere.

And I knew the cause of logging - the drains were clogged with all kinds of plastics. It was utter mess! And that reminded me of this shot - it is the worst invention to disgrace our planet.

The voidness in life

The voidness in life
Originally uploaded by "SD (off more often than being on)"

There are two parts to this upload.

I was hesitant to upload this one for a reason which not many people will understand or appreciate. Some thoughts which I mentioned here (during my City Market shoot) and in some shots later on (from City market shots itself), I decided not to to portray poverty, sadness through my work or at least make subjects of their condition. So I was hesitant in where should I draw a line between portraying something which highlights poverty (which I do not approve of) versus which use them as subjects but not highlight their conditions? We the 'haves' often do so, I believe.

This shot of the man, whom I found sitting on a pavement, turned out to be a cobbler - he had some tools with him, which he had kept down, when I clicked him. I did not want to take a facial shot of him, but just the hands (which I had posted earlier) and a pose which shows something missing in his life - a voidness, perhaps.

And that's the second part to it - the voidness or emptiness many people go through in their life. I wish the voidness ends soon for them.

I am open to debate/discussion on whether it crosses the line or not.
I might get back to the comments later in the day.

Break the glass ceiling, and reach out for the stars

Break the glass ceiling, and reach out for the stars
Originally uploaded by "SD (off more often than being on)"

Shot at RMV 2nd Stage, New BEL Road - where I live. Was walking back home after some shots and saw these girls jumping to snap something from the tree (shehtoot probably, I don't know what it is called in English, we used to do so during school days :)). Was on the opposite side of the street, so missed some moments, but managed to click some 2-3 shots. And then when they became aware of my presence, they shied away from me :)
I liked this one, where light was filtering through on her hands and the upper leaves.

I wish the car was not there :( Cropped from left (to remove the driver who was standing next to it) and applied vignetting as the car was distracting.

Redefining gender rules - women of today

Redefining gender rules - women of today
Originally uploaded by "SD (off more often than being on)"

I do not see anything wrong in ladies working hard, BUT if it is only ladies working and no men in sight - who normally are found idling, chatting, sipping tea/coffee, drinking, reading paper, playing cards, then sorry it does not work with me

And that is what has been disturbing me for the past few days. Two parts to it:

a) I am not sure with others, but I have noticed often that it is only women who do such hard labor, or sweeping streets (compared to men), construction labors and so on. Where are the men doing all such work? My two days of photo shoot left me nothing but this observation - that men had hardly been working and women had been doing all the hard work.

b) Traditionally our society has been - men are bread earners, and women look after kids, providing nourishment, household chores (cooking, cleaning, washing), being harassed, no respect for them, dependent on spouses for living.. etc, the list is endless. And men go and work, wife would prepare meals for her - if not in office she would come in fields to bring him food; when he is back from work - give him tea, evening snacks; cook food and if anything is left after all days work, have some food and sleep.

But am glad to see that things are improving. From the Annual Report 2007-08, Ministry of Labor, chapter 11:

"...the work participation rate for women was 25.63 per cent in 2001.This is an improvement from 22.27 per cent in 1991 and 19.67 per cent in 1981."

So women are more independent now, they are not like objects at home or to look after household chores, kids, food etc - they are bread earners too, they earn good and most often than not - more than their spouses, they can do whatever was believed to be men's territory - be it hard labor on street or a corporate leader. And that is why I mentioned 'redefining the traditional gender rules - the role of men and women, if I may call, 'carved out in the society'.

And it is for this (part b), that I wanted to post this one. That men don't take everything for granted :)

Trying a balancing act..

Trying a balancing act..
Originally uploaded by "SD (off more often than being on)"

Juggling between taking care of kids, preparing meals, working (office or street); women really have to juggle between many things and balance them. Irrespective of the socioeconomic strata, the responsibilities remain the same.

Many laborers work as daily wage laborer, till the time project is over and them move from one construction site to other. And unlike we haves, whose kids can go to a day care, their kids accompany them and are left on their own. The kid in the comment below, belonged to one of these laborers.