Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

33 Street Photography Photos from Kolkata, India

After photographing Varanasi, the last stop on my final leg of India for the project was Kolkata, coming in at Major City #52.

Years ago, Kolkata was my first introduction to India. After visiting so many other cities in India since, there was always something I missed about Kolkata. I didn’t know if it was how you never forget your first or if Kolkata something special, even by India standards. Well, after coming back to include it my project, Kolkata does have something special. It’s confirmed. While one of India’s largest cities, it brings an old world atmosphere and chaos compacted into a city that’s much easier to walk than other big Indian cities. It feels made for city photography too, which is why it’s known so well in the photography community. While not as known to the general traveler as places like Mumbai, Varanasi or Rajasthan, I’d recommend Kolkata just as highly as any of them. Especially for street photography.

So here’s 33 photos that I was able to capture during my time in Kolkata…

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7 First Impressions of Kolkata, India
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

After finishing Delhi and Varanasi, I took another train down to major city #52 Kolkata to finish my second leg of India on the project. While new to my project, Kolkata isn’t a new first impression to me, but it was my first impression of the country many years ago. It was such a good first impression too that I knew I had to come back to include it in my 100 major cities. One of India’s largest cities, Kolkata doesn’t have the same big city atmosphere as Mumbai or Delhi. It feels a little more welcoming and easy to step out the door and start exploring away with your camera. It’s one of the most walk friendly cities you’ll find for its chaotic size, which makes it perfect for street photography. Kolkata has a special, old world atmosphere mixed into a highly populated urban city. The colonial-era architecture contrasting with urban slums, it’s also gained a reputation as the most friendly of India’s metropolises. While it might not be as known with the general traveler, it is known among the photography community. It’s made for bringing your camera and exploring away.

So here are my first impressions of Kolkata, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

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33 Street Photography Photos from Varanasi, India

After photographing Delhi, on my final leg of India for the project, Varanasi was next. Coming in as Major City #51, Varinasi is definitely unlike any other during the project, but Varanasi is unlike any other city in the world. As unique as they come, it not only attracts visitors for the spirituality, history, atmosphere and experience, it also attracts plenty of photographers for the visual feast you won’t find similarly anywhere else.  While a typical India bout of food poisoning mixed with 44C (111F) degree weather provided some challenge, Varanasi’s pull kept me out taking photos as much as I could. The holy river, ghats filled with life, winding alleys, chaotic spirituality and more make this a magical city, from very early morning on.

So here’s 33 photos that I was able to capture during my time in Varanasi…

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Candid Frame Interview

 

For anyone who may be interested, but didn’t catch it, I was recently interviewed on The Candid Frame. Going strong for 10 years now, The Candid Frame is one of the best photography-related podcasts out there. Interviewed by the multi-talented Ibarionex Perello, they’ve featured in-depth conversations with photographers as well-known as Mary Ellen Mark, Joel Meyerowitz and, most recently, Jeff Mermelstein, while also focusing on emerging photographers. It was an honor and great experience finding time on the road to chat with Ibarionex and that’s what we talked about most, life on the road and my 100 major city project.  

So, give it a listen if you’d like to hear more about myself and the project, and be sure to check out some of the other interviews from The Candid Frame, as well. 

LINK:

The Candid Frame #428 – Forrest Walker

 

7 First Impressions of Varanasi, India
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

After finishing Delhi, I took the train down to Varanasi, India for major city #51 on the project. Just like Delhi, I’d been to Varanasi before, but not yet to photograph for the project. If you know anything about Varanasi, especially for photography, this is a city that had to be included.

What can you really say about Varanasi? It’s honestly a city that needs to be experienced, not described. No cliché bs, Varanasi is truly unlike any other place in the world. One of the world’s oldest and holiest cities, you can really feel this in its atmosphere. The holy river, the ghats filled with life, the chaotic spirituality and more make this a city you can’t forget. From early morning to night, Varanasi is one magical place. Be ready for touts, hassle and other photographers, as this city is far from a hidden gem, but if you want to experience a city that goes at every sense of the imagination, Varanasi is at the top.

So here are my first impressions of Varanasi, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

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33 Street Photography Photos from Delhi, India

Returning to India to cover the last few cities for the project, I started in the north this time in major city #50 Delhi. Thankfully, I had friend and local photographer, Vineet Vohra, to help show me a few of his favorite places and the rest of the time I spent doing my normal exploring and non-stop walking the city with my camera. A little food poisoning slowed me down some, unfortunately, but I still made sure to push through. “Delhi Belly” is part of the experience here, anyway :) Delhi is big, historic India in all of its chaotic glory, but with its own signature Delhi character and look. Being so large and spread out, it can take some time to truly experience this city, but with so much activity, market life and busy streets, there’s plenty of areas around for you to discover.

So here’s 33 photos that I was able to capture during my time in Delhi…

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7 First Impressions of Delhi, India
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

After finishing Ethiopia in Dire Dawa, I took a flight to Delhi, India. While I’d been to Delhi before, and India many times, I’d yet to photograph Delhi for the project. So, after focusing on Mumbai and Southern India’s major cities the previous year, now it was time for a few in Northern India, starting in chaotic Delhi.

When many people imagine India, they imagine chaos filling the streets, smells filling the air and honking horns filling their ears. Well, if that’s what you imagine, then maybe no city in India brings that to life more than Delhi. Mumbai and Delhi are India’s largest cities, but they’re very different in character. While they both have that India flavor, Mumbai feels more cosmopolitan while Delhi feels older. Packed with history, markets, life and yes, pollution, Delhi has an atmosphere and look all its own. If you really want to experience India, you can’t miss Delhi.

So here are my first impressions of Delhi, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

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City Street Guides by f.d. walker:
A Street Photography Guide to
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

Addis Ababa

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33 Street Photography Photos from Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

After Addis Ababa and a project detour in Harar, my time in Ethiopia finished in city #49 Dire Dawa on the 100 City project. A late addition recommended by friend and photographer, Yves Vernin, I didn’t have my usual amount of time here. So, instead of a full week plus to photograph the city, I had to get in as much as possible within only a couple of days. Fortunately, Dire Dawa was the perfect city to maximize my time here. Compact and full of interest, life and color, I was able to just step outside and start shooting. With some of the most beautifully colorful streets in the world, a mix of influences and charm, and a one-of-a-kind atmosphere different from the rest of Ethiopia, I have to pass on my recommendation to you all too. 

So here’s 33 photos that I was able to capture during my little time in Dire Dawa…

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7 First Impressions of Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

After making a project detour in Harar, I took a bus to Dire Dawa, Ethiopia for another major city on my 100 City project.

I hadn’t originally planned on spending time in Dire Dawa, but decided to fly out of Ethiopia here and include it on the recommendation of friend and photographer, Yves Vernin. I’m glad and thankful for that too because Dire Dawa quickly became one of the best surprises of the year. Even though it’s now the second largest city in Ethiopia, you won’t find much information about it online. So, it was mostly just step out the door and start exploring for this city. Luckily, the city center alone was enough to spend days here with your camera. With some of the most beautifully colorful streets in the world, a mix of influences and charm, and a one-of-a-kind atmosphere different from the rest of Ethiopia, I have to pass on my recommendation to you all too. If you’re in Ethiopia, include Dire Dawa.

So here are my first impressions of Dire Dawa, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

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-f.d. walker

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