Anyone been Photoing in India?

[xrrr]

It turns out that I am going to have a day in Bangalore on Sunday as I am flying out for a meeting next week. I have never been to India before and wanted to get out and about with my camera for the day to get some travel stock images and maybe some portraits of the locals (if I am brave enough).

Some questions:

(1) Is it a good idea to be flashing an expensive camera about or is it generally safe? It is insured but I would rather not lose it. I probably won't be out late.

(2) Do you know if the locals like/dislike having their photo taken?

(3) Have you been to Bangalore on your travels and if so have you any photogenic recommendations that I can do on a Sunday?

(4) I hear that the camera (and my pastey complexion) might attract beggars - any tips for dealing with them? Give them a rupee to go away or ignore them, that sort of thing?

[HB17]

Same as most places, be careful and aware of surroundings/people nearby in terms of theft/distraction thefts.

Best not to give anything to beggars because it will encourage them...they spot foreigners a mile off regardless of skin complexion.

You shouldn't have problems taking photos of people as long as you're polite. Its a pretty friendly country notwithstanding the earlier comments.

[Simpo Two]

xrrr said:

beggars - any tips for dealing with them? Give them a rupee to go away or ignore them, that sort of thing?

Just ask yourself what Blackadder would do. A hefty kick up the arse perchance?

[Nick Grant]

I've been to Delhi a few times and would agree with HB17

[xrrr]

HB17 said:

Best not to give anything to beggars because it will encourage them...they spot foreigners a mile off regardless of skin complexion.

So just pretend that they are not there or politely say "fk off"?

[Nick Grant]

If it's like when I've been, someone from the office will be very keen to show you round so they will quickly chase off any beggers, by telling them to do one. Also you may have a driver who will do the same

[Elderly]

This guy's blog shows a number of shots from his present travels in India;

http://www.bmupix.com/journal/2011/2/16/blue-jodhp...

Why don't you email him and enquire of his experiences of photograhing the people in his shots.

[xrrr]

Nick Grant said:

If it's like when I've been, someone from the office will be very keen to show you round so they will quickly chase off any beggers, by telling them to do one. Also you may have a driver who will do the same

That is a grand idea. I will email them tomorrow and drop a few hints about wanting a tour of the city to take in the not too touristy aspects but not knowing where to start etc etc. I was also going to email the hotel to ask them how much an approved driver would cost for an afternoon.

I realised this evening that I won't be getting to the hotel until 6AM on Sunday morning local time to check into my Saturday night room so I think my time in the city has just shrunk to half a day unless I get some kip on the plane!

[xrrr]

Elderly said:

This guy's blog shows a number of shots from his present travels in India;

http://www.bmupix.com/journal/2011/2/16/blue-jodhp...

Why don't you email him and enquire of his experiences of photograhing the people in his shots.

Great shots. Can't seem to find an email on his website and don't want to leave a comment. I will look again tomorrow.

[Simpo Two]

By great coincidence I was talking to someone today who knows someone who's just done an exhibition of Indian street cricket: www.emma-levine.com/emma-levine/photogallery.asp?p...

[Elderly]

xrrr said:

Great shots. Can't seem to find an email on his website and don't want to leave a comment. I will look again tomorrow.

Strange - when I was navigating his site yesterday, I'm sure I saw an email address somewhere, but at a quick glance today I can't find it.

I felt he could be useful to you because of his quote: " To get out of my comfort zone, I'll occasionally experiment with “street photography;” that is taking candid photographs of people doing what they do. Each time I need to get over an initial reluctance in photographing strangers first. Or should I call it fear? ".

and because as you say - "Great shots" (and all taken with just Micro Four Thirds cameras ).

[HB17]

xrrr said:

So just pretend that they are not there or politely say "fk off"?

The best way is to ignore them completely. This can bother you the first few times but it's really the only practical solution.

Getting aggressive doesn't really work out there since like I said earlier people are generally friendly.

[K12beano]

My first visit last November. Everyone here said take camera - they were right!

You'll have all your senses assaulted and, specific to your questions:


1 it's safe (relatively to anywhere else in the world)
2 you'll soon work it out
3 not been to Bangalore, sorry
4 you'll have beggars anyway and it'll all be a bit weird.

[xrrr]

Thanks for the advice all. I contacted my Indian colleagues and they recommended just getting the hotel to arrange a driver for the day..."it might be quite pricey but it is safe and convenient".

I emailed the hotel this morning and I can get a driver for 8 hours/80kms for.....wait for it........about £25. Done deal

I am a bit apprehensive as I will be on my own until Monday when I meet up with the other brits (for work ) but I am looking forward to the Indian experience. Now my transport is sorted I am feeling a little more relaxed. Hopefully I can get some images to do the place justice!

[K12beano]

I started in Mumbai - that's a mad place! All I can say is once you're in the hands of the local driver from the works or hotel, just try and relax and enjoy it!

[911newbie]

I was in Banglaore a couple of weeks ago, and if I'd had some time off I'd have definately wnated to take some pics.
I will probably go back againa and will make sure to take my kit.

The road to and from the airport has some v interesting scenes of local life, eps early in the morning when they're brewing up on the wood fires.

The locals do seem friendly enough, if keen to relieve you of your cash. Frankly they regard all foreigners as walking money dispensers, signs with two prices - one for Indians and one for foreigners all over the shop. At least they're honest.

The security does seem a little OTT. We had police with rifles guarding us all day. But I was told there had been an attack on the IISc campus a couple of years ago with some visitors killed... so no problem with the armed guards after that.

Don't even think about driving anything yourself.

I've still got a runny bum...

[K12beano]

911newbie said:

I've still got a runny bum...

When they said " a picture paints a thousand words" they were LYING!

Eat curries. Avoid chicken (can be undercooked) and washed salads! Don't take bottled water from anyone in the street!

Keep shooting pictures!

[Starfighter]

Tipu Sultan's summer palace is worth a visit as well as the library, station and any number of the colonical buildings. If you have the time have a run out to Srirangapatanam. The winter palace on route is stunning and the fortress is well worth a look. Mysore is also very nice to look at.

Take a look here - http://www.bangaloreindia.org.uk/tourist-attractio...

A car and driver for the day should set you back about $50. Don't pay much attention to the driving!

[xrrr]

Starfighter said:

Tipu Sultan's summer palace is worth a visit as well as the library, station and any number of the colonical buildings. If you have the time have a run out to Srirangapatanam. The winter palace on route is stunning and the fortress is well worth a look. Mysore is also very nice to look at.

Take a look here - http://www.bangaloreindia.org.uk/tourist-attractio...

A car and driver for the day should set you back about $50. Don't pay much attention to the driving!

Hi thanks for the tips. Unfortunately I didn't see this post before I went out this morning (local time).

I got to the hotel at about 06:30 local time and managed to get about 2 hours sleep before my driver booking! My intention to capture the culture and people of India was a partial success. I didn't manage to get to a flower and fruit market due to my driver's reluctance to stop, me feeling bloody knackered and me feeling slightly put off by the gazillions of people floating about. I know what you mean about the driving, it doesn't take long too get used to and it kind of works - same with crossing the road.

In my short 5 hour trip round the city I managed:

• Lal Bagh Gardens - very nice once I shook off the bloke trying to guide me round
• Bull Temple - got a 'tilak' (red dot) from a hindu monk
• Tipu Palace - very nice
• A silk market - got the hard sell to try (and fail) to get me to buy a £120 silk scarf
• Lunch in a vegetarian curry restaurant with the locals - VERY nice curry, lets hope it stays nice
• Bangalore Palace - the National Trust style audio guide managed to totally avoid mentioning the owners obsession of collecting art featuring topless women
• Got chucked out of a shop for taking a photo. My driver, Saravana (bloke with the 'tash below), told me to go in to see the prices but warned me not to buy anything. I walked in and said "how much is that rug?", "one thousand US dollars sir", "ok, thanks I am just looking". I took a photo of a brass statue (below) next thing I know I am being 'shown the way' all the way to the front door!
• Vidhana Souda government buildings - now virtually hidden behind a chain link 'anti-terror' fence
• Drove past the England vs India world cup cricket match
• And finally had a quick spin of the business district (at my request)

Totally knackered and ready for bed (19:45 local time) except there is a bloody Microsoft corporate do on in the hotel gardens outside my room making a racket.

Some photo highlights that met my objective of trying to capture people and culture, all with very basic Lightroom processing on my crap work laptop. I decided to go B&W for these thumbs to make them more reportage style. Proper keepers will get posted to Flickr and the random photos thread when I get home and get chance to process them...

[Starfighter]

Result!