The Asian Age

SLICE OF STREET LIFE

PHOTOGRAPH­ER DIKSHIT MUNDRA CAPTURES VIVID, RAW AND CONCEPTUAL IMAGES FROM THE STREETS OF INDIA

- SNEHA KALRA

Apassionat­e photograph­er, a rider and a traveller, is how Dikshit Mundra describes himself. The ace photograph­er from Mumbai co-founded the popular Instagram page streets.of.india, which captures vivid, raw and conceptual images from the streets of India.

Taking note of his expressive portraits and stunning landscapes, Dikshit was also featured as one of the Nat Geo Travellers.

For Dikshit, photograph­y is in his genes. “My dad inspired me to take it up. As a child, I was always his subject. He would take the family out and shoot our pictures with a big smile on his face. Growing up, I always wondered what he got out of it. It was us being photograph­ed and him doing all the work. I got my answer the day he gifted me a camera and in a very poetic manner

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top and“I of spotted wanteda monumenta to bald capture the eagle onin Agra flightthe exactof the momentbird. To I capture had to stand there with my 300mm telephoto for a long time the scorching sun with neck tilted. There came in point when I couldn’t take it anymore but still managed to capture the shot,” says

Dikshit who runs the Instagram handle with his friend Rufus. “To be honest, creating the page was a casual idea. We never thought we’d get this far. We just wanted to take something from the community and give it back in the form of features. We want to give exposure to some of the good artistes out there who are deprived of it. It’s only because of these people that SOI has been able to grow so big. People who upload pictures under our hashtag have made it this big for us,” he says.

And as a lensman, Dikshit believes that there is no such thing as bad photograph­y. “Just like people, perspectiv­e differs. And it’s not just about taking a photograph and uploading it on any social media site and getting likes.

“It’s about respect. Before taking a portrait, I think it’s always important to seek permission and ask if they are comfortabl­e with it. Indulge, take interest in their lives, ask them stupid questions,” suggests Dikshit to newbies.

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Tunnel view
 ??  ?? Travel in Jaisalmer
Travel in Jaisalmer
 ??  ?? A fort in Ajmer
A fort in Ajmer
 ??  ?? Intriguing
Intriguing
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 ??  ?? Moving forward
Moving forward
 ??  ?? Bejewelled
Bejewelled
 ??  ?? The Taj
The Taj
 ??  ?? The Agra Fort
The Agra Fort

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