London Street Photography Festival: What's your vote?

I believe shooting candid in a public environment is never easy. It’s a skill that requires practice, practice and more practice. It’s hard to pry on someone without being noticed, what with a camera pointing straight at them. I don’t use a telephoto lens, though I’m tempted to. I think that would be the easy way out.  Most of the pictures here are shot on my Nikon DSLR at a 58mm range, though my lens is a Sigma 58-100mm zoom. I like to shoot on manual mode so that I can control the depth of field though sometimes this can prove challenging especially when a candid moment presents itself all so suddenly, it needs to be frozen somehow. That’s when the program mode comes really handy. I prefer pictures that tell a story or capture a feeling. For me Black and White photography has a timeless appeal most suited for either emotionally charged imagery or dramatic compositions. I prefer capturing the lighter moments of life in color. Sometimes, a certain place, a certain time of day and a certain composition only works in color. I like to make these decisions while I’m shooting, rather than fiddle around later in post. The set of images here are not part of a single theme but a series of moments I have captured in different places, on different cameras and totally different time zones. Each picture belongs to a set with a cohesive theme, chosen because it best reflects what I understand fits the theme for the London Street photography festival. I spend a lot of time in post, editing out irrelevant stuff. Its tough and even tougher to edit these down further to just 8 entries. Please vote for what you think is worthwhile while you’re here. You can rate them anonymously by clicking on the ‘rate it’ slug at the bottom of the post. Or leave your preference by no. or title in the comment  section. This will help me enormously and hey thanks for the visit! 1. Urban warriors: Businessmen, bankers, vacationers, revelers descend on the historical Taksim Square for a good time. Location: Istanbul, Turkey 2. A line of color: A housewife attends to her daily chores in the brilliant desert sun. Location: Jodhpur, India 3. The sweeper of the ashram: A man collects his belongings as he finishes the task for the day. Location: Karaikudi, Tamilnadu 4. The vacant cycle rickshaw: A quaint, colorful homemade tricycle lies parked by a decorative wall. Waiting. Location: Vrindavan, India 5. The spectators: Bastiwalas gather in hordes to watch a shoot in their neighborhood. Location: Jodhpur, India  6. The sleeping dog: A stray dog gets comfortable on smoldering ash from a puja done the night before. Location: Vrindavan, India 7. The monkeys day out: A monkey couple make an abandoned handcart their home. Location: Vrindavan, India 8. The inactive wayfarer: A pilgrim relaxes in the spacious porch of a mansion turned into a museum or does he make his home.Location: Karaikudi, India 9. The curious and the inquisitive: I was interested in the situation, while my subjects engaged with their own observations of the site.    Location: Agra Fort, India 10. The bicycle ride: The golden hour presented itself when these bicyclers rode past the setting sun. Location: Benaulim beach, Goa 11. Sheepish love: In the hope for conjugal bliss on the first day of the new year, a young man woos his heart-throb.                      Location: Emigran, Istanbul, Turkey 12. On the borderline: A man appears mysteriously on a wall between the sea and land. What did he do there?                         Location: Mumbai, Marine Drive, India 13. Night walk in Talaat Haab square: Shadows and silhouettes lend a mysterious touch to the mundane. Location: Cairo, Egypt 14. Nahargarh visitors: A view of the courtyard in the Nahargarh fort shot from the highest point above.                                     Location: Jodhpur, India 15. The mighty splash: A couple basks in the afternoon sun, on a cold wintery day in the park. Location: Emirgan, Istanbul, Turkey 16. An object of desire: Neighbourhood kids watch as their friends family bring home a 3 wheeler for a community puja. Location: Jodhpur, India 17. Inside out: An abstract image emerges from reflections on this glass door of a popular pub. Location: Istanbul, Turkey 18. Transection: Two strangers acknowledge each other in a chance encounter. Location: Topkapi Palace, Istanbul 19. Ancient door: A door akin to fort makes for the entrance into a familys humble home inside. Location: Vrindavan, India 20. The kid and the Taksim tram: A child gets a wider view of the busy street perched on his fathers shoulders. Location: Istanbul, Turkey 21. Stray but free: A pariah dog takes a stroll in a deserted street in search for his next meal. Location: Karaikudi, Tamilnadu, India 22. Mumbai march: A family, some friends and some strangers walk above the pedestrian area. Location: Mumbai, Marine Drive, India

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