photographs in field work exhibition |
So, I submitted a few photographs out of which one was selected for the final exhibition. Its probably my favorite out of the thousands of photographs that I clicked during my 9 months in the field. There are several good ones (self appreciation) but I think this one takes the cake. I especially love the colors in this photograph, which came out naturally. No manipulation of the composition.
Where's the light
first exhibition of my life |
In this picture, a girl child can be seen cooking on a earthen stove. If you look closely, on the left, in the dark, her younger brother is sitting. What's he doing there? He is literally 'giving her light'. How? He has a mobile phone in his hand which has a torch (really just a LED) built into it. Since, there is no electricity, the boy is lighting up the stove with the mobile phone torch so his sister can seen if the chapati (bread) is cooked. If you look more closely, you might be able to see faint shapes in the dark behind the children. Two women are standing in complete darkness overseeing the cooking.
We must understand that just taking the grid to someone's doorsteps ( or for that matter into someone's house) doesn't really give them access to electricity. Its the supply and several variables associated with the supply that complete the 'access' picture. This photographs surely reminds us (or at least me) that we need to re visit our definitions of 'access', 'vulnerability' and 'equity' and re align our understanding of these concepts.
This picture for me also establishes up to an extent, the importance of mobile phones that people in these villages have been telling me about. It is the versatility of the mobiles, the different services that it potentially can and does provide, that makes it such and important part of people's lives. I hope to soon talk more about mobile phones on my other blog. Stay updated. Till then, here's the photograph.
Where's the light: in the mobile phone? |
Great picture and impressive storytelling! This is going to be the first of many exhibitions I hope.
ReplyDeletethanks Chandni. I hope so too.
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