Street Photography Edinburgh_16 India by Siobhan Neylon

Todays post will look at the photos taken by a friend of mine Siobhan while she was travelling in India. Quite simply, the pictures are vibrant and full of life. To my eye they are much more than holiday snaps. They are considered and manage to capture the subjects in movement, celebration, at work and in times of repose. I was drawn in by each picture. They also don't read as intrusive which speaks to me of Siobhan's character and how she was able to get close to these people, to gain their trust. I got the sense of someone with a keen eye for a shot and a gentleness in how the people are portrayed. Thanks so much Siobhan for sharing these pictures. They are really wonderful.

Pushkar. Diwali Celebrations. India

Pushkar.Diwali Celebrations. India

Pushkar.Diwali Celebrations. India

(Siobhan)

' The Goat Farmer's wife and her grand-daughter - She was more interested in showing me her silverware "My pride and joy"

This was perhaps one of my personal favourites. The expression of humour and perhaps contentment on the grandmothers face beside the very open but assured face of the girl is a great character study. I also love the presence of the utensils and pots hanging around them.

(Siobhan)

'Members of the Bishnois Tribe in Rajasthan - Tribe members sacrificed their lives for trees. This married couple made me smile. Married for Love?'

(Siobhan)

'I spent time with a family in a homestay outside of Jodhpur. The older kids took me on a hike to see the beautiful sunset, They were full of fun but hidden ways of life. The youngest daughter-in-law lived her days in the smaller hut, cooking and providing for the wider family. She hinted at abuse she suffered, and had to keep her face hidden from her mother in law and the other men in the family. I suspect she found the hut to be her safe space, but she was worldly-wise, and knew that life could have been very different for her. She is seen with her daughter smiling brightly in her hut, and seen again painting henna on my hand, covered as she needed to be in public. '

Jodhpur. India

Jodhpur.India

Jodhpur.India

Jodhpur.India

Jodhpur.India

Jodhpur.India

Jodhpur.India

(Siobhan)

'This was the youngest of the family, and she was beyond beautiful - Her dad adored her, and she watched everything'.

What struck me when viewing these photo's was how the family unit is treated in India. The young and the old are together in close proximity. There is a sense of community, of combined effort in survival. I won't try to comment on whether this is better for the subjects of the pictures or not. I do not know of their lives and Siobhan's commentary shows how the daughter in law was possibly suffering in these circumstances. I'm not going to romanticise something I have no experience of.

However it did start me thinking about how we view community in much of the West. It seems we are obsessed with individualism in our society. We are taught that we all have a stake in life's bounty and should pursue this with gusto in order for our existence to feel of worth. I agree with people being able to go after their own destiny. To be an individual. That is a right surely. But I also believe there is a cost to thinking it is us against the world. It divides us and can make us think our lives are less meaningful when we are not in a constant state of achievement and reward. Community becomes weakened when subconsciously we feel we are pitted against each other in our quest for personal gain or success. Ageing is also presented to us as something very negative. Something to ward off for as long as possible. Why is this the case? The underlying terror of death? The elders in our midst remind us of where we are headed. We place many of them in homes because our lives are so full we cannot or do not want to look after them ourselves. Currently we are very much divided and personally I have been thinking about community a lot and how important it is to our survival and wellbeing. Siobhan's pictures of people together, connected and moving through life with the help of others, indirectly reminded me of how much we can benefit by not getting so caught up in our individual mind states.

I am curious as to how we might emerge after our period of isolation. Will be be hungering for community? Will we be more aware of those around us? Will there be a lingering sense of suspicion of the 'other' who might be carrying the virus? It all remains to be seen.

(Siobhan)

"Get up that yard" - The international language of farming'.

(Siobhan)

'This grumpy tuk-tuk driver in Ahmedabad was hilarious - He was taking me to Ghandi's ashram and he showed nothing but contempt towards me, until I guaranteed him the return business. The right wing mirror reflection was an accident'

To conclude, I would like to say thanks again to Siobhan for letting me post these photo's. The imagery is a window into the outside world and indeed the much wider outside world that, for the time being, we are cut off from. To see someone else's work is hugely inspiring also. It reinforces my own belief in the artfulness of picture taking. As well as enjoying the photo's aesthetically I was given an insight into Siobhan's awareness of the places and people around her. They capture narratives and emotions. They brought me into her personal experience of India. I look forward to seeing more in the future.

Until next time...