Words and the Impressions They Leave

Rudyard Kipling once said, “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” When words come into the world—written or spoken—they begin to work their magic. They shape our views of history and culture. They affect our decisions, influence behaviour and evoke emotions. They ignite our imagination and provoke thoughts. There might have been times when you heard a piece of advice from someone or read a quote in a book, or perhaps, come across a heartwarming lyric that changed or altered your perception. And before you realise it, each word, each phrase, each stanza, gradually slips into your life and becomes a part of you.

Crystalline Gardens

Yogendra Joshi finds great joy in sharing all that he learns. Here, he speaks to us about his experiments with photographing crystals through polarised light.

CONNECTING REMOTELY

Haruki Murakami, whose books are replete with thoughts on the human condition, said, “A person’s life may be a lonely thing by nature, but it is not isolated. To that life other lives are linked.” If the lockdown has taught us anything, it is the significance of human interaction in the workings of our daily lives. It is not just our core group—family and friends—but the stimuli that we receive from being surrounded by people, whether in an office space or taking a walk down the road.Video calling apps and software have always been around, but has now been conferred a new symbolic role. The phone or laptop screen stand in as modern edifices that provide entryways to known and unknown places.In this issue of Better Photography, Conchita Fernandes speaks with six photographers—Zahra Amiruddin, Farheen Fatima, Aashim Tyagi, Jackie Russo, Sephi Bergerson and Nick Fancher—whose images center around distance, longing, anxiety, the inclusion of technology and twisting reality, while they photograph strangers and familiar faces.

Pictures And The Finality Of Words In The Roaring Quietness Of The Dark

The finality that comes from the decision to put down words on paper exemplifies that there is something to say.

Under Lockdown Photos From Home

Until very recently, social distancing, self-quarantine and isolation were terms that prevailed in the pages of books and in the imagined storylines of movies. But to see it take root and unfold at the rapid pace that it has, globally, has left us with many questions and scant answers. There has never been a time, at least in the recent history of the world, where we have collectively experienced what it means to remain confined and detached. For some of us, it has given us time to mull over and reassess our priorities. Some have taken this opportunity to polish up on their culinary skills, or catch up on pending, abandoned or long forgotten projects. Some of us pass the hours with words; reading and writing. And then there are some who have taken to creating a visual diary of this exceptional moment. Nasar Husami, Chenthil Mohan, Jaisingh Nageswaran, Vinita Barretto, Menty Jamir and Sakshi Parikh present you with their versions of what life has been like during the lockdown.

The Show Must Go On

A look at Swarat Ghosh’s documentation of an over century-old theatre group in Hyderabad, who are struggling to make ends meet in this crucial period.

The Extraordinary Life of the Mundane

The Story Behind the Picture

Canon Teases Features of the Upcoming EOS R5

Canon has shared some key features of their upcoming EOS R5, and from the looks of it, it’s quite impressive.

Fujifilm Has Launched The New Instax Mini 11

The Instax Mini 11 by Fujifilm bears a striking resemblance to the Mini 9, which is its predecessor (there was no Mini 10).

When We Were Young

Homayra Adiba recreates glimpses of her childhood while also subtly commenting on the underlying issues of metamorphosis in her hometown.

The Radiance of the Sony Alpha 7R III

Amrita Samant describes her experience with the Sony Alpha 7R III, and how it has shaped the way she photographs her young subjects today.

Leica Launches the S3, a Medium Format Camera

First teased at Photokina 2018, the Leica S3 is a fairly compact camera with a 64MP Leica ProFormat CMOS medium format sensor.

You Can't Step Into The Same River Twice

Moved by the cruel transformation of a city he once loved, Harikrishna Katragadda used film to portray the near lethal toxicity of its waters.

The Unsolved Conundrum of an Iconic Image

There are several iconic pictures of the Great Depression, but very few are as positive as the image above, Lunch Atop a Skyscraper.

Walking & Daydreaming in Type

Aashim Tyagi talks about his early engagement with music and how it eventually led him to find one of his many muses—typography in cities.

The Disposition of Urban Rejects

Chirodeep Chaudhuri discusses a methodology that begins from an unsolicited source and how it can transform into a full-fledged project.

Sigma fp - The Specialist

The Sigma fp is currently the worlds smallest and lightest interchangeable lens mirrorless full frame. But this is quite a deceptive simplification, as K Madhavan Pillai discovers.

Seeping in Through the Cracks

Chandni Gajria reiterates how sometimes finding a muse means peeling off the layers and really listening to yourself.

Quiet Songs of Memory

Gareth Phillips speaks to Tanvi Dhulia about his soulful imagery that is driven by instinct and held together by elegant narrations.

In the Presence of Absence

Nitesh Mohanty dwells on how the brightness of life and the inevitability of death influences his way of seeing.

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM - Breaking the Stereotype

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM is one of the most affordable and the widest prime lens introduced by the company. Shridhar Kunte puts this multi-utility block lens through a series of exhausting tests.

BenQ PhotoVue SW271 - Practically Pixel Perfect

The BenQ PhotoVue SW271 is easily among the very finest 27-inch AdobeRGB monitor for discerning photographers in India, for many reasons, discovers K Madhavan Pillai.

Mariko's Wonderland

A childhood fascination for silent, enchanting landscapes drew Mariko Klug to pick up a camera and start searching. She speaks to Nilofer Khan about her journey.

Quick to Catch the Action

Nilofer Khan puts the Tokina atx-i 11–16mm f/2.8 CF, an ultra wide angle lens designed for photographers and videographers, on BP’s test bench.

HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF NATURE

The earliest, as well as some of the most significant photographic discoveries and explorations, were made possible because of what we saw around us. Even the first-ever photograph was made with the camera pointing outside of a window, with the hope to replicate the surrounding buildings and countryside. The natural world, including the one beyond our earthly realm, has inspired generations of photographers to not just be curious of its beauty and the workings of its inhabitants, but also develop ways of rendering them visually. The following pages are a showcase of exactly this, a mix of iconic and influential photographs that instill appreciation and wonder.

Dhritiman Mukherjee

What does it take to be an ambassador for the natural world? If you ask Dhritiman Mukherjee, the answer is every breath and every moment. The award-winning photographer speaks to Tanvi Dhulia about his journey and philosophy.

The Ingenuity Of The Sony Alpha 7R III

Avtar Singh Dhanjal talks about his father being the inspiration behind his career in wedding photography, and how the Sony Alpha 7R III made it all possible.