Private Story
Shutter as a Window
11 of the images in this submission is my latest work, which is of the pandemic that I have been covering since the very beginning. This has been one of the most challenging projects ever owing to all the uncertainties and with the added pressure on keeping oneself safe while doing so. In addition to this, a flood in the midst of this pandemic also grabbed my attention. There is one black and white image in this series that I shot in April 2019 during the elections in a reserved constituency. A story about the conditions of the Dalits living in a slum where women do not have the access to toilets and families have to travel very far for jobs that pay very little. This resulted in the elders of the family taking care of the children.
As photojournalists we have a moral and social responsibility, "with great power comes great responsibility". It is important for one to understand that consent is very important and no one should be photographed if there’s any resistance. I have ensured to be compassionate on all grounds before submitting a photograph. On most occasions, I have photographed before talking to people to get an honest picture but ensured that consent has never been an issue.
I have both freelanced in my career as well as worked full-time for a national daily. My independent work helps me focus specially on stories close to my heart and put them across for the public to feel.
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