The Object Stares Back
I've come across a notion a few times that taking photographs is hiding behind one's camera. I wonder if that's how it is for others, but for me it doesn't work that way! When I am out taking photographs I feel very present in the moment, and very exposed (no pun intended :). I can pretty successfully blend with the surroundings (unless I am in Southern India!). But as soon as I get my camera ready I am announcing "Here's to looking at you!" And more often than not, there's the look back.
Sometimes I do wish I had one of those spy cameras! One too many times I've come across a situation that pleads to be recorded but I don't dare lifting my 'hideout gadget'. One such situation comes to mind. One very early morning in December of 2007 I walked into a small cafe in Taos, New Mexico, and met point-blank with a dozen or so wild, life-wise eyes staring at me from the assembly of the locals, all the color of sand - all of them - from the rugged boots, to their long worn-out coats, to crazy hair, to wide-brimmed hats that'd seen all kinds of weather.. But their eyes were sky-blue, glowing from this untameable mass of sand, penetrating, and ..eternal.. My hand was burning to pull out my camera. But something made me to just pause for a split second, walk in and past these stern sand people, and to stay put. (Perhaps I didn't want to find myself playing a character in a Western, besides it was way too early for that, at 6:30am! But to tell you the truth, I felt like an intruder..) I have the picture of these unforgettable faces clear in my mind, and it's a picture I never took.
I've traveled a safe route in photography for a long time, shooting safe objects that were either familiar or that won't stare back: I photographed my family and friends in my teens, architecture in my 20-ies, cities, landscapes and abstract geometries in my 30-ies. And it is only recently that my gaze (and my camera) is turning more towards people. Most of my photographs of people are spontaneous snapshots of strangers I encounter. I find faces fascinating. I like imagining life stories of these people. I inevitably feel a strong affiliation with, and sympathy for everyone I photograph. But there are times when I need to step back, to not be drawn in too far. I sometimes wonder what happened to Diane Arbus, had she crossed an invisible line from which there was no coming back?
I just returned from a 2 week trip to the southern part of Southern India (South South India) For the first time I was asking people to pose for me, perhaps encouraged by their warm nature and smiles. So you will see from the pictures that I took during this trip, some of which I will be posting in small installments here, and on my photography website, www.anitalicis.com, that people were a strong focus for me (and yes, many were looking back!). Although I did take a fair number of abstract compositions, landscapes and even wild animals (I will be posting some of those as well)
An old man on the ocean before sunset. Marina beach. Chennai, India. 2010
Sages convene. Kannyakumari, the southernmost point of the subcontinent. India. 2010
Kavín stares back. Near Coimbatore. India. 2010
Late night's smoke. Madurai. India. 2010
