ascetics with cameras photos 01

Here's some images from the first few days at the Mela handing out cameras in the Mai Varda (Juna Akhara's woman's camp):

Within the first few days of getting settled into our mela tent, cruising Sector 5 (Juna Akhara camps) especially the Mai Varda (woman's camp), Jessica and I handed out nearly 40 disposible cameras, keeping a list of to whom we distributed as well as handinge out my card with mobile number.

For most of these women, it was their first time ever using a camera. For each new student I had to explain:

from where you can look [yahan se dekh sakti hai],

where to press the button to take the photo [yahan se kitch sakti hai],

how to advance the film to the next frame [yeha se, jaise agae karo],

and though I suggested the photos would come out better in the daytime outside of the tent [agar aap photo kitchiye din mei, tambu se bahar, aur achchaa photos bana sakti hai],

I also had to tell them if they really wanted to take photos at night how to use the flash [agar rat ko aur doop mei naheen, tho aap flash chahiye. yehan press kiya fir yahan lal light aa gaya, fir kitch sakti hai].

In the first few days we got several panic calls, "mine's broken, I can't figure this out, I don't remember how to use the flash, can you tell me how many photos I have left.... etc" Just in time for the first bath we had a crew of photographers ready to go.

Surprisingly we got most of the little yellow kodaks back, were able to get the film developed, printed, put on cd, as well as return the prints to each proud Sadhvi photographer. Many of them shot some great stuff!

The next round was to pass out several point and shoots with film reels (of course everyone was disappointed to realize they couldn't reuse the little yellow ones).... to be continued.

now that I found a place I can plug my laptop into their eithernet... I plan to set up photo galleries for each Juna Akhara photographer.... also have some video clips to digitize, edit and post, asap.... electricity hours permitting.

om namo narayan!