Sign up for a photo walk at Crawford Market

Crawford Market opened its doors in 1869 and was renamed Mahatma Phule Mandai after India gained independence

Every location has different kinds of subjects or moods to offer to a photographer; be it portraits, abstract forms, architecture or even food. A heritage landmark that manages to fit in every bracket along with a good dose of Mumbai's bustle and crowds is Crawford Market (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai).

Alphonso mangoes at Crawford Market

For those who haven't yet experienced this swirling pot of sights and sounds, the Crawford Market Walk by photography group Photo Konnect this weekend might be the ideal opportunity. "There is so much to discover in the commotion of the market - great portraits, the stone architecture, and all its colours, thanks to the fruit sellers (the market is filled with mangoes right now). The way they lay out their wares, they unknowingly add interesting design elements and symmetry to the ambience," says Mulchand Dedhia, founder of Photo Konnect.

Dedhia, who has conducted several photo walks in the past, says participants of his walks range from 10 to 75-year-olds, and those with professional equipment as well as phone cameras. A media marketing professional, he conducts these walks on weekends for the benefit of Mumbaikars who are working through the week.

The building was donated to the city by Cowasji Jehangir, who was a prominent member of the Bombay Parsi community

"After the boom in the photography industry 10 years back, the number of people who owned DSLRs rose, but most abandoned the hobby over the years. The idea of the photo walk is to bring your camera out and help keep the passion alive. These walks boost one's confidence as it is easier to photograph people and objects in a public space when you are with someone, and you end up exploring and capturing more elements. Such walks also enable you to interact with like-minded people where you can exchange ideas and learn more about photography equipment as it usually tends to be a diverse group with different cameras," explains Dedhia.

Mulchand Dedhia

The walk begins with an ice-breaker that includes an introduction to the location and participants. If capturing the fruits, spices, people and charm inside the British-era market isn't engaging, Mangaldas Market, the cloth market nearby, which will be second stop of the walk, is bound to offer enough colour and opportunities to fill your social media timelines for months.