Street hawk

Well-known street photographer Eric Kim tells us how he shocked the wits out of a Mumbai lady cop

Street hawk

Well-known street photographer Eric Kim tells us how he shocked the wits out of a Mumbai lady cop

How suitable are Mumbai's streets for street photography?
They are ideal. What one essentially requires is a subject, or person. And here, there are tonnes of them. So many in fact, that there are too many to choose from. The streets also provide great colours and juxtapositions. Bright yellows and deep reds exist side by side with black and whites. Also, the massive gap between the wealthy and the poor, provides for an unfortunate but compelling contrast. Just the other day, I saw this massive apartment (Mukesh Ambani's Antilla) on Peddar Road, and then there are the slums.

What about the subject, the people?
People here are a lot friendlier than those in other countries. Street photography is often dangerous, because you have to take candid pictures and people don't always like that. So far, no one has been upset with me here. Maybe it's because I am a foreigner, but people here appear nicer. Everyone has always laughed when I have taken their picture. And unlike other countries with strict laws on what one can photograph and not, India is relaxed. In the UK, you cannot take photographs of children due to their paedophilia-related laws. Here, it's all free.

How would you describe your style of street photography?
I will have to quote Robert Capa's (Hungarian photojournalist): "If your picture isn't good enough, you are not close enough." So, often what I do, is I creep up on the subject and without them knowing, take a really close shot using a strong flash. Coming that close, creeping into the subject's zone, you are able to connect emotionally with the individual. You can tell by looking at the pictures, they look open and 'real'. I don't enjoy the zoom. I prefer using a wide-angle lens. It allows the street and its flavour to enter the picture.

Any tips on how to become a street photographer in Mumbai?
For starters, always carry your camera. Ninety five per cent of the time, people come across great moments, but don't have a camera. Like Malcom Gladwell (author of Outliers) said, one needs to spend 10,000 hours doing something to perfect his/her mastery over it. So take plenty of photographs. Mumbai has great images, just walk around a little and you will find plenty to shoot. I spend a minimum of 30 minutes walking every day.
And look out for that decisive moment, say for instance, a young child jumping out of a car.

You can follow Eric Kim's work at www.erickimphotography.com

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