Spoilsports @ #TCSWorld10K

1) The much awaited sporting event in Bangalore just happened last Sunday (18th May 2014). TCS World 10K Marathon. The most anticipated moment to capture for photojournalists is the finish point when the elite runner crosses the winning tape and jubiliates. So, we are given a place, on the left side of the finish line where we are asked to cover from. We cannot cover the finishing moments from a straight angle to get the depth of field because of our position. See the picture

2) Then I thought I would stand really faraway with my tele-lens mounted with converter and take really nice straight pictures of finishing moments. And then came the first obstacle. A sophisticated 'foriegn' photographer from marathonphotos.com. Initially I thought he would move away. But, it was just the beginning of the spoilers.

3) Then the photographers from the organisers wearing CREW bibs joined in.I had to shift to a side and my whole idea of depth was already shattered. I seriously thought that these fellows to move away when the athlete finihes his run. See what happens, next.

4) They never budged, be it the winner or other runners.

5) You can see at the left, one crew member even gesturing the winner to come to the left side instead of clearing the cameraman and others.

6) This was the case with many runners who were blocked by these unmindful CREW whom i thought all these days that they were thorough professionals.

PHEW......... Hope better sense prevails next time.

When VK Murthy literally made it to the top, at 87.

I had a good fortune of covering VK Murthy felicitation programme once. After he got Dada Saheb Phalke award, many organisations started to felicitate him. Some out of respect while many for mere publicity. But Murthy sir obliged all of them. This assignment in particular, gave me heartburn. The felicitation programme was on third floor of Kannada Sahithya Parishath. Lift had conked out that day. The organisers could easily have shifted the event to the available halls on the ground floor. But they made Murthy sir climb three floors. Adding insult to injury, Murthy's specially abled daughter Chaya, too was made to climb three floors. They made it happily though, without any issues. But, I felt for them and the story appeared on page 1 of DNA on February 1st 2010 edition. Hats off to Murthy sir and his daughter for their simplicity, which is difficult to find in the new the generation celebrities. RIP V K Murthy sir.

Silent end to a Bitter-Sweet relationship-RIP Dad

Silent end to a Bitter-Sweet relationship-RIP Dad

Literally, the relationship was bitter sweet, like a sip of chilled beer, which on Sundays we used to share together in a dingy Manjunatha Bar near our home. Yes, both me and my dad on Sundays used to have beer together, sometimes my closest of friends too dropped in to have a sip with this unique father-son duo.

How can I ever forget the childhood days when my dad used to carry me on his shoulders to local market in Cubbonpet. There was a old vegetable vendor with caged sparrows whom I fondly used to call 'Kuruvi Taatha'. On our way back dad never forgot to hand me my favorite Parry's toffee wrapped in green polythene costing 1 paise.

I was never a good school going child. There was one or other pretext always to bunk the classes. Dad knew that my reasons were fake, yet, he pretended that my stomach ache was genuine. But, how can I ever forget the day when I flunked in my 6th grade exams and the results day happened to be April 17th, my birthday. Setting my results (that came by post, inland letter with bold rubber stamp DETAINED) aside, dad took me to Kids Kemp on KG Road and bought me new dress worth 700 bucks!!

I got upset with him when he forced me to work in Adlabs with him, while he promoted many youngsters to take up photography lending his own camera and encouraging  them. My dads skill and his out of the way co-operation had helped these guys attain stardom and a well settled job while I was made to work like a bonded labourer in that colour lab. The reason was, dad had lost his studio and all his equipments due to a devious plans by his partner. Hence, he never wanted me to be a photographer, ever. But, his brillinace was in my blood, I had to fight with him and pick up my own camera to venture into photography in late 80s.

There was a time when dad thought that I will not be able to take care of him and mom, and started taking solace with my sweet talking relatives. But, I never went nuclear, we stayed together until last 8 months of his demise because of his acute ailment and frequent hospitalization.

For last five years, his speech waned, he survived two cardiac arrests, but he was a man of iron will. Always on the move, always busy and always helpful to others.

The only asset he has left me with is, his brilliance and the knack of being different when others used to follow the crowd. What ever I have done till date with photography is just part of his brilliance, it can never be matched. There were lot of disagreements between me and my dad on many issues, but it was OK, as we have been friends all these years more than a father and a son. Probably these issues had kept our bond strong all these years.And, I don't know I was able to take care as per his expectations. If I have failed, probably it's too late to seek his forgiveness for my mistakes.

If at all there was any person to match the description 'Work is Worship' it was my dad. Or simply put in Kannada 'ಕಾಯಕವೇ ಕೈಲಾಸ' ಪತಿ. Yes, Kailasapathi was his name.

Love you dad.