Why Pratibimb?
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. All of us have been moved by the photos of melting glaciers, deforestation, dead tigers, hungry kids, urban violence, etc at some point to take some action. However, I feel photos alone are not sufficient to convey the message or capture audience attention in our increasingly ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) world. Sometimes images are self-explanatory but often they fail to convey the message due to absence of context. A photo supported by a story or a caption bridges that gap, particularly when a photo story highlights a social malady and seek to trigger action. For example, heartening photos of degraded and polluted Mt Everest due to excessive tourism may make people temporarily sad on its plight but when a supported story and caption(s) establish that the Everest’s declining health means threat to human survival, then it can inspire people to some action.
PRATIBIMB is a Sanskrit word which means reflection. The world around us reflects strongly about who we are. For Example, by proclaiming that mankind must work to save earth, we only imply that we must save human race. No body thinks that earth will implode one day, but it will soon become uninhabitable for humans due to excessive exploitation of resources. Photo stories at PRATIBIMB seek to document societal and individual ethos and values, which play decisive role in most of the ills plaguing our (hopefully) lonely planet. PRATIBIMB is like our soul from which nothing can be hidden and which will always show us the truth.
I sincerely hope, presentation of these visual stories will create space for dialogue, action, and eventually course correction.
About me:
Based out of New Delhi, I am working in environmental and social change space (frankly, I am yet to know what that means?). In my previous avatar, I briefly dabbled in corporate and non-profit sector jobs before heading out to get a degree in International Relations and Environmental Policy from Fletcher School at Tufts University. While at school, I picked up some photographic skills. I moved back to India in 2007 to work for Artha Sustainable Development Initiative, which invests in Socially and environmentally responsible businesses; sort of hybrid between commercial businesses and non profits. Presently, I am happy taking photos and writing photo stories. On the side, I am working on a few independent projects on climate change and livelihood related issues.