If you find a motley group of people seeping into the nooks and corners of the city on a weekend, pausing to find the extraordinary in the ordinary through their lenses, they are probably saving that moment in the city’s journey for posterity.
“Our excuse for a photo walk is we have a place to walk, a camera, and a city to document,” says Rama-swamy Nallaperumal from The Chennai Photowalk group, which has conducted close to 79 walks so far.
From familiar landmarks to venturing into less-explored neighbourhoods, interest is only growing, say those organising photo walks. “There is almost always a new member,” says Ashok Saravanan from Chennai Weekend Clickers, which he says, has been around since 2009, and held over 350 walks. While some groups are bound by common interest, to document the spirit of the city, others venture out of Chennai, and some go deeper into the technicalities.
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“Some even take to photography full-time,” says Mr. Saravanan “Other than Chennai, we have also photographed Koovagam and Kumbh Mela among other places and festivals in the country,” he says. They also have annual exhibitions.
Going as a group, says Mr. Nallaperumal, also helps shed inhibitions. “Some are interested in macro perspectives, some micro, and others, heritage. We even have school children and retired people joining us on our walks,” he says.
Revathi R., editor of YOCee, a children’s news website, says they are gearing up for the sixth photo walk for children during the upcoming Madras Day celebrations. “All photos may not be technically sound, but children’s perspective is unique and different from those of adults,” she says.
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The walks are as much about photography, as they are about the simple act of walking. “When you travel by a vehicle, you may miss the nuances,” says Mr. Nallaperumal.