The Monthly talks to Parag Gopale about his career as a photographer – Part 3 – Is there still a role for photography?

You have taken quite a journey since getting access to that Nikon, “Point and Click” camera as a child?

I have spoken to you about how I became fascinated with photography, with the camera first and then taking photographs. I have spoken about how I became involved in the business of Wedding Photography Beyond that I discussed with you about my passion for street photography, particularly the project regarding photographing people on public transport, particularly trains in Mumbai.

Street photography is something I am very passionate about, particularly capturing moments of people’s lives, particularly those moments when, as I said earlier, thoughts are being expressed about possibly the mundane things of life, and not the train journey.

Do you feel there is still a role for photography today?

I think the role of photography has definitely changed. When I was first interested in photography and I would try and study photography, all the great photographers seemed to be either French or have some connection with France. There was also a sense then, that photography was a serious art form.

Now photography seems intrusive. Everyone is taking photographs, the camera phone is everywhere and I do think that many people find it problematic. I think some people feel it has become an invasive weapon. I now live in Paris and I think people here feel quite apprehensive about people taking photographs all around them. In Germany people are even more concerned.

How does this impact your work?

I like to take street photography, documenting street life, urban life, and so now I have to very careful and very aware of what I am doing. I really want to capture ordinary life without making people feel that I am intruding. I have to think about whether or not I am impacting the dignity of the people I am photographing. Am I affecting the identity of people when they are simply being themselves in the streets?

I think the role of photography now is that you, as a photographer, have to go beyond taking just a photograph, more than just documentation. I am trying to make each object, person, moment, interesting. I always ask myself, can I take a photograph which will end up on a wall, in an exhibition, in a book.

I call my work creative loitering, not just street photography. I am loitering, looking for opportunities to be creative.

Where to now?

I am updating my website, Black and White Wala (Wala in Hindi is the name for someone who brings something to you – Ice Cream Wala, Chocolate Wala or Fruit Wala etc)

I bring things in black and white because I was born in colour, and I live in colour, so I like the medium of black and white photographs as an alternative to straightforward colour photographs which document life as it is. I find that shooting on black and white film forces me to concentrate more on the situation, forces me into thinking, “am I capturing moments?”

I am hoping to have an exhibition of my work, particularly the series of public transport photographs, sometime soon. I am working away at producing a mock-up of what I would like the presentation of that particular work to look like. Otherwise, I continue my “creative loitering.”