Travel Down the Photography Lane

In 2002 I was semi officially introduced to photography. I say semi officially because I’d had several film and digital cameras for years but it wasn't until then that I really understood that photography went beyond the studio pictures that an irritated, overbooked, and underpaid camera dude took.

I remember the first few shots I took for the NGO I was working for back then. I had no idea what the heck DSLR was, or what RAW images did, except that I could not see them on my computer and the occupied precious real estate on limited capability laptop. My first trip out of town was to Afar, Ethiopia. The day I left with the driver was an overcast and depressing day. I was cursing the skies for the downpour. Who knew that overcast and depressing days would be one of the best to shoot? I read the manual that came with the camera and memorized it like I was going to be quizzed that night. There were no schools to go to for these things and to be honest, I didn't even know if there were any. So the manual became my bible and woe unto anyone who wanted to even merely peek at.

For an introverted person like me photography was a leap into the unknown. Where I did not dare in real life, through photography, I was able to become a totally different person. There was very little that was taboo and even less that scared me. Through the lens I was bold enough to venture to places I would not have dared. And all for the sake of that one shot the captures and depicts it all.

In 2008 I was brave enough and get a camera of my own. There was little option in what I could buy so my first purchase was a Canon EOS350. It was a fantastic piece of equipment. I know there were many other better options, but based on my means and availability, it was just great. I used that baby everywhere I went. Taking pictures took on a whole new meaning with an added 55-250mm lens. 

I worked with two amazing photographers back in those days. One was a van Roon, and the other one was Douuglas Abuelo. I was still too amateurish to know they were good until much much later. Van Roon was an incredible photographer who specialized in portraits. The highlights of one of those "working together" trips entailed using a Hasselblad. Van Roon would flip it up, turn it over, squint through it, insert disks, remove stuff. I was in awe of what that bad boy Hasselblad could accomplish. Talk about epic ignorance on my part however. The best part of all this was that he would let the locals give it a try and see what they make of it. I don't even give my phone to my kids. 

With Abuelo we shot numerous in-the-dark images. Where we were, there were no lights apart from natural light. When you are following nomadic pastoralists the last luxury you have is artificial light I learned so much about shooting in the dark with Abuelo that even 7-8 years down the line I still think of both him and van Roon as my mentors unaware. 

In 2012, my trusted and faithful E350 was stolen (hope you rot in hell bastards). I don't think I was upset by anything that was taken as much as I was by the loss of the camera. I have currently postponed a trip to Kilimanjaro because its unimaginable to scale a beauty like that with an iPad or a Samsung Note. 

One way or another however I still keep taking pictures whenever I can. Recently I started using my iPad for the lack of a better equipment. I can't stand those little handheld cameras. My phone has done exceptionally well under the circumstances too. On a recent trip to the US, I was lucky to visit Philadelphia in Penn State. The city reminded me why I love photography and made my lack of proper gear all the more stark. On the last day of the trip I went to prison. Yes, you heard me right, prison. This was no ordinary prison however, it was the Eastern State Penitentiary. Eastern State bore the brunt of cruel years of dilapidation and had fallen prey to urban decay. Everywhere you looked you can face to face with the eerie silence of an era gone by. the peeling age-old wallpapers, the crumbling edifice, skylights that looked straight up to the heavens, and the heavy as sin steel bar were just a few of its come hither allure. 

Built in 1829 in a Gothic Revival style, Eastern State refined the revolutionary system of solitary confinement and emphasized principles of reform over punishment. Famous, once-upon-a-time residents included Willie Sutton and Al Capon. Eastern States closed its doors in 1971 but remains open to visitors. 

I took hundreds of pictures while I was there. I wanted to now share them with whoever would be interested in urban exploration. The silent decay is fascinating. I hope you will be as captivated by them as I was.

This was Al Capons "suite" while he was being held at Eastern State