Delhi, shot at sight

Life in the metro isn't all about big malls and glass walls. Beyond The Lens is a photo exhibition that aims to capture the other side of the city

Once a snake charmer's city and now one of the most influential political centres on the globe, Delhi has evolved beyond belief, but its spirit to evoke creative instincts has remained in tact. For filmmakers, painters and photographers, there's always one more side left to capture. Delhi Beyond the Lens is one such exploration by shutter buffs who have been trained through a three-month workshop.

Clear vision: All the 20 works in the exhibition are displayed thematically with group-wise division. While 'Where Dilli Begins' brings to life the pitiful yet joyous street life, 'Taste of Dilli' captures the emotions behind the indulgence of its rich, famous and couldn't-go-wrong food. What binds each shot is the visualisation and direction of the participants' respective leaders, who have guided amateur photographers to create a body of imagery that not only follows a line of thought, but also weaves a storyline.

Dilli ka dil dekho: Through the images, the photogs have captured the pulse of the capital. "Even when protected, expensive items inspire you with thoughts. A lock on the steel cabinet and the locked feet of the sleeping man the similarity moved me," says artist-designer Prateek Dubey about his work tiled 'Locked'. Development activist Avinash Kumar, through his work, Snacking, portrays the contradiction between the hard life of a rickshaw puller and his moment of peace when he sips on a cup of tea. For 43-year-old filmmaker Prashant Sareen, it was smoke, flames and the wafting aroma of sizzling kebabs that made him pick up the camera.

Small wonders: The city's bachcha party is participating, too. Eleven-year-old Shreya Sahai creatively captures the colours of spices in her work 'Spice Market', while Vimanyu Devgan, of the same age, captures another young boy, who's working as a helper at a tea stall in Chandni Chowk. "The experience was wonderful. For him, it wasn't about the 'right' age to work; all he was concerned with was serving with a smile," says Vimanyu. This only goes to show that Delhi kids aren't justu00a0 growing on sensational television shows, but growing out of them, too.

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