Can you imagine this scene if the cameras went into the other hands…
2007 was my first attempt to do this with intention having actually brought a collection of cameras gathered over the 3 years in between including 40 disposable one-time-use 35mm point-n-shoots, as well as two 4×6 printers. I spent one afternoon cruising around the mela carrying a bag full of cameras. The First day giving them out was chaotic to say the least. As soon as I began to give one camera away on the main road through the middle of the Juna Akhara camping area, I couldn’t help but let the crowd huddle around me with their hands out. Nonetheless I tried my best to keep track of to whom I was distributing. I had already labeled each camera with a number and kept a notebook where I wrote down their names, addresses and phone numbers (of those who actually had phones). I gave a handful of cameras to male sadhus I had met over my past two Kumbh Mela experiences, however was sure to save most of them for the women (most of whom I didn’t know very well yet).
Initially to connect with the female ascetics, I had already given one set of all the photos I shot of the women in 2004 to Shri Mahant Meera Puri (of Nahaan, Himachel Pradesh) when I last visited her a few months after the Ujjain Kumbh. And although she was not attending in Allahabad, she had reached out to another Shri Mahant Meera Puri (of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh), who by the time I reached was already expecting and welcoming me. I had some duplicate photos from 2004 that I could give out to get the ball rolling, when I first appeared in the Mai Varda (women’s camp). Then one morning I returned with a bag full of cameras. Being in the camps was much less stressful than passing out cameras in the middle of the road and since this was something new to most of them, it actually took a while for the buzz to catch on.
That year (2007) I gave out over 40 cameras, mostly disposable one time use cameras and several regular 35mm point and shoots and lots of film. I would get the films developed in town, along with a CD and all their prints. I’d keep the negatives and CD and give them the prints. I also allowed several maiyon to use my digital camera and we made those prints from our tent. In total I gave away over 1000 images.
view photos shot (on 35mm film) by the ascetics in Allahabad and Varanasi, 2007 view other digital photos given to ascetics in Allahabad and Varanasi, 2007
2007 gear:
- hundreds of 4×6 prints from 2001 & 2004 Kumbh Melas
- 40+ Kodak Disposable point and shoot 35mm cameras
- various misc. digital and 35mm point and shoot cameras
- 100+ rolls of film
- 2 Kodak easyShare printers, loads of paper and ink
