Tag Archives: festival photography

Using Black & White to Highlight Emotion in Indian Festivals

The Power of Monochrome

Black and white photography has long been a staple of documentary and fine art photography, allowing the photographer to distill the essence of a moment, unencumbered by the distractions of colour. In the context of Indian festivals, this monochrome aesthetic can be particularly effective in capturing the emotional resonance of these events. By eliminating the riot of colours that often characterises these celebrations, black and white photography can focus the viewer’s attention on the faces, expressions, and body language of the participants, revealing the underlying emotions that drive these festivities.

Capturing Emotion in the Moment

Indian festivals are, by their very nature, emotional experiences. Whether it’s the fervour of a Durga Puja pandal, the reverent atmosphere of a Ganesh Chaturthi procession, or the unbridled joy of a Holi celebration, these events are characterised by intense emotions—devotion, excitement, elation, and sometimes, even sadness. Black and white photography is uniquely suited to capturing these emotions, as it allows the photographer to freeze the moment, revealing the subtleties of human expression that might be lost in a colour image.

Conveying the Intimacy of the Moment

One of the key advantages of black and white photography is its ability to convey a sense of intimacy and immediacy. By removing the distractions of colour, the viewer is drawn into the image, forced to focus on the subject’s expression, posture, and surroundings. In the context of Indian festivals, this can be particularly effective in capturing the quiet moments—a young girl’s reverent gaze as she prays to the goddess, an elderly man’s tears of joy as he watches his grandchildren celebrate Holi, or a couple’s tender exchange as they participate in a traditional wedding ritual.

Highlighting Social and Cultural Narratives

Indian festivals are not just emotional experiences; they are also deeply rooted in the country’s social and cultural fabric. Black and white photography can be used to highlight these underlying narratives, revealing the complex dynamics that shape these celebrations. For instance, a photograph of a group of women performing a traditional dance during a Navratri celebration can convey the sense of community and solidarity that defines these events, while an image of a young boy watching a Ram Lila performance can capture the passing down of cultural traditions from one generation to the next.

The Technical Challenges

While black and white photography can be a powerful tool for capturing the emotional essence of Indian festivals, it is not without its technical challenges. In particular, the high-contrast lighting that often characterises these events can be difficult to manage, requiring the photographer to be skilled in capturing a wide dynamic range. Additionally, the fast-paced nature of these celebrations demands a high degree of technical proficiency, as the photographer must be able to work quickly and decisively to capture the fleeting moments that define these events.

You NEED to know your gear through-and-through. Run through some scenarios beforehand because moments happen on the field in a split second which might not happen again. Or if your intent is to shoot in a photojournalistic style, then that particular moment is gone, and can’t be recreated. Carry a flash on your camera and keep it off because there are situations where you might need to use it as a fill, and reaching out for it during the moment means it’ll be gone before you’re ready to shoot.

Tips To Shoot

Focus on capturing raw emotions rather than just the grandeur of the event. The viewer’s eye is drawn to expressions, gestures, and contrasts, so pay attention to faces in prayer, laughter, or deep concentration. Frame your shots around storytelling moments—a wrinkled hand holding Diyas, children’s wide-eyed wonder during processions, or the solemnity of devotees in crowded temples. Here are a few tips:

Composition Tips

Get close and frame tight on faces, hands, or eyes—details reveal emotion more powerfully in B&W.
Use leading lines from Rangolis, temple architecture, or procession paths to guide attention toward subjects.
Look for layering—foreground silhouettes, middle-ground action, and background context—to give depth.
Negative space (like smoke, sky, or plain walls) can isolate emotion-filled subjects effectively.

Technique Tips

Shoot in Monochrome profile (or simulation) but shoot RAW alongside JPEG. This gives you full control over tonal adjustments in post, while giving you a taste of the final product.
Use spot metering on faces to preserve emotional highlights without being distracted by bright decorations. The most important detail you want to see is the locus of the story you want to tell.
Leverage shadows and high-contrast light to create drama, don’t shy away from underexposing slightly. This also helps preserve details in the highlights while increasing dynamic range.
Work with wider apertures (f/1.8–f/2.8) to blur distractions in chaotic festival environments. But don’t shy away from using deep depth of field (f/4-f/8) and use deep, layered compositions to describe more of the scene.
Anticipate emotion. Observe rhythms of rituals or processions so you’re ready when moments happen.
Switch to continuous low burst mode and turn on pre-capture, because perhaps your timing of pressing the button might not be right, but you’ll still preserve the moment.

Gear Tips

A fast prime lens (35mm or 50mm f/1.4) is excellent for intimate, emotion-driven shots. The 35 especially gives you ample opportunity to capture emotions and depth while also preserving the background without distortion from wide-angle lenses.
A zoom (24-70mm/24-105mm) helps adapt quickly in crowded festival settings without losing the moment.
If shooting handheld in low light, a camera/lens with good stabilisation will help avoid motion blur. Combine this with faster lenses for tack sharp shots.
Consider using smaller camera setups. You might not get enough space, so big bodies and long lenses won’t be the best choice to shoot, especially in tight spaces.
A circular polariser can sometimes help control reflections and enhance textures, useful even for B&W conversions. Better to have it and not want it vs want it and not have it.

What’s Next?

Indian festivals are a riot of colours, sounds, and emotions that can be both exhilarating and overwhelming, easily overwhelming your senses. However, by using black and white photography, it is possible to strip away the distractions of colour and tap into the raw emotions that underlie these joyous occasions. Whether it’s capturing the intimacy of a quiet moment, highlighting the social and cultural narratives that shape these celebrations, or simply conveying the unbridled joy of a festive occasion, black and white photography offers a powerful tool for storytelling, one that can reveal the deeper, more poignant truths that lie beneath the surface of these vibrant events. As we continue to navigate the complexities of Indian culture and society, the use of black and white photography to highlight emotion in Indian festivals offers a unique perspective, one that can help us connect with the very heart of these celebrations.

Shooting Ganpati Festival From Aagman to Visarjan

Preparing for the Festival

Before you lift the camera, preparation is key. The Ganpati festival is crowded, chaotic, and filled with movement. Plan your gear carefully. A wide-angle lens works wonders for capturing the scale of processions and pandals. A 35mm or 50mm prime lens is excellent for portraits of devotees, while a telephoto zoom (70-200 for example) helps isolate details when you cannot move close, and add compression to the scene. Carry extra memory cards and batteries, because opportunities appear at every turn.

It is equally important to understand the rituals. Speak with locals or organisers in advance. Knowing when the idol arrives, when Aarti takes place, and how the immersion will unfold helps you anticipate moments instead of reacting to them. Being aware of cultural sensitivities ensures you do not interrupt prayers or block devotees during key ceremonies.

Capturing Aagman – The Arrival

The festival begins with the Aagman procession, when the idol of Lord Ganesha is brought to homes or pandals. This is one of the most photogenic stages, filled with drumming, chanting, and dancing. Focus on the faces of the people carrying the idol. Their expressions reveal pride, responsibility, and devotion. Wide shots of the crowd create context, but do not miss the chance to step in closer for intimate details like a child showering flowers or an elder offering prayers.

Natural light during Aagman can be tricky because the processions often take place in the evening or at night. A fast lens with a wide aperture helps in low light. High ISO performance of modern cameras allows you to preserve the atmosphere without using a flash, which can distract or feel intrusive. If you must use artificial light, diffuse it to maintain softness.

The Pandal Experience

Once the idol is installed, the pandal becomes the heart of celebration. This is where photographers can spend hours observing and documenting rituals. Every pandal is unique in its decoration, and shooting wide frames highlights the craftsmanship of artisans who build elaborate backdrops. Step closer to capture offerings like Modaks, coconuts, and garlands that symbolise devotion.

Portraits here take on deeper meaning. Families gather together, women dress in traditional sarees, and children look in awe at the deity. When shooting portraits, be respectful and seek permission. A simple smile and nod can go a long way. Consider working in black and white for certain frames to emphasise emotion over colour, especially during quiet moments of prayer.

Crowds inside pandals can be overwhelming. Look for elevated positions or corners where you can shoot without blocking the flow of people. Patience is key. Sometimes waiting in one spot allows you to capture a natural alignment of devotees, priests, and the idol in a single frame.

Rituals and Aarti

Daily rituals such as Aarti are powerful moments filled with energy. Flames of oil lamps, rhythmic chants, and clapping hands create an environment that challenges your technical skills. The firelight is warm and flickering, so expose carefully to retain highlights. Focus on the lamp or the expressions of devotees holding it. Including multiple layers in your frame, such as the priest, the idol, and the crowd, helps narrate the collective participation.

Sound is integral to the Ganpati festival, and while photography cannot capture it, your images can imply it. Photograph drummers mid-beat, cymbals clashing, and singers with mouths wide open. Movement blur can be used creatively to convey rhythm. A slightly slower shutter speed while panning can turn drummers into dynamic streaks of colour and motion.

Street Scenes Around Ganpati

Beyond pandals, the streets themselves tell stories. Vendors sell flowers, sweets, and souvenirs. Artisans paint idols in small workshops. Children play with toy drums and balloons. These candid moments add context to your coverage. Use a documentary approach, blending into the crowd and waiting for authentic interactions.

Street photography during Ganpati requires awareness of light and shadow. Narrow lanes may create high contrast conditions. Expose for the highlights, but allow some areas of shadow to retain depth. Reflections in water or glass can also provide creative frames.

The Journey of Visarjan

The emotional peak of the festival comes with Visarjan, the immersion of the idol. Processions are louder, grander, and filled with contrasting emotions of joy and sorrow. Wide shots of massive crowds carrying idols create a sense of scale, while close-ups of teary-eyed devotees reveal intimacy.

At Visarjan, movement is constant. Processions may last hours, with dancing, chanting, and music filling the streets. A wide-angle lens helps capture the energy of groups dancing together. To avoid chaotic frames, look for repeating patterns such as raised hands, synchronised drummers, or colourful powders in the air.

When the idol finally reaches the water, the atmosphere shifts. The loudness gives way to moments of silence as devotees bid farewell. This is when you can switch to a quieter, more reflective style of photography. Silhouettes of the idol against the water or the horizon are powerful images. Children watching from their parents’ shoulders or elders folding hands in prayer capture the emotion of parting.

Be cautious around water during Visarjan. Keep gear protected with waterproof covers and carry minimal equipment. The energy and crowd density can be overwhelming, so safety must always come first.

Storytelling Through Sequencing

Once the festival concludes, the task of storytelling begins. Review your images not as single frames, but as a sequence. Start with the anticipation of Aagman, move through rituals and community interactions, and end with the bittersweet farewell of Visarjan. Including wide shots, medium shots, and close-ups ensures variety. Look for a balance of celebratory and emotional moments, because the Ganpati festival is as much about joy as it is about devotion.

Editing plays a vital role. Do not oversaturate colours, because authenticity matters. Sometimes muted tones highlight raw emotions better. For a cohesive series, maintain consistency in your colour grading or black and white conversions.

Respect and Responsibility

Photographing Ganpati is a privilege. Remember that for devotees this is not just an event, but a deeply spiritual experience. Respect boundaries, avoid obstructing rituals, and never treat people as mere subjects. Offering a copy of your photo to families or organisers is a simple gesture of gratitude.

Also be mindful of the environment. Immersions place stress on rivers and seas, and many communities now embrace eco-friendly idols. Documenting these efforts can help raise awareness about sustainability. As a photographer, you carry the power not only to record culture, but also to influence positive change.

Conclusion

From the joyous arrival of Aagman to the emotional farewell of Visarjan, the Ganpati festival is a complete journey. For photographers, it offers lessons in anticipation, patience, and respect. Every frame has the potential to tell a story, whether it is the sparkle in a child’s eyes or the grandeur of thousands walking together. Shooting Ganpati is not just about capturing images. It is about experiencing a festival where devotion and celebration meet, and translating that experience into photographs that will resonate long after the drums fall silent.

Chasing Timeless Traditions – Roshani Shah

How Did Your Pursuit Of Photographing Festivals Begin?

My journey with festival photography began with Ganpati celebrations in Mumbai, and soon after, the Pushkar Camel Fair in 2017. Being in the midst of such vibrant crowds made me realise how diverse and beautiful India truly is—each region, each community, each tradition is so unique. What started as curiosity soon became a passion, because festivals gave me an opportunity to experience India beyond my immediate surroundings. They aren’t just events, they are living stories of people, culture, and emotion and that is what pulled me deeper into festival photography.

What Is Your Favourite Festival You’ve Shot So Far?

Ganpati has always been close to my heart. I’ve been documenting it for nearly a decade now, and every year it feels just as powerful and energising as the first. There’s an unmatched sense of positivity, the colours, the music, the smiles, the devotion. It’s a festival where you truly feel the city breathing in rhythm with its people.
Another festival that stands out for me is Pandharpur Wari. The warmth and openness of the people, the way they welcome you into their journey, and the respect and safety I’ve experienced as a woman photographer there makes me deeply connected to it. When you feel safe and grounded, your creativity expands, you stop worrying and start seeing more stories. The connection with these festivals are different, and that’s why Wari, alongside Ganpati, remains one of my absolute favourites.

What Is The Ratio Of Documentary/photojournalistic Photos To Creative Photos You Typically Shoot At A Festival?

I would say the ratio is about 50-50 between documentary-style photos and more creative photos. The documentary side comes into play mostly during cultural events or festivals, where I focus on capturing the in-depth essence of traditions, rituals, and the atmosphere. On the other hand, my creative work leans more towards street style and daily life whether it’s a minimalist approach or observing the everyday rhythm of people around us. Both approaches balance each other, and together they shape the way I tell stories through photography.

How Do You Prepare Mentally And Technically Before Attending A Large-scale Festival?

Preparation is both mental and technical. Mentally, I research and visualise the crowd, the flow, and the energy of the festival, this helps me get into the right headspace. Technically, I prepare everything down to the smallest detail: what gear to carry, how to protect my camera, what attire will allow me to blend and move freely in the crowd, even the placement of my bag (always in front in crowded areas). Every location demands its own approach, whether I’m blending into the colours of Rajasthan or preparing for the long walks of Wari, I make sure I’m comfortable enough to stay present and focus on capturing stories.

What Is The Most Unique Spectacle You’ve Witnessed And How Did You Capture It?

One of the most unforgettable spectacles I’ve seen was during a Ganpati festival in a village, to visually see the entire village come together in unity. Dozens of Ganpati idols were carried on people’s heads, all moving towards immersion. Just before the visarjan, they formed a huge circle, placed the idols in the center, and performed the final Aarti. The sight of hundreds of villagers in traditional attire, the glowing Diyas, the chants, the golden light, it was overwhelming. I barely had time to think, I just lifted my camera and clicked, making sure I didn’t miss that fleeting but extraordinary alignment of people, culture, and nature. That frame remains etched in my memory forever.

What Is One Thing You’d Do Differently If You Were To Start Over?

If I were to start over, I’d dive even deeper into the idea of connection earlier in my career. Over the years, my ongoing project “Diptych” has taught me how everything around us is interconnected from patterns to traditions, from rituals to human emotions. The more I travel and document festivals, the more I see these invisible threads tying people and places together.
Looking back, I realise that embracing this perspective earlier would have helped me refine my storytelling sooner. But at the same time, perhaps it was necessary to evolve gradually, to notice, and then to connect the dots through experience.

What Is Your Bucket Shot?

Varanasi has always given me countless frames, especially of the Ganga Aarti, which I’ve photographed from almost every possible angle. But one day, I challenged myself to see it differently to shift focus from the grand scene to the smaller, symbolic elements which they have in Aarti.
That’s when I created what I consider one of my bucket shots: a priest holding an incense stick, with a line of smoke rising perfectly in front of his eyes, almost as though it was drawn there intentionally. It was one of those microseconds that you can’t plan—not a moment before, not after—only then. For me, that photograph embodies the beauty of patience, timing, and observation, and it will always remain special.