JAY JOSHI
Monsoon is a season when one can see nature at its best, and hence, this time is also considered to be great for photography. From raindrops on a window to reflections in pools of water and stills of clouds and lightning, rain indeed offers many unique opportunities for photographers.
However, this fun in the rain does not come for free. When it gives us all the beauty with one hand, rain also poses a lot of challenges with regard to protecting the camera. While there are rain-covers and various other accessories available now to safeguard the camera, not everyone can afford these goodies, and many photographers often come up with some innovative ways to protect their camera.
As monsoon spreads its wings in Goa, TG Life spoke to various photographers to learn of some innovative ‘jugads’ to protect the camera, and some very educating experiences that the photographers had during their rendezvous with rain.
“I began photography in the 1980s, and at that time, I had no access to fancy monsoon covers like today. So I sometimes wrapped plastic bags around the camera”, said Sagun Gawade, a photographer from Sanguem. “But unfortunately, water used to still enter the camera as I operated it with wet fingers. After this, one had to keep the camera under a zero bulb for an entire night for it to become warm and dry again”, he added.
Back in 1987, Ponda-based photographer Abhay Joshi learnt the lesson about moisture the hard way. “I had a wedding to cover in a remote village in Maharashtra. My camera was new, and had not been operated for a long time. I reached the wedding venue exactly at the time of Muhurat, and switched on the camera, but to my surprise, it would not start! As a result, I missed the function, and the clients were very upset. When I took the camera for checking, it was found to be absolutely perfect and functioning,” informed Joshi. “Later I learnt that the camera had gone cold due to moist weather and one has to keep it in a warm and dry place for at least half an hour to allow it to return to normal temperature and start functioning.”
Rajtilak Naik from Panaji stated that he especially likes monsoon for photography. “Monsoon is a great season for photography because nature is fresh during this time. But rather than the main monsoon, I like the time when the season is changing from summer to monsoon and there are pre-monsoon showers”, Naik said. “During this time, there is beautiful game of shadows and light as clouds and sunshine alternate. I like the effect when a small beam of sunlight shines through the clouds”, he stated.
A passionate photographer, Naik admitted that there have been moments when he has walked out with the camera unprepared for the upcoming onslaught of rain. “There was one time when we were completely unprepared. I was only wearing an undershirt, and boom came the rains. All I could do was take off the vest and put it on the camera,” Naik narrated.
Sagun and Rajtilak are today professional photographers with the necessary protection gear at their disposal, but in case of Metthew Fernandes from Merces, the story is different. “I am an amateur photographer, and I don’t think there is need to put money into monsoon gear at this stage. But that does not stop me from capturing great monsoon shots”, Fernandes averred. “I generally stay indoors and use a powerful lens to capture the outdoor view. And if the lens does not help, you could always hold a magnifying glass before the lens. It gives a great effect to the photo” he quipped.
Bindiya Vaval from Ribandar however, has it all figured out. “I have a special camera set aside for rains. I just made a kind of jacket for the camera using plastic and tape. Now I take that camera whenever I have to go for photography in monsoons” said Vaval, adding that she also covers the camera with a dupatta for additional protection.
Thus, rains may pose various challenges to photographers, but monsoon gear, and for those who can’t buy that, ‘jugad’ ensures that they triumph over all challenges and deliver the best of pictures.
