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Clicking India through a different lens

Three Australian photojournalists who live in India share their South Asian travelogue with Anisha Ralhan

Resisting the use of the popular cliche of portraying India as a land of wailing babies, naked hermits and stray cattle, three Australian photojournalists -- Daniel Barehulak, Graham Crouch and Adam Ferguson -- captured the diverse personalities of the country in their photo-exhibition Crossing Paths held at the Australian high commission in New Delhi recently.

The photographs essayed their journey across the length and breadth of South Asia -- India, Pakistan and Afghanistan -- after moving out of Australia a year ago. Their roving lenses have managed to capture some defining moments in the history of these developing nations.

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Clicking India through a different lens

The trio crossed roads during their individual assignments and decided to hold a photo exhibition displaying best of their works.

Clicking India through a different lens

"It is a plethora of riddles to form one profound mystery," says Crouch, who has been working for an Australian newspaper for several years and was posted to Delhi 18 months ago.

He rambled through the streets of Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Pondicherry in search of his muse. He was overwhelmed with the results.

Clicking India through a different lens

"The warmth received from Indians is incomparable to any other country," Crouch says, adding, "It makes it so much easier to pick up nuances off the streets. I feel like a celebrity every time."

Clicking India through a different lens

For Barehulak, who works with Getty Images, photojournalism is all about being objective in the pursuit of truth.

He feels in India one tends to overlook the daily decadence of slums while picturing the flamboyance of the upper middle class and vice-versa. The montage of his pictures shot in India bear testimony to this.

Clicking India through a different lens

The lives of rickshaw pullers, children playing on the road and garage workers captured by his lens speak volumes about Barehulak's nimble observations about their daily life.

Clicking India through a different lens

Documenting the lament of Kashmiri families has been emotionally challenging for the lensman.

"Kashmir is full of heart-wrenching stories," he says, standing before the photograph of a Kashmiri girl being consoled by her family at her brother's funeral. "You can sense their grief, but remain helpless at their situation.'

Clicking India through a different lens

When asked about the daunting moments in his career, Barehulak says he had escaped bullets, nearly been abducted by the Taliban, survived terrorists in combative terrains of Afghanistan. "We have been fortunate, I reckon," he says.

Crouch says you can either be a journalist or a coward; the twain shall never meet.

Clicking India through a different lens

The three journalists have a similar style.

They feel they are cut out for documentary style of photography and like to explore the complexities of real issues and real people.

Clicking India through a different lens

The trio has been widely acclaimed for their valiant photography, which includes documentation of Benazir Bhutto's return to politics, the Taliban insurgency in Pakistan and the recent election coverage in India and Afghanistan.

"They are masters of their craft," said Peter Peter Varghese, the Australian high commissioner to India.

Clicking India through a different lens

"With great humanity and compassion, they send a message to newspaper readers around the world about the glorious reality of modern India. After all it's the images that do substantial talking."

Clicking India through a different lens

And after spending quality time in the country, the photographers can't seem to get enough of the enigma named India.