The Dusty Mic Chronicles

Photography, Streets and Journeys
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

In this podcast, I discuss my views on photography, the streets, journeys - mostly in India, and aspects of Indian history and society. And maybe a few conversations with people on the street. I will record some podcast episodes from the street and some from my little office. www.rajivchopra.in

  1. 6d ago

    The digital world has changed how we keep records.

    In the old days, I maintained detailed records of every image I photographed: exposure settings, where I went, and my impressions. Now, with digital technology surrounding us, the EXIF Data gets recorded automatically. Will it make us lazy? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

  2. Sep 20

    This episode is not about snake wine.

    In this episode, I talk about my early experiences in taking care of my camera and lenses, placing them in glass bottles, sealed with grease. I placed the camera and lenses on beds of silica gel to prevent fungus from spreading! And no, this post is not about snake wine! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

  3. Sep 16

    Substack Half-Dead: I am miffed

    I had chai at Mr. Mondal’s chai stall a few months ago and took lots of photos, especially with my 7Artisan 4 mm lens. I had attached this lens to my Fujifilm X-M5. These days I am experimenting with all sorts of ways to distort reality. If you look at the image below, you will see Mr. Mondal sitting at his chai stall. It has a bamboo roof, and while it does not protect him from the hot winds, it did protect him from the sun. Then, the Municipal Corporation decided to break down his stall. They claimed he was obstructing the traffic, even though he was nowhere near the road. Mr. Mondal now sits under a tree and sells his chai, but when the sun starts to go down in the afternoon, the infrared rays of the afternoon sun light him up and warm him to an almost intolerable degree. So why does this annoy me? Over the last decade, Indian banks have written off 121 billion USD of loans that they gave to big corporations. A gentleman called Subhash Chandra owes $2.62 billion, and India's National Company Law Tribunal wanted Mr. Chandra to pay $0.774 million as a settlement against the $2.62 billion in dues! So here’s my question: why do we forgive big business people and torment the common folk who have no recourse to justice or the means to protest? I used to think I'd become a socialist after my corporate career ended, but I realized I was mistaken and discovered I am an egalitarian. Maybe I have grown soft in my dotage, but I believe justice must be fair to all. Meanwhile, you can also watch my video about Mr Chaurasia’s tea stall below. Substack Half-Dead: Mr Chaurasia’s Chai Stall PayPal Stripe refuses - absolutely refuses to support Indian creators. If you want to support me, click my PayPal link in this button and let me know when you do. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

  4. Sep 13

    The enduring magic of my first print.

    This is an image I made at Halebidu in Karnataka. I used a 50 mm lens with my Olympus OM-2n In this post, I discuss the tension I always felt when I went to the photo lab to pick up my contact sheets and negatives. Later, when I started working in a darkroom, the magical sensation of seeing the latent image come to life in the print never left me. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

  5. Sep 6

    When James Mudd had a dream

    James Mudd delivered a satirical speech in 1865 at the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, in which he spoke about the obsession with technology, which in his future world, had only intensified. What about art and creativity? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

  6. Aug 30

    On Roots, Branches & Bridges

    My family's heritage lies in West Punjab. A Pakistani friend sent a person to shoot a video of my father's village. When we build bridges, we build connections, and become richer. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

  7. Aug 23

    Before the wars. After the wars.

    Stripe refuses to support us Indians, so if you’d like to support me, please use the PayPal button. If you do so, let me know and I will add you to the Founding Member list. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

  8. Aug 16

    Independence for some.

    I started writing about Ferozepore, the town I was born in. It is my birthday month, so I will dwell on the past. August 1947 was dramatic, liberating, and, for many, traumatic. Yet, we must all march on. The past stays with us as we look ahead. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

See All (88)

About

In this podcast, I discuss my views on photography, the streets, journeys - mostly in India, and aspects of Indian history and society. And maybe a few conversations with people on the street. I will record some podcast episodes from the street and some from my little office. www.rajivchopra.in

Information

  • Creator
    Photography, Streets and Journeys
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rajiv Chopra
  • Show Website
    The Dusty Mic Chronicles