The Pink City: Unfocussed

Blurred photograph of a people walking in a varendah or corridor at Johri Bazaar, Jaipur

A series of intentionally out-of-focus, impressionistic and painterly photographs of the historic Pink City of Jaipur.

The walled city of Jaipur (Rajasthan) is one of the most famous historical places in India. Founded in 18th century, it is also known as The Pink City owing its iconic architecture donned in pink or geru (earthy red) color. Markets, monuments, temples, festivals, people and the daily hustle and bustle add to the vibrancy of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Through this series of intentionally out-of-focus fine art photographs of the Pink City of Jaipur, Mayank has attempted to capture its essence or ambience. Ubiquitous detail or clutter has been omitted from the frames, leaving behind a smooth mix of shapes, forms, colors, light and shade, along with a sense of atmosphere. Stylistically, the images resemble impressionistic or watercolor paintings. They also draw upon the late 19th and early 20th century photographic movement pictorialism.

Taken in 2007 and 2008, these fine art photographs were displayed at the show The Pink City: Unfocussed, held at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, from January 18–23, 2009. The series consists of 18 unique images, available as limited edition digital prints (edition of 15) on Epson or Hahnemühle archival fine art papers or canvas. Print sizes: 36 x 24 / 30 x 20 / 22 x 16 / 16 x 12 inches for rectangular images, 24 x 24 / 20 x 20 / 16 × 16 / 12 x 12 inches for square images.

Impressionistic fine art photograph of an old market in the walled city of Jaipur
People outside an old gateway at Johri Bazaar
Impressionistic, artistic fine art photograph of saree-clad women shopping for colourful clothes displayed at a Jaipur market
Vibrant shopping experience at Bapu Bazaar
A small temple with street lights, traffic and tree silhouettes around it
A temple in the middle of the street in Tripolia Bazaar, at twilight
Pedestrians below an archway, in a lane dotted with plastic sheet shaded fruit stalls
Gateway to Anaj Mandi (food grains market) at Johri Bazaar
People walking in a varendah or corridor at a Jaipur market with shops and stacks of shiny utensils on either side
Shopping for utensils at Tripolia Bazaar
A large, pink or 'geru' coloured arched gateway with people in the foreground
Sanganeri Gate, as seen through an archway
Soft focus photograph of road traffic moving in front of iconic architecture in the Jaipur walled city
Hustle and bustle in front of Tripolia Gate
Impressionistic image of a shop with a blue shade and lots of footwear on display
A stall selling jutis (traditional footwear) at Bapu Bazaar
People in front of typical 'geru' or pink painted architecture in the Jaipur walled city
Pink City hustle and bustle, with architecture, shops, bright colours and people
A few shoppers in front of lit up stores in an otherwise dark corridor
Dusk mood in a Tripolia Bazaar corridor comprising of utensil shops
Shoppers in a narrow lane lit with bulbs, with stalls on both sides
Inside a street market near Badi Chaupar, at dusk
Blurred / artistic and colourful photograph of a shop display stand
Bangles on display at a stall in Bapu Bazaar
Moving traffic and shops below iconic architecture of the walled city painted in pink or 'geru' colour
Hustle and bustle at Kishanpole Bazaar
People walking in a dimly-lit corridor with shops on one side and the street on the other
A relatively quiet varendah on a Sunday evening at Tripolia Bazaar
Painterly photographic composition of a temple, street lights, architecture and people in the Jaipur walled city
A temple at one of Pink City’s main streets
People walking in a narrow lane of Jaipur Pink City with old architecture and some shops
A typical walled city lane in the afternoon
Blurred photograph of a cycle rickshaw and moving traffic in front of an old, painted city wall
Road traffic right outside the confines of the walled city
A few people walking in a corridor with shops to their right and the street to their left
Relatively empty corridor on a Sunday afternoon at Johri Bazaar

Posted in Categories: Fine Art Photography, Jaipur and Urban Photography

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