MUMBAI
Everyone should have one of those, even if for posterity’s sake; trite but a must-have slice of popular imagination. We are talking pictures taken in front of the Gateway of India or on Juhu beach.
Everyone should have one of those, even if for posterity’s sake; trite but a must-have slice of popular imagination. We are talking pictures taken in front of the Gateway of India or on Juhu beach.
The kind even Bill and Chelsea couldn’t resist in front of the Taj Mahal; sticky and nostalgic like hand-painted movie posters and Polaroid positives. One for every season.
The good news is that you don’t have to put your trusty point-and-shoot on the line on account of monsoon. Neeraj will gladly risk his Sony CoolPix so you can have yourself clicked while holding up your frail umbrella against the frontal wind attack or a strictly vertical downpour.
It’s not an ideal situation, Neeraj would admit too, what with the auto-flash getting caught in falling raindrops in the forefront. But Neeraj, one of the hundred other professional photographers on Juhu Beach and Gateway of India, have stayed back in Mumbai to do you that service if you so desire. Others have left for their native places, with no summer vacationing children, few tourists and no jogging celebrities to create a buzz on the touristy beach. “This is not the season,” says Parvesh.
The ones who have stayed back know there will always be customers. Indu is one of them. She has been coming to Gateway every Sunday for the past five years with her children and husband, as a weekly ritual. “Otherwise, we would never end up spending time together. We almost always end up getting a photo taken. I want to record these times, children grow up so fast,” she says.
The Gateway pros stand equipped with digital SLR cameras and give you an instant printout using their portable, battery-run machines slung around their shoulders — perhaps even with a cheery border (Winnie the Pooh anyone?). The Juhu ones contend with casual clicks of their small aim-and-shoot cameras. With digicams clutched tightly under their arm, they run to the complex of paan and pav bhaaji shops — water streaming down their edges — most of which own a photo printer that gives them instant prints for Rs10 each. Between the 400-odd people, are pooled 8-10 printers owned by the snack joints.
There are more than 400 photographers working at the Gateway too, clicking pictures that range from families standing at crisp right angles staring seriously at the camera to awkwardly coy couples and giggly aunties. While some have been around for the last 40 years, others like Amit have started a few months ago.
“They don’t let new people enter,” he says conspiratorially. “You have to have someone already in the system, like a brother or an uncle.”
At Juhu, however, old-timers are a lot more permissive, even though there has been an exponential increase in claimants to the pie after cheap digital cameras began to replace expensive Polaroid paper three years ago. “There’s enough room for everyone to earn the day’s bread,” says Ram Babu Choudhary, who earns anywhere between Rs200 and Rs600 a day. In fact, many even bring back people from their villages to work here as it takes a very small investment. All of them position themselves between Sea Prince Hotel and the Novotel. “Many still come asking for the Polaroids, but there is very little margin there. Everyone has hung up their Polaroid cameras.”
Suresh, who has been working at the Gateway of India for the past 36 years, says it’s a respectable living. “I’ve seen boyfriends bring their girlfriends here, and then ten years later they’re coming with one little boy and one little girl (sic). Couples are the best money.
Yes, everyone has their little cameras nowadays.” he says, gesturing dismissively at a gaggle of teenagers clutching digital cameras. “But we are professionals. We’re not something that will go out of fashion.”
After strong tremors in Delhi-NCR, 4.0 magnitude earthquake jolts Bihar's Siwan
Delhi-NCR earthquake: Netizens react with hilarious memes amid 4.3 magnitude tremors, check here
BAFTA: Payal Kapdia's All We Imagine As Light faces another disappointment, films loses to...
Student paraglides to college after getting late for exam, netizens react, watch viral video
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu issues BIG warning to Hamas: 'Gates of hell will...'
Delhi-NCR Earthquake Today: Tremors of magnitude 4.3 jolt Delhi and adjoining areas
This film has broken world box office records, not Hollywood, Bollywood but...
Meet Satyam Pandey who got high-paying job offer, not from IIM, NIT, IIIT, his annual salary is…
Gurgaon couple reunites with lost dog after three-month search in Agra
Meet man, IIT graduate, who topped UPSC exam in third attempt, he is from...
Noida authority takes BIG action against promoters of 2 housing projects, as realty firm fails to...
WPL 2025: Ashleigh Gardner, Deandra Dottin star as Gujarat Giants beat UP Warriorz by 6 wickets
This city is the coldest, darkest and most polluted in the world, tourists are banned here due to...
New Fastag rules from today: Users may incur additional charges if...; check details
Inside Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan's son Jeh's mario-themed birthday bash, watch
Meet Indian genius, who got high-paying job offer, not from IIT, IIM, his annual salary is Rs…
Shoaib Ibrahim gifts new house to his mother-in-law, Dipika Kakar's mother gets emotional
Deepika Padukone joins Kartik Aaryan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff at Mumbai event; see viral photos
Man wanted in Canada's biggest gold heist found living in THIS Indian city, he is...
'Free Samay Raina': Badshah shouts at his concert in Gujarat
Amitabh Bachchan's son-in-law Nikhil Nanda faces legal trouble, FIR filed against businessman for...
'Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli...': R Ashwin lambasts 'superstar culture' in Indian cricket
Bombay HC to hear PIL on Sushant Singh Rajput's death, actor's father says...
Ajay Devgn's absence from Kajol's Valentine's Day post sparks speculation: 'Kalesh chal raha hai'
Anil Ambani-led company's loss widens to Rs 3298 crore in just...; its business is...
Premanand Maharaj's morning yatra set to resume after..., it was stopped because...
Champions Trophy 2025: Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar clash over Shreyas Iyer's position in team
239 composite liquor shops to be opened in..., booze business ramps up in...
Mukesh Ambani may lose the position of Asia's richest after Reliance loses...in just...days
Elon Musk-led DOGE halts Rs 175 crore election funding for India due to...
Malaika Arora shares her Paneer Thecha recipe, here's how you can make it
Mahakumbh viral girl Monalisa steps into 5-star hotel for lunch for first time, see viral post
Meet CID-fame actor, who once did a show for Rs 20, lost his wife due to...now earns...
Vinod Kambli makes surprising move, former Indian cricketer decides to donate...
Sachin Tendulkar breaking heart on V Day with Anjali in tow is oddly satisfying, watch viral video
Ekta Kapoor to face police probe, Mumbai court orders inquiry for...
Lahori Zeera makers likely to get Rs 450 crore as fundraising from Motilal Oswal among others
'You're pregnant': Ileana D'Cruz expecting second child with Michael Dolan!
Akshay Kumar touches Amitabh Bachchan's feet at ISPL2 finale, their association goes back to...
Who is Lalit Modi’s new Valentine? All about Rima Bouri, IPL founder’s new girlfriend
India's big 'treasure' is hidden here, once THIS work is done country will earn Rs...
This country hits big JACKPOT, discovers one of world's biggest gold reserves worth Rs...
Roadies XX star Prince Narula, Yuvika Chaudhary demand Rs 20 lakh bribe? Here's what we know
What led to stampede at New Delhi Railway Station that killed 18 people? 10 points
King Kong: This 6-Foot-8 buffalo named the world’s tallest by Guinness World Records
Shakira’s metallic wolf gown took 600 hours to create, designed by THIS Indian couturier