A Super Shutterbug

Tracy Clark. I’ve been stumbling across her name every now and then since last year. Since I signed up at Bigpicturescrapbooking.com. And in these past few months, after poring over her blog, sifting through her beautifully-crafted images, I can safely say that I’m totally inspired. To craft pictures, to capture the everyday minute …with gossamer threads of light, smoky panes of shadow. There’s more than a touch of vintage in her pictures. They definitely remind me of a time that’s uncomplicated and slow.

Founder of Shutter Sisters, an ace photographer and a writer with some interesting titles to her credit, Tracy is a creator and crafter, who merges snapshots and words with equal ease. So people, don’t let me keep you from hopping over to her blog.

Doggy Boo

Ladybird love

Sweet nothings...

Image Credit: Tracy Clark

Dithi's Art

The first time I stumbled upon Deez Den, I was totally hooked. Dithi’s art, vibrancy and passion for what she created were as much reason to read her blog as were the paintings she worked on and posted regularly. It’s been a couple of years now. I still visit her blog regularly, and her paintings continue to mesmerize me.

Beautiful, wholesome Indian women with burnished skin and doe eyes peek out from her canvases. From richly-adorned goddesses to the cotton sari-clad woman-next-door, her art portrays the essence of India and the spirit of the Indian woman.

I interviewed and wrote an article about her last year, in Femina.in and described what she does as “She paints like a dream, and with joy in her heart. Rich earthy colours, spicy flavours and memories of India fuse together into pictures that are anything but ordinary. Bronze-skinned and doe-eyed Indian women waltz through her canvases, whispering secrets for the onlooker to interpret.”

Here, in my blogzine today, I’d like her art to do the talking. So go on, meet the goddesses and girls that Dithi brings to life.

One of her latest paintings...

Saraswati - the Goddess of Learning

A Bengali lady with her batua (string purse)

Maa Durga

q & a with Madhumita Gopalan

Her photographs are like dreams. Ethereal and enchanting. Enigmatic and interesting. Take a look yourself to see how Madhumita works magic with her camera.

q. Please tell us about yourself – where are you based, your growing up years, education, professional background, talents, interests.

a. I grew up in Hyderabad, soaking up the city's unique culture and heritage. My parents are originally from Tamil Nadu, and settled in Hyderabad when I was a few months old. I have post-graduate degrees in Physics and Computational Techniques, and work on algorithms and mathematical modelling. I also love music - I was trained in classical music as a kid, and I love gardening. But Photography, is my biggest passion. I met my husband through our shared interest in photography, and we’ve been married for a year.

q. What is your blog about?

a. My blog Aadab Hyderabad is all about capturing everything I love about Hyderabad. I do a bit of research to find more things that I can love about Hyderabad, and go hunting for little known remnants of its past that still exist.

q. Would you like to tell us about your photography - how you got started and your growth as a photographer?

a. I developed an interest in photography quite late - just about 3 years ago. But it had to happen sooner or later, considering that my dad loves photography and so did his dad. So it probably was in the genes! We spent a bit of time in Calcutta, and playing assistant to my dad as he shot pictures of life there must have played it's part in unconsciously inspiring me. I started playing around with a small point-and-shoot camera, and when I realized how much I enjoyed it, I decided it was time for a DSLR. My husband has played a huge role in my journey since then - sometimes a mentor, sometimes a partner in crime :)

q. What kind of projects and compositions do enjoy working on?

a. While I enjoy all kinds of photography and do portraits/event photography assignments, street and travel photography excite me the most. I enjoy outdoor photography in natural light, and love capturing everything on the streets including the people, the buildings, the art and the toil - everything that goes into making "the way of life". Aadab Hyderabad, in which I photodocument Hyderabad is very close to my heart, and I hope to continue to do it for years.

Eye Candy - The Red River's new collection

There is so much prettiness all around. And, there are so many people, who are living their dream, creating these pretty things and helping others. Kakoli Das of The Red River is one such person. Ebullient and enthusiastic with oodles of chutzpah, this young entrepreneur with her feisty team runs a company that works with the weavers of Assam, creating an exclusive range of home furnishings and organic jewellery. She retails online as well as from a store in Bangalore. 

People…you gotta see their latest collection. Aptly named Alice in Wonderland, the hand woven and embroidered cushion covers are an absolute treat for the eyes. In candy pink and sunny yellow, with motifs of Lil girl frocks, these gorgeous babies are ready to go home.

"Alice in Wonderland, our latest offering, is Red River's reflection of her longing for the springtime of life... O how she wishes to dress up again like an angel, stroll through the greens picking violets and innocently drown in her wonderland!!"

Violet

Sun fields

Strawberry crush

Mustard

Images: The Red River/Namrata Baruah