vivek Parihar

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Mumbai

Local

Frames of Existence

Scope

Storytelling, Publication, Photography

About

Year: 2024

Mumbai's local trains aren't just a transportation network – they're the heartbeat of a city in constant motion. Through intimate photographs and raw storytelling, this book captures the poetry in the everyday chaos of India's most iconic railway system.

From dawn commuters to late-night vendors, each page reveals the small moments that make up the grand symphony of Mumbai's railway life. This isn't just documentation; it's an immersion into the lives that intersect along these iron tracks.

Why This Project Got Me Excited

Growing up in Mumbai, the local trains were more than just transport – they were the city's lifeline. With my camera in hand, I set out to capture the beautiful chaos that millions of Mumbaikars experience daily. Not the postcard version, but the real, raw, rushing-to-catch-the-7:15 version

The Reality Check

The Reality Check

Mumbai locals aren't just trains; they're moving cities. Every compartment tells a hundred stories: the dabbawalas' precise choreography, the card players in the handicapped compartment, the vendors turning carriages into mobile markets. These weren't just photos waiting to happen – they were moments of Mumbai's soul.

In undertaking this project, I carefully considered various factors to ensure a thoughtful and effective execution. My focus was centered around the following key areas:


  • Raw, candid moments over posed shots

  • The quiet stories between the chaos

  • The patterns in the everyday rush

  • The human side of this mechanical marvel

In undertaking this project, I carefully considered various factors to ensure a thoughtful and effective execution. My focus was centered around the following key areas:


  • Raw, candid moments over posed shots

  • The quiet stories between the chaos

  • The patterns in the everyday rush

  • The human side of this mechanical marvel

Breaking It Down (MY WAY)

Breaking It Down

(My Way)

The breakthrough came when I realized this book needed to feel like a train journey itself – rhythmic, flowing, occasionally interrupted by stations. The layout mirrors this movement: sometimes crowded, sometimes breathing, just like the trains themselves.


The breakthrough came when I realized this book needed to feel like a train journey itself – rhythmic, flowing, occasionally interrupted by stations. The layout mirrors this movement: sometimes crowded, sometimes breathing, just like the trains themselves.


The Aha Moment

Breaking It Down

(My Way)

Photography is about patience – waiting for moments, earning trust, finding stories. This project taught me that sometimes the best shots come from just being present, being part of the crowd rather than apart from it.

[Final note: This isn't just a book about trains – it's about the millions of stories that ride them every day.]

Photography is about patience – waiting for moments, earning trust, finding stories. This project taught me that sometimes the best shots come from just being present, being part of the crowd rather than apart from it.

[Final note: This isn't just a book about trains – it's about the millions of stories that ride them every day.]

What I Learned

Breaking It Down

(My Way)

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