American travel photographer Tom Carter is presently traveling across the 35 regions of India to photograph his next photo book, INDIA: Portrait of a People.
Tom's first book, CHINA: Portrait of a People, is now available at http://amzn.com/9889979942.
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Travel Photographer Tom Carter visits Orissa in East India, tours Maoist-controlled villages Carter's India Trip Delayed During Naxal Strike in Southern Orissa
American travel photographer Tom Carter, author of the critically acclaimed book CHINA: Portrait of a People, has released new photos from his trip to Orissa. His multi-week visit of the remote eastern Indian state included an extensive tour of numerous Maoist-controlled villages in southern Orissa.
"At one point, we actually got caught right in the middle of a Naxal-organized strike, which effectively shut down for over a week the entire transportation network in Southern Orissa," said Carter during a recent interview. "Fortunately, Orissa is perhaps India's most naturally-beautiful state, so I was still able to get lots of great shots while we were stranded.”
Orissa is also one of India's most poor regions and in a constant state of political turmoil between local indigenous tribes, represented by the far-left Naxalites, or Maoists, and government and corporate interests out to exploit the resource-rich region.
Puri, site of India's most famous temple, the Jagannath, is Orissa's biggest tourist draw, however Carter says he opted to spend most of his time in the jungles of Koraput in South Orissa to photograph the reclusive adivasi tribes.
"The Gadaba, the Bonda, the Dongria - I’ve never seen more resplendent tribal people anywhere in the world than I did in Koraput…and I don’t think I've ever taken more awesome photographs either!"
38-year-old Carter made headlines in 2008 for his unprecedented 2-year, 56,000 kilometer journey across the 33 provinces of China, which resulted in the creation of his 640-page book of photography CHINA: Portrait of a People. Considered the most comprehensive book of photography on modern China ever published by a single author, the photo book was a critical and commercial success.
"I intend to photograph all 35 states/territories and traverse as much of India's 3.3 million square kilometers as possible. It may take a couple of years, but I won't rest until I have created the definitive India photo book, something any single author has yet to do."Parties interested in sponsoring Carter's travels in India may contact his publisher for additional information.
The three month-long bathing festival along the holy Ganges river in northern Uttarakhand state occurs once every 12 years and is expected to see 50 million Hindu devotees performing 'puja' (prayers) and washing away their sins in the sub-zero waters, however camera-toting international tourists will be disappointed when they are turned away at the entrance, warned American travel photographer Tom Carter.
"Only photojournalists with official Mela-stamped press passes are being allowed in the Harkipairi bathing ghats to take photos; casual photographers have to keep their cameras at their hotel or risk a tongue lashing or, worse, confiscation of your gear," said Carter following his attendance of the Purna Kumbha Mela Makar Sankranti and Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan Solar Eclipse first and second snan (baths) on January 14-15, 2010. "I spent not a little time and money getting to Hardiwar, and I know other westerners will too, so I think it is only fair to give my fellow photogs advance notice."
"After being thrown out of Har-Ki-Pairi one too many times for taking pictures, I diligently sought, and was granted, an audience with the Inspector General himself in charge of Mela security to try to obtain something called a 'pedestrian photo permit.' But as courteous as he was to actually hear my appeal, I was still denied the permit because I lack a J-Visa."
The inspector told Carter that terrorism threats as well as the 'lakhs' of nude bathers were the main reasons to restrict photography at the bathing ghats. Carter claims, however, that he saw Indian tourists left alone to snap photos, suggesting a double standard against westerners on the part of Mela enforcers.
Nonetheless, despite over 100 closed-circuit cameras, numerous companies of armed constables and 20,000 police personnel on high alert, Carter says he and other nimble photographers lacking accreditation were still able to appropriate the occasional shot. Some of Carter’s Mela images have recently been uploaded onto his Flickr account here: INDIA TRAVEL PHOTOS
"I was planning on attending the Maha Shivratri Pratham Shahi Snan first royal bath on February 12 and the main royal bath on April 14 to photograph the infamous Naga Sadhu processions, however I was informed that tourists won’t even be allowed in the proximity of HarKiPairi on those dates. Westerners be warned"
Carter says he will continue to appeal to Mela administrators to get his hands on a press pass so that he can document the triennial ritualistic bathing of what is considered the largest religious gathering of Hindus in the world. Alternatively, he suggests the natural setting and more laid-back atmosphere of the Magh Mela at Sangam in Allahabad.
Travel photographer Tom Carter will be backpacking to every state in India over the next several years to complete his next book of photography INDIA: Portrait of a People. Carter’s first book, the critically praised CHINA: Portrait of a People, will be sold on Amazon.Com beginning this June. Help support Tom Carter's travels by ordering your advanced copy today.
Beijing -- Fresh off the success of his groundbreaking new photo book CHINA: Portrait of a People, yet refusing to rest on his laurels, famed travel photographer Tom Carter announced his next destination: India.
Mumbai Muslim Bombay Burqa Dhaneta Jat "Having already photographed the people of the world's most populous country, I saw it only fitting to now focus on the second-most populous country," said the native San Franciscan at a recent press conference. The result of this epic expedition, Carter anticipates, will be his second book of photography, INDIA: Portrait of a People. Maiden Jaisalmer Sikh Nihang Pilgrims It will be the American freelance photographer's first visit to the Republic of India; however the intrepid Carter will be jumping in with both feet to travel the length and breadth of the vast South Asian nation. "I intend to photograph all 35 states/territories and traverse as much of India's 3.3 million square kilometers as possible. It may take a couple of years, but I won't rest until I have created the definitive India photo book, something any single author has yet to do." Khuhri Caste Wells 35-year-old Carter made headlines in 2008 for his unprecedented 2-year, 56,000 kilometer journey across the 33 provinces of China, which resulted in the creation of his 640-page book of photography CHINA: Portrait of a People. Considered the most comprehensive book of photography on modern China ever published by a single author, the photo book was a critical and commercial success.
Meanwhile, as a result of a successful viral marketing campaign and impressive direct online sales, Carter's Hong Kong publishers at Blacksmith Books are now actively seeking a North American or European publisher to share licensing rights and worldwide distribution for CHINA: Portrait of a People. Let the bidding war begin!
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CHINA: Portrait of a People, by Tom Carter
Genre: Travel / Photography / Art / China
ISBN: 9-789889-979942
640 pages, 800 full color images, with maps of each province
Published: Summer 2008 by Blacksmith Books, Hong Kong
Beijing -- Fresh off the success of his groundbreaking new photo book CHINA: Portrait of a People, yet refusing to rest on his laurels, famed travel photographer Tom Carter announced his next destination: India.
Holi Festival
"Having already photographed the people of the world's most populous country, I saw it only fitting to now focus on the second-most populous country," said the native San Franciscan at a recent press conference. The result of this epic expedition, Carter anticipates, will be his second book of photography, INDIA: Portrait of a People. Varanasi Pilgrims
Madurai Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Gopura
35-year-old Carter made headlines in 2008 for his unprecedented 2-year, 56,000 kilometer journey across the 33 provinces of China, which resulted in the creation of his 640-page book of photography CHINA: Portrait of a People. Considered the most comprehensive book of photography on modern China ever published by a single author, the photo book was a critical and commercial success. Varanasi Prayers
Gokarna Banjara Tribal Lady
It will be the American freelance photographer's first visit to the Republic of India; however the intrepid Carter will be jumping in with both feet to travel the length and breadth of the vast South Asian nation. "I intend to photograph all 35 states/territories and traverse as much of India's 3.3 million square kilometers as possible. It may take a couple of years, but I won't rest until I have created the definitive India photo book, something any single author has yet to do." Mathura Sadhu Tamil Nadu Cool Guy
Rameshwaram Ramalingeshwara Pilgrims
Meanwhile, as a result of a successful viral marketing campaign and impressive direct online sales, Carter's Hong Kong publishers at Blacksmith Books are now actively seeking a North American or European publisher to share licensing rights and worldwide distribution for CHINA: Portrait of a People. Let the bidding war begin!
Photojournalist Tom Carter traveled for 2 years and 35,000 miles across the 33 provinces of China to show the diversity of Chinese People in CHINA: Portrait of a People, the most comprehensive book of photography on modern China ever published by a single author. Available now on Amazon.
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