A shot of an old heritage building or a contemporary structure, a photo session with local vendors and innocent children, or just a capture of candid life — photography enthusiasts and city explorers are gearing up for the 20th retro walk on Sunday morning along the streets of Mylapore.
Organised by Ramaswamy Nallaperumal, the retro walks are part of The Chennai Photowalk. The group organises walks every month to explore new routes in the city and capture life. Participants are given a print of the route and a brief idea about the structures on the way.
“Chennai Photowalk group is in its eighth year, and we have completed 89 walks. We have around 8,000 members. We try and take new routes every time, but these retro walks are for the new members who have requested us to explore the old routes again,” said Ramaswamy.
The retro walk explores not just the heritage of Chennai but also the contemporary life. Photo enthusiasts have different interests — while a few take shots of the heritage structure, some take portrait shots and others capture life as it is.
“I have been part of the group since 2007. I don’t miss the photo walks except when I’m travelling. I have met so many young people and made so many friends. I take pictures of the streets mostly,” said G V Bala Subramaniam (61), a retired bank manager and an avid photographer.
The 20th retro walk in Mylapore will include walking the streets of Luz, the cultural hub of South Chennai. The walk begins at Madhava Perumal Koil and will include sites like Mundakakani Amman Koil, Thiruvalluvar temple and Luz Church.
“Though the distance is short, it will take around two-and-a-half hours to complete the walk. That is because we stop, click pictures and chat. Once, during a walk in Little Mount, we spotted a peculiar spider and stopped for around 20 minutes to take pictures,” said Ramaswamy.
When CE asked him about what motivated him to conduct the walks every month, he said, “It is because of the speed at which demolitions are taking place. Once, during our walk in Egmore, near the Presidency School, we found that there were a number of landmarks missing. We want to capture the city before it no longer remains as it is now. That apart, we also want to capture the new structures that take their places.”
“I have been a part of The Chennai Photowalk for around two years. Though I’ve done this route before, it is going to be different and I’m looking forward to it. There is always something different and something new that you see only through the lens and not otherwise,” said Hari Meyyappan (28), a candid wedding photographer by profession.
The 20th retro walk will begin on Sunday at 6.30 am. For more details, contact Ramaswamy at 9444062684.