Jagdev Singh is a freelance photographer living in New Delhi, India. His striking monochrome photography captures the finer characteristics and details of the persona he comes across and places he visits. Portrait and travel photography are his forte and his photo series based on traditional and cultural photography brings out the essence and ambiance with their stillness and excitement. The photos of this interview post belong to his project ‘Hola Mahalla’. It’s a three day Sikh festival which begins a day before Holi, the famous Indian festival of color that most often falls during March. The fair held at Anandpur Sahib is traditionally a three day event but participants attend Anandpur Sahib for a week, camping out and enjoying various displays of fighting prowess and bravery, and listening to kirtan.

I asked Jagdev some questions about his work and preferences and he responded as under:

Please tell us about yourself and your relationship with photography:

I am a freelance photographer living in New Delhi, India. In my hybrid style of documentation and art photography, I love to capture the moments and moods from people’s daily life. People and Street are my favorite subjects.

What does photography mean to you? What is your ‘decisive moment’?

To me photography means a way of life. A way of expressing oneself. The decisive moments are the ones which freeze interesting moments!

Would you call your work fine-art or documentary style, or simply street/outdoor photography? Do you like such classifications?

Prima facie, I refrain from a strict classification. But as you evolve in time, your natural expression and inner self starts reflecting in your work. My work combines art and documentation, uncovering the inner pristine beauty of the subject and the moment while existing in the normal and the ordinary.

I looked into your entire portfolio but didn’t find a single color image. Why do you have this fascination with monochrome? Don’t you think the ambience and vibrancy of events like ‘Hola Mohalla’ can be better portrayed in a color work?

My all time fascination has always been in simplicity of life. The freedom, the true nature, we all are born to live in. Monochrome gives me the right medium to capture and express this simplicity. Be it Hola Mohalla or just any theme.

How do you view your evolution as a photographer? How important for you is the monetization of your work?

Incredible! Not much.

How much of your work is carefully planned vs. spontaneous?

It’s 100% spontaneous. No prior knowledge of the subject gifts you with that immaculate and unpredictable beauty of the moment!

Share with us your experience of shooting on streets. What do you think about the privacy and related issues?

It’s great fun! Life is the most incredible journey, the most precious and consistent flow of bliss. If the subject and you the artist are in bliss during that spontaneous interaction, privacy becomes silent.

Tell us about the equipment (camera and lenses) you mostly use and why. What are your setting preferences and views on editing and image manipulation?

I use a Canon 450 D. My favorite lens is 50mm Canon fixed. I also use a 18-55mm Canon and 75-300 mm Canon telephoto. I shoot in RAW and my mostly used settings are: Manual mode, Aperture 2.8, ISO 400. Editing and manipulation assist you in making the picture closer to what your wonderful eyes saw.

Do you have a favorite photo or a project having a great story  behind? Or any significant memory related to photography?

All series are close to my heart.

Tell us about your achievements, awards, clients, publications, etc.

Most of my work goes in the form of publications and exhibitions. Aspect Ratio Magazine, UK and Dodho Online Photography Magazine recently published my phtoto features. My work was exhibited in May 2015at  India International Centre, New Delhi and an exhibition titled “Ganges and Nirvana : The Kumbh Mela of India, 2013”, my collaborative work with German photographer Victoria Knobloch was held at VHS Stuttgart, Germany during April - June 2015. Links to them are given in my website.

What are your future plans/projects, ambitions, inspirations etc.? Will you ever (self)publish your photo-book?

I would like to cover the flow of life in Singapore, Myanmar and Hong Kong in near future. Self publishing a photo-book for an exhibition with huge flow of people would be promising.

I would be happy in giving artist talks, workshops and sharing my experiences in person.

Please tell us about your favorite photographers:

Two photographers who inspire me are Steve McCurry and Victoria Knobloch.

Say something to our readers or aspiring photographers:

Keep Learning and inculcate what you learn in the next moment without any delay. Make the best use of what machinery you have rather than wait for anything superior. Great pictures need simple perseverance not latest machinery to be captured.

All photos © Jagdev Singh : Website | Facebook