Svara
A Brooks Institute Documentary Project: South India
Each year, the Visual Journalism program at Brooks Institute offers an international documentary trip for interested visual journalism, professional photography, and film students. The class, which is staged in a different international location each year, is limited to those applicants who demonstrate a solid understanding of visual storytelling, the ability to work independently, and who embrace their roles as ambassadors. In November and December 2008, the 20 selected students and instructor Paul Myers spent seven weeks in South India to chronicle the people, life and culture of the region. Upon their return, the students created projects to showcase their experiences from this trip, including a documentary, book, DVD, website, and print exhibitions.
Watch the Documentary:
Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu
Karthigai Deepam is a religious festival that celebrates the Hindu God, Shiva, who appeared on a hillsde as a great pillar of fire to settle a dispute of ego between the Gods Brahma and Vishnu. To honor this occasion, more than a million pilgrims travel to this site each year to shed their ego and light minature replica lamps in honor of Shiva's fire.
Kumily, Kerala
Deep in the jungles of Kerala, a concrete building houses some of the most promising young conservationists on the planet. In the first year of the Wildlife Conservation Society master's degree program, 13 of the 15 graduates had their dissertations published—a feat that had been unprecidented anywhere else in the world.
Madras, Tamil Nadu
A vast history is hiding in the towns and villages that dot the landscape of India. A history frozen in time by photographers who have been long since forgotten. Many of these images, shot on glass plate negatives, are deteriorating due to age, but one man is making it his life's work to seek out these photographs and save them—even at great cost to himself.
South India
India is a vibrant culture, full of color, life and character. Enjoy this journey from the sun-soaked Eastern beaches of Chennai, to the deep green jungles of Kerala, and into the streets, temples, theatres, and marketplaces of South India.
South India
Although India is known for it's vibrant colors and loud, bustling street life, but black and white photography has a way of slowing things down. Enjoy these moments in B&W.
All Images ©Adam P. Herrera
