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Better PhotograPhy march 2015

Why it is my best shot

Most photojournalists think that they

have seen it all. However, every time that

I enter a conflict zone, it all seems new to

me. When I was at the refugee camp at

Shamli, I was astounded at the number

of displaced people living there without

any proper food or sanitation. There were

several deaths too, mostly those of children,

whose bodies just couldn’t cope with the

derelict conditions. Amazingly enough,

many kids still attended school.

This photograph, to me, summarises the

spirit of these tiny souls, and how life still

goes on, irrespective of the challenges that it

throws at us.

Where and when I shot this image

The image was shot during the 2013

Muzaffarnagar riots, in the Shamli district

of Uttar Pradesh.

How I achieved it

While I was making pictures of the

children at the madrasa, I noticed a little

girl blankly staring at me. Even when I was

actively moving around the area, she just

wouldn’t move her gaze away from me.

As I approached her for a photograph,

I noticed how a tear in the tarpaulin on

the roof, caused a shaft of light to fall on

the girl. I knew then that I had to capture

this moment.

The gear I used to get the shot

I used a Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera

along with a Canon EF 16—35mm f/2.8L II

USM lens.

Tashi Tobgyal

Tashi Tobgyal started out as a Picture

Researcher for several travel publications.

Later in 20 06, he joined The Indian Express as a

photojournalist, and still continues to work there.

My

Best

Shot