Ritesh Uttamchandani

Ritesh Uttamchandani is a freelance documentary photographer based in Mumbai, India. Winner of several awards and published in TIME, The Daily Telegraph and National Geographic, Ritesh’s work gives us an insider’s view into life in his city. His work also includes travel, commercial and portraiture, often of Indian and Bollywood stars.

Having browsed Ritesh’ work, I was drawn to his short stories; short photographic essays, some accompanied with a page of text, giving some context to the images. ‘Rudhra’ shows the innately normal daily life of a transgender business administrator with aspirations of directing films and Ritesh shows the business world of Mumbai in ‘Cottonopolis’ and ‘The Diamond Market of Surat’.

A peek into human behaviour ‘Snoopers’ shows locals traveling to work on the train, entertaining themselves with a book, the daily newspaper or their smartphone. Ritesh highlights the unintentional sharing that goes on as snoopers read or watch videos over the shoulders of those who have come equipped. The deeper story is Ritesh, snooping on the snooper as they unintentionally become the subject of his story.

My favourite story, however is entitled ‘Ceilings’; Ritesh had been commissioned to photograph an establishment well known as Sangli’s cleanest brothel. Thinking creatively, Ceilings is shot from the user, ie the prostitute’s point of view. Shooting directly upwards from the centre of the beds, Ritesh shows the view that workers see for the largest part of their day. An insight into their lives and minds is exposed in the wall coverings and possessions in view; images of family members, admired actors and favourite places, one had the ashes of her father in a small pouch.

The images, mainly shot using low key light and red hues to connote the brothel’s business show a life, less than comfortable for these working girls. Wooden ceilings and corrugated metal walls line the rooms, drying clothes, hanging flowers and other artifacts show that the space is that girl’s life, not just a workspace. Intense Indian heat is symbolised by the fans attached to ceilings, giving a feeling of discomfort. Ritesh has succeeded in showing a well-informed view into these hidden lives without showing a single person; I feel that showing life from a user’s point of view can often show more about that person than any portrait.