Capturing the vastness of the desert

Rajesh Bedi wanted to look beyond the splendour of Rajsasthan’s deserts at the windows of innocence and integrity
For many Rajasthan represents a tourist destination with its sprawling desert, camels and palaces. But it is only a photographer who can look beyond the cliché and bring out the unseen and unexplored aspect of a place. Wildlife photographer Rajesh Bedi, who recently organized his exhibition of photography on Rajasthan in the capital, has visually explored the state capturing human life on desert spread over the last few years.“Rajasthan has always intrigued me with its barrenness and vastness. Here, life is full of colours, full of hospitality, men are handsome, women can be seen in their pallus eking out a hardscrabble existence but still smiling through it all. These women lead tough lives, trudging miles to fetch water. It is all about celebration of life which I have always found fascinating. People here can survive on so little,’’ says Bedi, who still feels that he can’t get enough of Rajasthan and that in the coming days he will again train his lens on this state as there are so many things that remain to be visually explored here. “Rajasthan remains an enigma for me,’’ says Bedi.
Another aspect of Rajasthan that never fails to amaze Bedi is the sand dunes, as after monsoon, they assume their own charm and exude an infectious smell that is difficult to ignore.
But it must be said that capturing these photographs have involved innovative and out of the box approach on the part of Bedi. The majestic aerial view of the 1,000-year-old Chand Baori could be made possible after he ensconced himself in his friend’s hot air balloon, or on some occasions, hitching his camera to a kite to capture a photograph of his choice. Then there is that unforgettable image of Kiran Bishnoi of Jodhpur district who has her son suckling at her breast, with a chinkara feeding hungrily on the other; a unique example of harmony between man and nature.