KOLKATA STREET PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE
Kolkata is a secret street photographer's paradise, well, not so secret anymore, with more and more photographers discovering it each year as one of the best destinations for street photography. The city is like an uncut gem, full of stories waiting to be discovered and told. You just walk the streets and stories unfold in front of you faster than you can click the shutter button.
Many people say that if you want to truly see and experience real India, go to Varanasi. While Varanasi is very high on my list of places to experience local culture, Kolkata is at the top of that list, and yes, it surpasses Varanasi in terms of variety of subjects and location richness.
Whenever I go back and look at my photos from there, I can't help but want to book a flight again.
I try to shoot there every year, and it's included in one of my India Street Photography Workshops.
So let's see what makes Kolkata so special for photographers.
WHAT MAKES KOLKATA SO SPECIAL FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS?
THE YELLOW TAXIS
The yellow taxis in Kolkata are simply iconic, they give the city a 70s, almost Cuban vibe. Calcutta's yellow taxis have become a magnet for photographers. These vintage vehicles tell a story of the city's enduring spirit and everyday life. Their bright, sunflower-like color contrasts beautifully with the chaotic urban backdrop.
THE STREETS
What is beautiful about Kolkata is that you often don't need to go to any specific place, the streets are so full of life that it's very likely you'll find interesting things to shoot just by stepping out of your hotel.
FOLLOWING THE RAILWAYS
A thing that surprised me in Kolkata is that access to the railway lines isn't limited. There are plenty of families living there, and the railways serve them as their backyard, they go on with their regular activities, and when a train comes, they just move to the next track.
MAIDAN PARK
It's especially beautiful in the winter and gets busier on weekends. This is a favorite place for jogging and cricket games.
*Best time for photography: around sunrise.*
MULLICK GHAT AND THE FLOWER MARKET
The most popular place for photography in Kolkata. The flower market and the surrounding area are a never-ending stream of moments, you just need to be aware and make sure not to miss them.
If I need to split the place into different areas of interest, I would do it like this.
THE FLOWER MARKET ITSELF
*Best time for photography: before and after sunrise.*
UNDER THE HOWRAH BRIDGE
The famous Howrah Bridge has an under-bridge passage where, during certain hours in the morning, you can witness a very special quality of light.
*Best time for photography: about 2 hours after sunrise.* You need a few hours to let the sun rise higher and reach under the bridge.
THE RIVER BANK OF MULLICK GHAT
Overlooking the bridge. The river bank is especially beautiful during the winter months, the gentle touch of morning fog makes this place look magical.
*Best time for photography: before and after sunrise.*
### THE KUSHTI AKHARA
The Indian wrestlers' training ground. Once a place where people came to learn the secrets of Indian wrestling, today this place is mostly about photography for money. The "wrestlers" spend most of the day lying down lazily, waiting for photographers. There is no fixed price for a photo shoot, I've heard prices ranging from 1,500 to 7,000 INR.
*Best time for photography: after sunrise.*
THE ROAD UP TO KUMARTULI GHAT
One of my favorite photo walks in Kolkata is the road from Howrah Bridge up to Kumartuli. If you pass under the bridge and keep following the road up, you can witness life as it is. You'll be passing small ghats on the left side and different markets on the right. Just take your time to explore, don't rush, and all the photographic opportunities will unfold in front of you.
*Best time for photography: all day long.*
KUMARTULI
The clay idol artists' area. Kumartuli is another must-visit place in Kolkata, where artists create idols of different gods, out of clay. Some of these creations are very impressive and photograph well.
*Best time for photography: morning or before sunset.* The place gets busy with visitors around sunset.
THE AREA AROUND KUMARTULI
The whole area around Kumartuli is absolutely beautiful. This is old Kolkata at its best, with small alleys where people live their lives. It's a fantastic place for street photography, capturing the essence of daily life in the city.
*Best time for photography: all day long.*
BABU GHAT
Babu Ghat is best in the late afternoon hours when the light is coming from across the river, illuminating whatever is happening under the bridge. This provides a unique and captivating atmosphere for photography.
*Best time for photography: the place always has something happening, but in terms of light, it's best to come early morning around sunrise, or in the afternoon before sunset.*
KALIGHAT
Kalighat is another interesting area for photography, especially during holidays for worshipers of the goddess Kali. On these days, the area is packed, and there are plenty of opportunities to photograph. The surrounding area is really old, and you'll find a lot of beautiful textures to photograph your subjects against.
*Best time for photography: all day long.* Again, I'd recommend the golden hours.
KOLKATA MARKETS
Apart from the flower market I mentioned earlier, Kolkata is full of many other markets that are interesting for photography. These markets capture the vibrant and diverse culture of the city, and they provide ample opportunities to document daily life and the unique character of Kolkata. Exploring these markets can lead to striking photographs that tell the story of the city and its people.
NEW MARKET
If you enjoy photographing crowds, make sure to visit on a weekend evening. It gets so packed that you can barely walk through the streets. I personally like using flash in that area.
*Best time for photography: afternoon or evening.*
CHICKEN BAZAAR
Near New Market. This is the place where butchers come to stock their shops, and it gets very busy around sunrise.
*Best time for photography: from 1 hour before sunrise. Go early!*
KOLEY AND SEALDAH WHOLESALE MARKETS
Another unique place to shoot. They are located right next to each other, so you can explore both in one photography walk. Because it's a covered market, they use colorful lights to illuminate the vegetables, and occasionally the roofing is missing, allowing extra rays of light to stream in. This combination of artificial colorful lighting and natural light can produce interesting results. Since it can be relatively dark inside, it's a good idea to use a low aperture (low f-number) lens to let more light into your camera and capture the scenes effectively.
*Best time for photography: all day.* I've been here at different hours of the day, and it seems every time there's something happening.
MECHHUA FRUIT MARKET
This is probably my favorite open-air market in Kolkata. The way the merchants organize their fruits in pyramids is just beautiful.
*Best time for photography: morning through midday.* You can come here early in the morning, but around 11 is good as well. During that time, the light and shadows play in strong contrast, and you can really lose yourself playing with the colors, shapes, and light the market has to offer.
PLACES TO ADD IN THE FUTURE
There are a few more places that I have no photos of at the moment, but you should try and visit them. Just type the names into Google Maps and you'll find the locations.
- Nakhoda Masjid, the largest mosque in Kolkata
- Burtolla Street, old market area
- Cotton Street, old market area
- Nilmadhab Sen Lane, laundry alley, also known as Jeans Street
- Sunday Pet Market, gets really busy on Sundays
If you have more spots to suggest, please write them in the comments below.