The eight Chennai Photowalk
Okay! For the first time since the Photowalks began, I have had to change the sacred order of things. I am sorry, but I had no choice. I am referring, of course, to the great and holy tradition of holding the Chennai photowalks on the second Sunday of every month. But, like I said, I had no choice. I shall offer penance and bribes to the lords of the walks later but first, the details all you good folk await so patiently.
The 8th Chennai Photowalk will be on the 15th and 22nd of June, 2008. That’s right. Two different days, same walk. Seeing how we have quite a bunch of people willing to sacrifice their Sundays (at last count, 65 people. Yes. 65!) but not all of them willing to do said sacrifice on same day.
The route I have in mind for this walk is interesting. As well as slicha heart-in-mouth exciting. And, again for the first time since the Photowalks started, we will do an evening walk.
That’s right. An evening walk. We will, or I will if no one else turns up, begin the 8th Chennai Photowalk at Panagal Park in T.Nagar and proceed in an easterly direction down Thyagaraya road, or Pondy Bazaar for those not 100% clued in, and end the walk at Residency towers. In the process, we (or I) will shoot the enthusiastic (read foaming-in-the-mouth) shoppers and the characters that populate Pondy Bazaar and make Madras the retail destination it is.
Of history, Pondy Bazaar has a good deal to offer. Of photo-ops, a lot more. Once upon a city-time, T. Nagar was a large lake running parallel to Mount Road. Called the Long Tank, it fed the paddy-fields of Nungambakkam and what is now Saidapet and Ashok Nagar. Sometime in the early part of the last century, the tank was filled up and Pondy Bazaar (and T. Nagar) created to help ease the pressure of George Town.
The jewellers and the cloth merchants, the grocers and their friends have turned Pondy Bazaar into a shopper’s wet dream. And the commuter’s wet-nightmare. And that, my dear walkers, is what we will try and record on the 8th Chennai Photowalk. That will be, to repeat, on the 15th and 22nd of June, 2008, at 5:30 PM.
About
Chandrachoodan Gopalakrishnan is a copywriter, photographer and goofball from Chennai. He is also an archaeologist, historian and a city lover. He is currently a documentary film-maker and desk-monkey for a film production house.
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June 5th, 2008 - 00:11
Is the Saravana Stores adventure walk part of a seperate package then?
June 5th, 2008 - 00:17
What time doth the walk starteth?
June 5th, 2008 - 01:36
aaaargh! this is too close to home. I walked this path almost everyday last year – same time. now i am stuck in a cubicle.
nooooooooooo!
June 5th, 2008 - 11:44
Planemad: Yup. That would need not a day but a month to fully experience. So.
Navneeth: Sorry my bad. The walk begins at 5:30 PM.
Hawkeye: So, break out of the cubicle and come to Madras man!
June 5th, 2008 - 12:11
Super, as usual…. Ullen ayya!
June 5th, 2008 - 12:14
Dilip: Super. Bring some friends along as well.
June 5th, 2008 - 12:18
Sooper!
Can we come for both the walks!
June 5th, 2008 - 12:19
Superb! I’m excited about this walk! Can we start at 5pm instead of 5.30? that way we could get some nice light for about an hour?
Actually I could just go by 5… See you then
June 5th, 2008 - 12:19
Oh yeah I’m bring some friends along this time…
June 5th, 2008 - 12:23
Most probably in for one of the walks..will let thy know.
Though Sunday evening is kinda bad, what with all the traffic and crowds
June 5th, 2008 - 12:26
I hope to make it atleast this time around. This sure would be an interesting walk.
June 5th, 2008 - 12:35
Aah finally a walk when I’m free… I’m in
June 5th, 2008 - 12:36
Super Route. I think 1700 hrs should be good as Kunal mentioned. Cheers
AM IN.
June 5th, 2008 - 12:56
Narain: most definitely. Yes!
Kunal: Ah, yes. 5 will be better. I was planning to be there by 5 myself. I wanted to get a few shots of the Panagal park in the early evening light. If you are going there early, let’s catch up.
Tush: Crowds and traffic is one reason I want to do this photowalk. It will be interesting, I say. Come on. Come on.
Pradeep: Yay! Glad to have you along.
Dilip: Super!
Aravid/Pseudonym: Yeah, 5 sounds good. Come along then.
June 5th, 2008 - 12:57
Won’t be in, but let’s hope the blr photowalk has it’s next walked lined up pretty soon. cheers and keep the faith.
June 5th, 2008 - 12:59
Have fun on the Blore Photowalk sir.
June 5th, 2008 - 13:30
Count me in. My shaky hands spoil evening shots, so I’ll also try to be there at 5. Any luck with the GPS tracker?
June 5th, 2008 - 13:41
I gues I would be there on 15th if not 22nd for sure…
June 5th, 2008 - 13:51
Hmm… 5:30pm Pondy Bazaar. Not sure if I’m comfortable with that Idea. If I come, you’ll see me there…
C, this looks like its becoming a full second job for you…
June 5th, 2008 - 15:10
i should e able to make the 15th! Finally!
just worried about the lenses and low light! 
June 5th, 2008 - 15:36
15th is an exam weekend. 22nd is an F1 weekend – probably the last time the cars line up at Magny Cours – didn’t realise that till yesterday. What to do? WHAT TO DO?
As Susheel said, if I come(on the 22nd), you’ll see me there.
June 5th, 2008 - 16:38
Sudhamshu: No luck with a GPS yet. Will have to make do with google and yahoo maps.
Arvind: Great! See you there.
Susheel: You should come. And yes, this is turning into a non-paying, second job. Hmmm
Madan: Great. Come, it will be fun.
Navneeth: COme mate. A few hours of fun before the day of exam will refresh and help you focus your energies.
June 5th, 2008 - 16:55
WOW. Maybe CCG’s photowalks are a good reason to move back to Chennai?
June 5th, 2008 - 16:59
It is! It is! It is!
June 5th, 2008 - 18:24
I’ll be there!
Emma, camera’va jakkaradhaiya eduthhuttu po ma, as the traffic police would say!
But seriously, this may require some taking care of your lenses, cameras, et al.
June 5th, 2008 - 18:46
Ah!
I don’t think it should be a big problem. But yeah, a little caution will not be misplaced.
June 5th, 2008 - 19:16
I came to know of your “walks” through a newspaper article. Interesting stuff you are arranging. I will be there on 22nd June @ 5.30PM.
Keep walking
June 5th, 2008 - 19:25
Evening is good time to shoot and ample opportunity for creative photography.
I wish all flashes do not go on at the same time. May annoy people out there.
June 5th, 2008 - 20:51
Yahoo, My house is diagonally opp to Residency towers …can’t get better than this … will be there … will get friends…hopefully should make it back in time for the F1 closure…having been born and brought up around T.Nagar, some things I think are worth knowing … not many people notice the shops in pondy bazar .. some of the buildings are classics … watch out for them, There is also a flower market and a veggie market along pondy bazar, if at all you do make it when there is some light to Sir Thiyagaraya Road, the trees on both sides of the road make a green tunnel for vehicles.
June 6th, 2008 - 01:26
I once tried shooting the market (a building from 1923) sitting inside a moving car which, BTW, was moving at a mind-boggling 3 inches/minute. Didn’t come out well.
June 6th, 2008 - 10:01
Venkatesh: Great! See you on the 22nd
Karthi: Yup, blinding flash is as bad as blinding headlights in the evenings.
Bharadwaj: I am pretty familiar with the Pondy Bazaar area. Should have fun. I also think we should stop at Madras Bhelpuri and grab a snack.
Navneeth: Ah!
June 6th, 2008 - 10:17
ha..at last.. me and my s2 IS should be there at 5.00 on 15th..madras bhelpuri for me as well..havent eaten there, but i trust your tastebuds.
June 6th, 2008 - 10:27
Great idea … Bhel puri it is…
June 6th, 2008 - 10:29
Arun: Nice! Welcome back, btw.
And you are right in trusting my tastebuds. Madras Bhelpuri is a super place for an evening snack. Though, I think they changed a few stuff from the last time I was there.
Bharadwaj: Yup!
June 6th, 2008 - 14:32
Oh yes yes. Love it. Can we shop
I will come
for my FIRST photowalk 
June 6th, 2008 - 16:15
Yeah. go ahead and shop. As long as you can find out where the rest of the group is and catch up. Also, as long as you buy me goodies as well.
C
June 6th, 2008 - 18:46
This will be C’s first ever photowalk with a challenge. Let’s see how he tries to get that wide-angled shot of the Pothy’s building from the middle of the road.
June 6th, 2008 - 22:51
wil be there with frndz ! =) i stay a street away! shud be fun still!
June 7th, 2008 - 11:22
Navneeth: Friends will tell you, you don’t challenge Chandrachoodan with impunity. Do you want to bet on my getting the kind of shot you want me to get?
Nidhi: Super! See you there.
June 7th, 2008 - 14:25
Sure, why not?
June 8th, 2008 - 08:17
awesome .. see you then!
June 8th, 2008 - 11:21
Navneeth: All right then! We shall agree on the details of the bet on Sunday.
Kamakshi: Super!
June 8th, 2008 - 13:20
wokay…....see u 15th even…...but…..where is the meet spot????
June 8th, 2008 - 14:18
Panagal Park, at 5 in the evening.
June 8th, 2008 - 18:27
i think i’d be joining you all…thanks to aravind…m reallly looking forward!!
June 8th, 2008 - 21:08
Hi,
I am a newbie… I too would like to join the gang on 15th..
June 9th, 2008 - 10:40
Whoa; boss. 46 comments! It seems a lot of people have been bitten by the photowalk bug.
June 9th, 2008 - 11:55
Gayatri: Super! Super! See you there, then.
Harish: Welcome and glad you could join the gang.
Krishnan: A few of that 46 is mine. So.
But yes, a lot of takers for the walk.
June 10th, 2008 - 09:04
I also…pliss be putting my name in attendance register
June 10th, 2008 - 09:47
Done. Putted in register.
June 10th, 2008 - 09:55
Count me in for 15th.
June 10th, 2008 - 09:56
Super. See you then.
June 10th, 2008 - 12:53
I am very poor in shooting (with camera) people. If you check my flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/sharishkrishnan) 99% there will not be a human being. But my first Chennai phot walk is in a place, which is the most populated place in Chennai (and that too in a weekend)
June 10th, 2008 - 13:27
Count me as present for both the days
I’m not too sure that my aging Powershot S3 can handle the low-light tho?
Can I still drool over your D80?
June 10th, 2008 - 14:02
Great! Will count you and count you again.
The PowerShot can handle it – I’ve used it in very low light and it comes out almost with flying colours.
Drool, but not over the D80. Moisture does bad things to the CCD.
June 10th, 2008 - 14:25
Okay, I’ll take a better pic of your D80 to drool over
Also, I assume I can call you if I get lost? (VERY Likely)
June 10th, 2008 - 14:43
Sure. The number is 9884467463
June 10th, 2008 - 15:13
The Hindu, dated 16 June 2008
Crowd in T.Nagar Doubles
By a really, really tired Special Correspondent
In an already crowded area like Panagal Park, traffic policemen noted an anomalous increase in the crowd yesterday. They suspect that it might have to do with a surprisingly large number of camera-wielding people moving about
taking photographs of just about everything and everyone that crossed their path. “It’s not the festive or the discount season. This is not normal at this time of year,” observed Traffic Sgt. M.Raja.
June 10th, 2008 - 15:15
Rotfl. Hindu might as well publish it.
June 10th, 2008 - 16:14
In our case, mot prob the embedded one with TOI might publish it.
You wanna try climbing on the still not done flyovers to get some photos?
Your pothys shot might get nixed b the flyover right in front
We should check out their new motto though
June 10th, 2008 - 17:23
Boss
Evening is super cool! Me will join the gang!!
June 10th, 2008 - 19:08
Tushar: I don’t know if the embed will be embedded. Still. Yeah, will try climbing the flyovers. Not sure I can/will be allowed to, but will try.
Prabhu: See you there.
June 11th, 2008 - 19:10
will be there on the 22nd
is getting a tripod for a canon digital IXUS recommended ?
June 11th, 2008 - 19:24
Depends on how big a tripod and how comfortable you and the Ixus are with it.
June 11th, 2008 - 19:38
a mid size one , haven’t been there in the evenings of late , so my question is more like , will i be able to set down a tripod somewhere ?
June 12th, 2008 - 14:24
@Prithvi : Where there is a will there is a way
June 12th, 2008 - 14:33
Count me in on the 15th. Looking forward to my first ever photowalk.
June 12th, 2008 - 16:16
Vishaka: Great. See you there, then, then.
June 13th, 2008 - 10:39
Something tells me we are going to get lot more shutterbugs than the previous outing!
Gotta be fun!
June 13th, 2008 - 11:15
Yup!
June 13th, 2008 - 12:12
To borrow a dialog from one of S.Ve. Sekhar’s plays, you are going to be charged with taking out a procession without a police permit !!
June 13th, 2008 - 12:14
Mukunth: That has always been the aim of the Photowalk. Pliss to refer to first photowalk post.
June 13th, 2008 - 21:13
Hey,
Hope this will pull a lot of people for our next walk.
http://www.goergo.in/index.php?s=photographer
SethuS
June 13th, 2008 - 21:22
Thanks SethuS
June 15th, 2008 - 17:50
hi…
cant come today but game 4 22nd…..
btw mr. chudan….,
what is strength by now…????
June 18th, 2008 - 14:17
Hey guys,
Is it going to be the same starting point for the 22nd also, do update on the time and the venue pls…
Thanks.
June 19th, 2008 - 16:35
June 19th, 2008 - 22:56
snack?
Was it sponsored?
Will it be so this weekend as well?
Btw, are we alllowed to come for both weekends?
June 21st, 2008 - 19:15
Wish I’d got to know about this earlier. Planning to join in tomorrow, though.
Can you please tell me where exactly in Panagal Park are you planning to start?
June 27th, 2008 - 12:01
When the next photwalk going to be. I would like to join you ppl..
June 27th, 2008 - 12:17
Not sure yet, Harish. Will post about it as soon as I decide.
May 1st, 2009 - 21:21
Since I am from Tambaram, I can vouch for the place.
Through not old buildings, You get real good place to photograp of historic temples near Perungalathu, Vandaloor(Zoo area). Thirneer malai near meenambakkam is also a good place. I really miss chennai a lot
. Meet soon in some time 
May 22nd, 2009 - 15:07
hi, heard a lot about the photowalks… am new to the photowalks… heard from Rahul Sadagoppan some time back…. shall I join you guys? Pls let me know…