Rajiv Chopra

Seven Cities of Delhi Rajiv Chopra

This is a book of photography, and of history. Delhi is made up of seven, or eight, or nine cities, depending on how you would like to count the cities and the growth of Delhi. The seven cities have been chosen because they are representative of the growth of the city, and have been critical to the development of what Delhi is today. The accent has been on photographing the monuments of Delhi. The photographs of each city have been processed digitally. Vintage processes have been simulated in Photoshop, and the photographs of each city have been processed with a different technique. As far as possible, the effort has been to mirror the chronological development of Delhi, with a scaled down chronological development of photography. There is beauty and drama in Delhi, as well as in it's history. Many men and women have contributed to its growth and development into a major megalopolis. Their deeds have played a seminal role in making Delhi what it is today. It is a city that blends modernity, chaos with the memories and bones of the dead. In a similar vein, there is mystery and magic in some of the vintage processes of photography. Without the sheer innovation and inventiveness of the men and women in the 1800's and 1900's, photography would not be what it is today. This book attempts to blend both - the history of Delhi, with aspects of the history of photography.