WELCOME TO CALCUTTA
Photography by Mark Wylderness

Enter the life of Calcutta

On a recent festival tour of Northern India, local musician and photographer
Mark Wylderness went onto the streets of Calcutta with his camera.

Two young beggars

Father and baby

Upon his return he secluded himself in the darkroom at
Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School where he is the media teacher. 
What emerged from the wash was a series of striking images
from the streets of Calcutta, where millions of people
live their whole lives in public.

A stark play area

Three smiling friends

Happy teenagers

The young make do with whatever space they can find to amuse themselves.

Improvised cricket

A questioning look

Never ending cards

Endless streets are filled with people living their lives in public.

Life on the streets

Street kitchen and haircuts define the life of this barber.

Street barber

Streetside washing

Scattered along the streets, the water pumps become a focus point
for collection and bathing.

Fetching water

Buildings are in decay but life goes on relentlessly. 

Women play by a former mansion