“Phantasmagoria” a sequence of real or imaginary images like those seen in a dream.
It’s a term that comes to mind when trying to describe a trip to Southern India. The colors, the sights, the music, the culture, the food, the art and architecture, the spirituality…they all seem like parts of an exotic movie, far removed from our Western way of life.
We were privileged to spend 16 days with Jock Montgomery and his wife, Annie Minisloux, exploring the various states of Southern India, absorbing all the experiences of the region, and working to capture in images and videos the essence of the place. This part of India is separate in meaningful ways from Northern India, showcasing spectacular village rituals, amazing temple architecture, remarkable dance traditions and costumes, cruises on the Kerala backwaters, and many other fascinating elements of life in the region. Overshadowing it all is the universal power of bright color in all things: clothing, boats, houses, temples, costumes, etc., creating a kaleidoscope of images. Those incredible colorful images are the main reason so many photographers are drawn to India, as I have been.
