The Katha Collective

Cellphone photography is slowly being accepted as a serious genre of photography in India. One initiative to bring the spotlight on talented Indian cellphone photographers comes the Katha Collective.

The feed, curated by photographer Ritesh Uttamchandani, will feature one photographer for a period of time, unravelling their photo essays in a post or two each day. The collective is open to both long and short form photo stories. They kick off their first post today with photographs by Anushree Fadnavis, whose series beckons you into the world of the second class ladies compartment on a Mumbai local train.

You can follow the Katha Collective on Instagram and Facebook and you can submit your photo stories to kathacollective@gmail.com

Photograph/Anushree Fadnavis

“As the first train of the day gently rolls out of Virar, the northernmost tip on the Western segment of Bombay’s train network, Jaya and Anita say a quiet prayer for a safe and peaceful journey. The two women from the Koli community travel everyday on the 3.25 am rake to the southern end of the city, to Churchgate and onwards to a fishing depot called Bhaucha Dhakka (aka Ferry Wharf) to buy fresh fish at wholesale rates. They return immediately to sell the day’s haul in their own localities and markets. Accompanied by vegetable sellers, milkmen and railway employees, the women complete the 60 km long commute in two hours. To kill time, they catch up on their sleep, like many others who endure the same length of the journey for their livelihoods.”