Best Places for Street Photography in Kolkata (Visitor’s Photowalk Guide)

Kolkata is one of the best places for street photography in India. My other favourites are Mumbai, Hyderabad and Delhi.

The people are friendly, the city has its own character very different from any other city. The colonial backdrops, the busy markets, the ghats of Hooghly, the manual rickshaws together with some amazing light make some great pictures.

If you’re visiting and searching for the best street photography spots in Kolkata (or planning a photowalk / street photography workshop / photography tour), here are a few locations that consistently deliver strong frames.

My Kolkata Photowalk Pictures

See my pictures of Kolkata in better resolution here .

(for computer users)

Mullick Ghat Flower Market

Best time: Sunrise time to 8:00 AM

What to shoot?
Flower sellers arranging garlands, buyers negotiating, workers resting between loads.
Layers of people with the iron structure of Howrah Bridge above, backlit portraits, and motion blur with long exposures

Tips:
After shooting in the main area, go to the bylanes which are also full of activities and flowers. Also go to the Mullick Ghat area. You will see people taking baths and performing their morning rituals with the Howrah bridge in the background. If you are lucky, you will see the traditional wrestlers too.

New Market (Hogg Market)

Best time: Morning 8am onwards after the market starts warming up.

What to shoot?
Sellers selling chicken, mutton, eggs and fish. The traffic chaos. The interaction of the buyers and sellers.

Tips:
Enter the main market area. It's a closed space with very little light. There is not much choice but to shoot at higher ISOs. Then walk around the area. You will find a lot of activities here.

Bara Bazaar / Burrabazar 

Best time: 8am - 10 am Good light and activities.

What to shoot?
Bara Bazaar is one of the biggest markets in Kolkata. You will find a lot of workers loading and unloading stuff from trucks. This makes some good pictures.

College Street (Boipara) + Indian Coffee House

Best time: Afternoon (when the book market is lively and the light is great)

What to shoot?
Buying and selling of books.
Boipara (literally Booktown) is the Kumbh for students. New books, used books, rare books, common books, novels, curriculum books - you will find it all here. 

Tips:
Try to find a bookstore with a lot of students and seller interaction. Or a shop with an old owner with an interesting face. Also go to India Coffee House. Its a historical place, you can enjoy your coffee and get some good shots too.

Kumartuli (Potters’ Colony)

Best time: Afternoon is the best time to come here. This place wakes up quite late.

What to shoot?

Artisans working on the idols. You will see different stages of making of an idol depending on the time you visit. If you visit at a time when a festival is close, you will mostly see that idol. For example, you you come in October before the Durga puja, you will see a lot of Durga idols along with accompanying gods.

Tips:
Don't interfere with the work of the artisans or create a difficult situation for them. Let them do their work. There had been incidents in the past where photographers went to shoot and the idols got damaged. They ran away without paying any compensation.

Princep Ghat & Babu Ghat

Best time: Sunset to blue hour

What to Shoot?
Couples, families, boatmen, and classic Kolkata leisure scenes—excellent for silhouettes, reflections, etc.



Maidan

Best time: Morning is the best time to go here especially during the winter months. With the mist around, you can get some really great shots.

What to shoot?
The horses, the people playing cricket with the Victoria Memorial in the background.

Kolay Market, Sealdah

Best time: Ater 10am

What to shoot?

This is probably one of the largest vegetable markets I have seen with lots of activities happening. The porters carry massive loads and walk in tandem. And of course the usual market activities that you find in any market in India - the interaction between the buyers and sellers.

 

If you are interested in a guided tour in Kolkata or anywhere else in India, please feel free to contact me.

Tips for photographers

Street Photography Tips for Kolkata Photography

Go at the recommended time
Some places are great in the morning and some others in the afternoon. Go at a time when the places look at their best. I have mentioned the timings for best pictures above.

Break into 2 sessions
Kolkata is hot and humid most of the year except December and January. Go early, shoot. Take rest or work on your pictures. Have lunch. Go back again. In this way, you will be at your best and will enjoy shooting in the places.

Choose your favourite lens based on your style
I cannot suggest a best lens. It will be based on your preference and style. Personally, I love shooting with a 35mm most of the time. I do keep a 24-70mm with me in case I need to go wide but mostly it rests in my bag.

Respect people
Kolkata people are very friendly. I have never had a difficult situation. However, the universal unwritten rules that we follow in the streets are always applicable. I don’t disturb or interfere in people’s activities. I let them do their job and I do my job.

Say Thank You and smile
Smile is a language that everyone in the world understands. Additionally, if Im taking a specific persons picture, I show them in my lcd. It always brings a smile. In fact, I get my best pictures after hanginng around for a bit longer time when they resume their business and I get the candid shots that I want.

Shooting during the Festivals
Kolkata is at its best during the Durga Puja. The festive mood in in the air and its a different vibe. However, most places are overcrowded.

Travelling around in Kolkata
Uber is one of the best and easiest ways to travel in Kolkata. You can have your own taxi for the day but it will be a lot more expensive.

Use Google Maps
Make a note of the places you are planning to visit on Google Maps. It will help you understand your orientation.

Consider a guided street photography workshop
If it is your first time in Kolkata, consider going with someone who knows the place well so that you can make the best use of your time.

If you are interested in a guided tour in Kolkata or anywhere else in India, please feel free to contact me.

Thanksgiving

Thanks to all participants of my photowalks.

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