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January 01, 2007

Guest Flogger: Preston MerchantBlog

Every good mutiny needs a photographer or two associated with it. Someone needs to document the “grand struggle,” just as Henri Cartier-Bresson documented some of Gandhi’s. To start off 2007 we have a little treat for you. Preston Merchant, the photographer shooting away at many of our NYC meet-ups, is traveling in Kenya right now and will be training his eye and camera on the Indian diaspora there. Before he proceeds we should clear up a few questions you might have:

Statement: Oh, Merchant! Way to represent the Parsees. Finally, some more diversity on SM.

Response: Nope. Preston is white. He is not Parsi (not that you can’t have a white Parsi).

Statement: Whoa. What’s up with letting a colonialist in the house?

Response: Remember the movie Lagaan? How all the villagers banded together to play cricket and won over the hearts of their colonialist oppressors, and how Amir Khan even won the eye of that one white British lady? It is the same thing. SM is like that cricket team but Preston thankfully doesn’t sing.

Preston isn’t just over there taking pictures for no reason. He is working on a book titled IndiaWorld about the Indian diaspora and has already visited South Africa, Dubai, Trinidad, and Guyana, in addition to his work here in the States. In Kenya he will be focusing especially on the Ismaili Muslim community. I’ll let him explain to us about that though. Get ready for a good flogging.

abhi on January 1, 2007 11:43 AM in Blog · T·r·a·c·k·b·a·c·k address · Direct link · Email post



25 comments

 1 · Bong Breaker on January 1, 2007 12:05 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

So if SM's the kirkit team (bagsy I'm Kachra)...
Does that mean Preston is Elizabeth Russell?
Who does he fall in love with?
Who's the person he falls in love with actually in love with?
Are white parsis like white chocolates? Not as nice as the brown ones?
Is asking a question really a statement?

Abhi. This metaphor needs some serious explaining.


 2 · Abhi on January 1, 2007 12:08 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)
Abhi. This metaphor needs some serious explaining.

I didn't get home until 3a.m. and woke up with sore kidneys. It would be amazing if I made any sense at all.


 3 · Msichana on January 1, 2007 12:11 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Woah!

Preston is in Kenya!

I hyperventilated at that information. I'm sure he knows about this but the Nairobi Museum has an awesome exhibition on the Asian influence in Kenya.

Welcome to the Mutiny Preston!! And bottle up some Kenyan air for the likes of me and kenyandesi!


 4 · Vikram on January 1, 2007 12:25 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Wonder if he ever gets mistaken for Terry O'Quinn (Locke on "Lost")


 5 · Bong Breaker on January 1, 2007 12:31 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)
I didn't get home until 3a.m. and woke up with sore kidneys

Man I know that feeling. You're out, you're having a few drinks with the boys and then BAM you're in a dumpster with a monkey sandpapering your kidneys. Oh, good times.


 6 · AmsterdamGuy on January 1, 2007 12:51 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Not only is the guy a good photographer, gives out good travel advices too!
And knows Indian (or south asian) society/mentality as if he was one.


 7 · Nina P on January 1, 2007 01:01 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Great. Now I'm stuck with the image of the image of Preston running around in a fluttery red dress while longingly snapping pictures.


 8 · DesiDancer on January 1, 2007 02:36 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Great pick for a guest bflogger! What a nice start to the new year


 9 · Janeofalltrades on January 1, 2007 02:44 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Preston is the man. White on the outside and hella brown on the inside!! Welcome Preson.


 10 · Camille on January 1, 2007 02:52 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Welcome, Preston! This is so exciting :)


 11 · Shruti on January 1, 2007 02:54 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

:D Preston is totally that one British lady.

Now I can visit Sepia Mutiny and see his pictures in small, manageable increments. Because going to his website makes me a slave to my OCD. To others who have photo-viewing addictions: be careful when visiting Preston's website. Too many amazing photos!


 12 · Whose God is it anyways? on January 1, 2007 02:56 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

what a great resource, on so many levels, and eyeopener this project is. thanks.


 13 · tamasha on January 1, 2007 03:00 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Great way to start off the new year!

Also this:

Are white parsis like white chocolates? Not as nice as the brown ones?
is hilarious.


 14 · GauravM on January 1, 2007 03:18 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Hey man - i take offense - white chocolates are SOOO much better than the brown ones....especially Lindt (mmmmm) and yes i mean chocolate NOT people :P


 15 · coach diesel on January 1, 2007 03:42 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

I second Shruti. I get way overstimulated by all of my visiting Prestons work. (Overstimulated like when you go to an art museum, not in the other way ;)This will be a manageable treat. Good idea, whoever thunk it!


 16 · Pooja on January 1, 2007 03:50 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

How cool! Looking forward to seeing your fabulous photos.


 17 · Sriram on January 1, 2007 04:21 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Welcome Preston, I'm looking forward to your posts.


 18 · No Desh on January 1, 2007 04:44 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

As a fellow photographer, albeit a non-commercial one, I too look forward to seeing your travel images...


 19 · Kenyandesi on January 1, 2007 05:05 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

YaY!


 20 · badmash on January 1, 2007 05:50 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Whoa - you guys scored with this one! Welcome brotha Preston.


 21 · Rafi on January 1, 2007 08:43 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Hmm, ismailis in Kenya.. . . now that is a topic on which substantial ink and paper has already been wasted. . . being an ismaili, i knew there was a reason why I am such a big fan of SM.


 22 · Suraj on January 1, 2007 08:55 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Thanks Abhi!

Will look forward to the eye opening 'education'!!


 23 · niki on January 1, 2007 10:40 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

What a cool name.. Preston Merchant!


 24 · chitrana on January 1, 2007 11:48 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Thanks for blogging, looking forward to your posts.


 25 · Jai Singh on January 2, 2007 09:51 AM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)

Preston, welcome to SM. Thank you for bringing some much-needed diversity to the blog (and my thanks to Abhi for the same reason).


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