Fired Up to Shoot

For Rajneesh Kondwilkar,it’s been a 24/7 call of duty since he took up the job of a photographer with the Mumbai Fire Brigade in November 1988.

Kondwilkar is the first ever photographer to be recruited since the inception of the fire department about a century ago.

Right from experiencing a scary HPCL naphtha tank explosion nine days after he joined the department till the 26/11 terror attacks and the more recent Zaveri Bazaar fire,it’s been a hectic and challenging ride for this 43-year-old,who still uses a Nikon F 3 film camera to capture those disastrous visuals that speak not only a thousand words,but also tell tales of tragedy,loss and human negligence.

Kondwilkar,who has no words to describe his 26/11 experience,is keen on highlighting the risks and hazards faced by the fire fighters,captured through his lens.

“My idea is to highlight the work of the fire officials and their accessories and also to make people understand the enormity of the incident. People are usually not aware of the risks and I try to capture those moments in the line of duty and the risks involved so that people can think and brood over it,” Kondwilkar says.

According to him,it’s a learning experience for the people who might come across his visuals through media or other mediums like the Fire Week observed in the month of April every year,where his photographs are exhibited. Also,lectures are arranged in companies,hospitals and schools where talks about fire safety are backed with his photographs for greater impact on the listeners.

“Earlier when I used to see photos in papers I could not grasp the actual reality at the site of the accident. But when I took up this job I understood the terrifying reality of such incidents,” Kondwilkar reveals.

A resident of Agripada,the luxury of taking holidays looks quite far fetched for this lone photographer of the fire brigade as he can be summoned to work any day,any time. “If I am out of the city and some major disaster happens,a photo opportunity would be missed,” says Kondwilkar,adding how he missed the July 26 deluge of 2005 as he was bed ridden at the time.

Kondwilkar admits that even his wife and two children find it hard to understand his line of work. “Now when they hear the sirens they look out of the window to see if papa is in the vehicle,” Kondwilkar says,with a smile.

Kondwilkar has high regard for the fire fighters as if it was not for them he would not venture in and take risks. “I trust them and venture deep into the spots. I’m not that scared when they are around,” Kondwilkar explains.

With 20 years experience,Kondwilkar has learned a thing or two about nuances of fire safety and destruction which gives him an added advantage while clicking those scorching visuals.