As cultural documentary photographer and National Geographic photographer Ira Block is roaming the streets of the countries he visits, he aims to create images that are much more than snapshots. His imagery tells a story, captures a culture and evokes a feeling. On a recent trip to India, Block brought the Sony Alpha 7C II and a G Master II zoom lens trinity – the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II, Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II and Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II.

He's already shared with us how he documented the local vibe using his Sony Alpha 7C II and Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II, and he’s showed us how he used the camera paired with his Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II to capture an image of a well-known temple handheld in low light. In this article, Block takes us to Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. Keep reading as he shares how he created this shot using the Sony Alpha 7C II paired with the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II.

Photo by Ira Block. Sony Alpha 7C II. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/250-sec., f/4, ISO 400

Ira Block shares how he used the Sony Alpha 7C II with the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II to capture one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi.

A Long Lens Situation

From Block’s view, he knew he would need a telephoto zoom to capture this scene the way he wanted to. It’s an incredibly densely populated area, and he would need to take a step back to really include what he wanted in the frame. “I took this photo from up on a hill,” explains Block. “From this big mosque area you could see down into the street. This is a situation where I needed the long lens, and that’s why I used my Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II for this shot.”

This particular lens is the lightest in its class, and one that Block has no problem carrying around for street and travel photography. Combined with the Sony Alpha 7C II, he’s able to get unique shots that give people a sense of place. “When I'm with local cultures, which I like to photograph, and I'm in situations where I don't want to be obtrusive – these smaller cameras are terrific,” he says.

When A Photo Makes You Feel

As you look at this image of Chandni Chowk, it’s like you can feel the chaos of the crowded street. “The compression effect with this lens in this photograph really works,” Block says. “I shot this at 200mm, as I was being careful about my composition. Then I shot at f/4 to get a little depth of field and I purposely kept the wires in the frame because it just adds to the total confusion of the scene.”

“It's really not even the compression that's making it look so crowded,” he continues. “I was down in that, and it’s just crowded. It was especially crowded then because we were a couple of days short of Diwali, the Festival of Lights. So many people were out shopping and it was even more crowded than normal. But it’s the kind of picture that when you see it, you can just kind of feel it. You can feel the chaotic energy as if you’re there.”

It’s not just the chaos in the photograph, it’s the details within the chaos that makes the image so compelling. “You can see the bananas in the corner, bicycles trying to make their way through the crowd. A picture that shows chaos, but the details.”

Stay tuned to Alpha Universe for more articles featuring Block and his cultural documentary photography. See more of his work on Instagram @irablockphoto.