Mumbai North is a collection black and white - photographs taken 15,000 ft above sea level between December 2014 and November 2015 of Mumbai's suburbs by photographer Robert D Stephens.
After the success of his two previous exhibitions, 'Mumbai Articles' (2014) and 'Madras Transit' (Aug 2015) were, Stephens offers an alternate lens into the urban geography, landscape and sprawl of the city's suburbs with Mumbai North.
One of the unique aspects of this photograph is that it is accompanied by a record of air pollution levels on the corresponding day, as measured by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board as well as extracts from antiquarian books related to Mumbai, dating back to the late 1800s.
Seventeen Percent
December 2014
SO2 - 10 ug / m3
NO2 - 54 ug / m3
RSPM - 145 ug / m3
"Unlike the City, the Suburbs have some large parks comprising of the vast forest preserves. The area stretching as a continuous belt from the National Park at Borivli, covering the areas of Tulsi, Vehar and Powai Lakes and Aarey Park with a total sweep of 16,334 acres has the richest growth of woodland. Much of the belt is still in a primitive condition and inaccessible. Nestling amidst the wooded hills lie threelakes, sources of Bombay's water supply. Much has to be done to draw forth the recreational aspects in tune with the natural and topographical features. Even today, unkempt as the area may seem, the sublime natural landscape provides a handsome baitfor escape from urban rigidity; especially the lake areas with their wild landscape, the ornamental patches of well laid-out gardens set against a back-ground of more rugged growth of trees, overlooking the serene waters of the lake has a magnetic attraction that draws every citizen of Bombay at some time or the other."
Development Plan for Greater Bombay
Page 52
Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay
1964
Robert D. Stephens is a Principal at RMA Architects, Mumbai. Hispassions include the art of building and constructing beauty through visual, literary, and cinematic imagery. In 2013 he co-produced a feature film with India's first You Tube star, Wilbur Sargunaraj, entitled "Simple Superstar".
About Mumbai North
Aerial Photographs of Mumbai's Suburbs by Robert D. Stephens
Click links below to see his other collections:
Mumbai Articles Madras Transit After the success of Mumbai Articles, Stephen's contemporary black and white, aerial photographs of Mumbai city, photographer Robert D Stephens turns his attentions to the surburbs of Mumbai. This January, he brings us Mumbai North, an urban portrait collection of suburban geography, featuring black and white photographs taken 15,000 ft above sea level between December 2014 and November 2015. Suburbs documented range from Nalasopara to Bhiwandi, Vikhroli to Aarey Colony, Bandra to Kandivali, and more.