Glimpses of Kathmandu    

Due to its stunning scenery, much of the photography that has emerged from Nepal over the years has tended towards glimmering, postcard-type images. The result of this is that present-day photography in Nepal is in a repetitive cycle, in which most of the images produced replicate those that have been published many times before.

The following collection of photographs – taken by young Nepali, Bangladeshi, and Norwegian photographers – represents a shift away from this postcard photography, to a more intimate and nuanced exploration of Kathmandu’s everyday life. Every photograph was taken with a 35mm camera, with the zoom lens taped down. The photographers adapted this method to more directly confront conceptions and dynamics of space, as it mediated their experiences.

Additionally, these photographs are also a search for a city's soul. They suggest that the spirit of Kathmandu – or any city – shouldn’t be defined in its landmarks or monuments, but in the ephemeral spaces of off-guard moments, its people, and common experiences. It is this essence that these young photographers tried to capture in their images.

The photographs shown here are taken from a newly released book, Kathmandu, A Pocketful of Momos.