When India entered one of the world's strictest lockdowns in March 2020, photographer Prashant Godbole found himself confined to his Mumbai apartment like millions of other Indians. Rather than succumbing to the isolation, he turned his camera toward his window, beginning what would become an extraordinary visual documentation project spanning months.
The Birth of an Unplanned Project
What started as a casual attempt to capture the unusual quiet outside his window soon evolved into a disciplined daily practice. Godbole committed to photographing the view from his window at exactly 9:09 AM every single day, creating a consistent visual record of how the urban landscape transformed during unprecedented times.
The project, eventually titled 'A Scene From My Window,' resulted in 3,798 photographs that collectively tell a powerful story of India's pandemic experience. Each image, taken at the same time from the same vantage point, reveals subtle and dramatic changes in the city's life, atmosphere, and rhythm.
Capturing the Changing Urban Tapestry
Through his disciplined photographic approach, Godbole documented multiple phases of the lockdown and its gradual easing. His images capture the initial eerie silence of empty streets, followed by the tentative return of human activity, and eventually the slow resurgence of urban life.
The photographs serve as a meteorological diary, recording changing weather patterns, pollution levels, and seasonal shifts. On clear days after heavy rains, the photographer could see distant landmarks that were normally obscured by Mumbai's typical haze, revealing how reduced human activity affected air quality and visibility.
Beyond the physical landscape, the project became a study of human adaptation. Godbole captured neighbors communicating across balconies, children finding new ways to play within confined spaces, and the gradual return of street vendors and essential workers.
The Power of Constancy in Uncertain Times
The 9:09 AM ritual provided structure and purpose during months of uncertainty. This daily practice became a form of meditation and observation that helped the photographer maintain connection with the outside world while respecting lockdown protocols.
What makes the collection particularly compelling is the consistency of perspective. By maintaining the same frame, time, and viewpoint, Godbole created a controlled experiment that highlights changes that might otherwise go unnoticed in daily life.
The project demonstrates how creative constraints can fuel artistic innovation. Limited by physical space and movement restrictions, the photographer discovered infinite variety within a single view, finding new stories and details in what might initially appear to be a static scene.
Legacy of a Pandemic Visual Diary
This extensive photographic documentation now serves as an important historical record of a defining global moment. The collection captures the resilience of urban communities and the transformative power of seeing familiar spaces through new eyes.
Beyond its artistic merit, the project offers valuable insights into urban ecology, environmental changes, and human behavior during crises. Researchers and urban planners could potentially draw lessons from how cities functioned during reduced human activity.
The work stands as testament to the human need to create and document even in challenging circumstances. It reminds us that profound stories can emerge from the most ordinary views when observed with consistency and attention.
As cities worldwide return to their pre-pandemic rhythms, projects like 'A Scene From My Window' preserve the memory of this extraordinary period, offering future generations a window into how urban India paused, adapted, and eventually revived during one of modern history's most significant global events.
