THE ARCHIVIST

The story behind Life To Everything.

THE JOURNEY

My name is Hariharan Gopal. While I am a photographer by trade, I view myself primarily as an archivist based in Chennai, India.

For over ten years, I have traveled to the corners of India not just to take pictures, but to save stories. From the fire rituals of the south to the silent mountains of the north, my journey is about preserving these moments before they fade away.

WHY "LIFE TO EVERYTHING"?

I believe that everything around us—a stone, a dancer, a tree—has a spirit. My goal is simple: I want my photos to show that life. When you look at this archive, I don't want you to just see an image; I want you to feel the presence of the moment.

Real &
Unstaged

The Inferno Walker - A devotee traverses the boundary between man and myth, illuminated by the sparks of the ritual fire.
The Inferno Walker - A devotee traverses the boundary between man and myth, illuminated by the sparks of the ritual fire.

I don't use models and I don't direct the scene. I wait. I spend time with the communities I visit, waiting for the authentic moment to reveal itself. Every artifact in this collection is a candid documentation of a real event.

I don't use models and I don't direct the scene. I wait. I spend time with the communities I visit, waiting for the authentic moment to reveal itself. Every artifact in this collection is a candid documentation of a real event.

An Animist does not just observe nature; they serve it.

In my travels, I have met the custodians of these arts—day laborers in salt pans and farmers who fight to keep the culture alive amidst poverty. I have also witnessed sacred landscapes choked by plastic and neglect.

An Animist does not just observe nature; they serve it.

In my travels, I have met the custodians of these arts—day laborers in salt pans and farmers who fight to keep the culture alive amidst poverty. I have also witnessed sacred landscapes choked by plastic and neglect.

THE
PLEDGE

The archive is not a one-way street. 25% of all proceeds from prints and projects are donated back to the communities and environments that allowed me to capture them. When you acquire an artifact, you are helping to keep the source alive.

The archive is not a one-way street. 25% of all proceeds from prints and projects are donated back to the communities and environments that allowed me to capture them. When you acquire an artifact, you are helping to keep the source alive.

The archive is not a one-way street. 25% of all proceeds from prints and projects are donated back to the communities and environments that allowed me to capture them. When you acquire an artifact, you are helping to keep the source alive.

Services

Services

Limited Edition Prints

Limited Edition Prints

Limited Edition Prints

Commissioned Projects

Commissioned Projects

Commissioned Projects

Editorial Licensing

Editorial Licensing

Editorial Licensing

Cultural Preservation

Cultural Preservation

Cultural Preservation

Workshops

Workshops

Workshops