Ritam Banerjee : In conversation with a photographer

Based out of Mumbai, Ritam has never quite understood the need to create a niche. Shooting extensively across categories—travel, photojournalism, advertising, interiors, portraits, automobiles, fashion, food—he has always sought inspiration and challenge in variety. From training his lens at the blazing dome of the Taj Palace & Tower when Mumbai was under siege in 2008 to documenting the placid course of the middle and lower Ganges, Ritam has framed things as disparate as spas and slums, ketchup and cars.

Over the last decade, Ritam has worked with corporates and publications across continents, and has also been associated with the global agency, Getty Images.
 
Apart from stills, he shoots commercial AVs, and has recently won an International Best Cinematographer Award in London for his first feature film. Ritam has also been in the news for his theme-based calendars and his exhibitions.

Why are you a photographer?
Guess, I couldn’t think or dream of doing anything else. Life is all about what we see and the way we see them. So, perhaps, the innate desire to tell stories the way I see it led me to photography. Whether it’s documenting something or creating a piece of art, capturing a moment or depicting an idea, it’s really about telling a story and telling it well.

Do you remember any decisive moment when you felt ‘I want to be a photographer’?
My father, Robin Banerjee, was a serious hobbyist and still practices photography for the pure love of the medium. Seeing him and his work when I was growing up must have influenced my decision. So when I got the first opportunity to explore photography during my college days in Fergusson, Pune, I took it seriously and started my journey as a photojournalist with the Times of India, Pune edition. I haven’t looked back since.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
Like I said: my father. His passion for the art was contagious. Thanks to him, I was exposed to the works of legends like Richard Avedon, Herb Ritts, Steve Mccurry, Annie Leibovitz, Ansel Adams, Robert Capa, Patrick Demarchelier, Max Vadukul, Henri Cartier Bresson, Raghu Rai, Raghubir Singh, Gautam Rajadhyaksha, Prabuddha Dasgupta and several others. Even painters, musicians and filmmakers influenced my sensibilities.

Though I grew up in a small town– Jamshedpur — my upbringing made the canvas in front of me that much wider. From Michael Jackson to Tchaikovsky, Monet to Nandalal Bose, Tagore to Shakespeare, Satyajit Ray to Vittorio De Sica, my education in aesthetics and culture has luckily been quite diverse.

Who was the most influential personality in your career in photography?
As I just mentioned, there were several who influenced my ideas and opinions. Hence, naming one personality wouldn’t do justice.

How has photography changed over the course of the last couple of decades? Is execution/art direction more important than it used to be?
With time, everything evolves. So has photography and us as practitioners of the art. Sensibilities have changed and so have the tools and techniques. The ability to instantly view the results and even tweak the images at will in post-production effectively means: one’s only limitation is the periphery of one’s imagination.

And yes, eye for detail, subtlety in styling and approach, precision in execution and innovation and imagination in art direction has resulted in a sea of change in the manner in which we even perceive an image today.

Given a choice, no other constraints, film or digital?
Both have their own charm. It’s like saying Test Cricket or T20?

What do you think of the current state of Print Advertising photography in India? Is it at par with the work done worldwide?
Print advertising has evolved many folds in India. Not only in terms of ideation, even in terms of execution, we have achieved very high standards. Not only photography, but in many cases, even CGI has had a major role to play. Several jobs done here today are definitely at par with the work done worldwide.

Where do you get your inspiration?
From sounds of nature to people on the streets, everything influences my thoughts and ideas. I keep an open mind, as one never knows what might trigger that ‘Eureka’ moment. No matter where I am, be it in a coffee shop or in the middle of maddening traffic, I keep looking around. I often shoot such moments with my iPhone. Works of different artists also influence me. Whenever I get a chance, I try and collaborate with different artists to not just create but to learn and get inspired. This year too, I did two calendars, one with the dance maestro, Astad Deboo in Mexico and the other with the sculptor, Arzan Khambatta in Mumbai.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit photography?
I would be lying if I said no. There have been times, when the work at hand hasn’t challenged me creatively or technically. There have also been moments when the demands of the job have been unreasonable to the point of being silly. Sometimes things have seemed monotonous. Thankfully, such instances have been few and far between.
What’s your dream project?
Several. But if I had to choose one, it would involve travelling across the globe and collaborating with artists, designers and models from varied ethnicities to create a seamless confluence of different worlds within each frame.

Who would you want to spend a dinner with?
Since I stay away from my family and the demands of my job don’t allow me much quality time with them, I always lookout for the next opportunity to have dinner with them.

Whats on your iPod?
I like all kinds of music. From classical ragas to rock, from Bollywood’s latest number to Hungarian folk, I love it all. What I play, from Bob Dylan to Munni badman hui, depends on my mood.

Mac or PC?
Mac. Since I have been using it for quite a while now. I guess, I am too used to it.

Ritam can be contacted via his website here.

 

 

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Charudutt Chitrak : Interview with a photographer

“I would rather talk about me through my pictures than in words. And may be thats why I m a Photographer.”

I have always tried to create pictures that come through self expression, even in advertising no matter how tight the clients brief is .
So you would know something about me in most of my images.

According to me a picture is pointless without a photographers view point a photographer has to put something of himself in every picture he takes whether it is for selling a product in advertising, documenting the truth in journalism or the opulence in fashion.

Why are you a photographer?
Because nothing seemed easier to me, as per me photography is extremely simple and that is what makes it so complicated.
It is one of the best ways to create art and at the same time document life ,photography gives you the power to freeze moments in time, it’s upto you how beautifully you do it.

Do you remember any decisive moment when you felt ‘I want to be a photographer’?
Wanting to give photography a try as a carrier I looked for photographer to assist.
And got an opportunity to meet Pradeep Das Gupta. It was the first meeting with him in his Khirki Studio that comes closest to that decisive moment.
I was in awe of dada as everyone fondly calls him. His personality, his work and his space left no doubt in my mind that i wanted to be a photographer.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
As I was growing up it was like any other kid in school.
My role models were Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando, Sylvester Stallone in Rocky and Cobra, Michael Jackson, George Michael, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan. In short all the role models you can think of from my generation. I was and i am still very easily influenced . It was a great time. Sorry wish I could give a more intellectual answer.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in photography?
My mentor Pradeep Das Gupta.

How has photography changed over the course of the last couple of decades? Is execution/art direction more important than it used to be?
The shift from analogue to digital did not only changed the material, but also the pivotal moment has become a product of a more conscious thinking than what we called an accidental moment. No matter how sure or planned you were while shooting on film there was always something accidental and unforeseen to the extent of being mysterious, which you only realised when the film was later developed. That was the real juice or gift of photography to a photographer. That moment does not exists anymore. You know everything before it is printed, you are too safe and anything can be changed later on Photoshop. Todays digital photography is like knowing everything about your child even before it is born. God forbid if you had the means to design your own child your would never be satisfied and thats what digital is. Analogue is like the excitement, the joy of seeing your child for the first time.

This was exactly what we saw in the work of great masters of photography whether fashion or journalism the beauty of accident.
The technique of execution was a big part of becoming a master photographer (of course the idea was always of utmost importance).
But today you don’t have to be a photographer in the literal sense the line between a photographer and visual artist has burled out.

Today we shoot and shoot till we get it perfect or rather what we think is perfect.
Since technology is in a race to make photography a child’s play, photography has come down to only the exclusivity of subject and idea.
Which kills the romance that once revolved around execution of it, going to locations, waiting for the right moment, fabricating sets, and days of planning a shoot is in most cases has been replaced by green screen with endless days of staring into a monitor.

What do you think of the current state of Print Advertising photography in India? Is it at par with the work done worldwide?
Are you kidding..
Unfortunately today advertising and therefore advertising photography with it, is a money game. Photographers come under the category of vendors
India is going through a phase where quantity is more important than quality. Furthermore the lack of awareness and understanding of art in majority of our population makes it even worse.

To be fair we cannot compare Indian photography to the world because considering the history of advertising photography in the west we are mere infants.

I am not saying that India advertising photography is not at par with the world but there is a lack of personal style and originality in our work which is because photographers here are not encouraged or chosen for a particular assignment on the basis of there personal style but for all the other reasons like rapport, cost factors etc. May be that is why we don’t have photographers in India like David LaChappel, Helmut Newton, Antin Corbjin, Tim Walker, Steven Meisel, who have their own distinct styles. S o much so that sometimes campaigns are designed around them.

Where do you get your inspiration?
From everything around me.
Anything and everything.
Was there any time when you wanted to quit photography?
As they say once a photographer always a photographer.
You just cant stop looking at the world in light, shade , objects, perspective and shapes.

So yes quitting photography would only mean two things not earning my bread and butter through it or when i have nothing left to say.

Any current work in Indian Advertising that you find exciting? Especially Print?
Hoping to see one soon.

Whats your dream project?
My dream project would be to create fashion images influenced by social issues and current affairs. I feel in india our view on fashion photography is very limited to conventional aesthetics and beauty (what ever that means). And this is most evident in the field of celebrity portraits in India. I would really enjoy shooting a series of Indian celebrity portraits in my own way. Something that talks about there achievements, personality secrets etc. Rather than just a beauty picture.

Who would you want to spend a dinner with?
I. Cant think of one person I am more influenced and greater than that.

Whats on your iPod?
I can’t find my i pod may be its lost. But if you want to know what was on it then everything from trance to techno, underground to U2, Sting etc.

Mac or PC?
I am not a techno loyalist.
Which ever is more convenient and simpler to use at that moment.
Currently Mac though.

 

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Giving birth to the same idea / Y’a pas photo!

birth2007 birth2013
THE ORIGINAL? 
Telia « Football (soccer) everywhere » – 2007
Source : Adsoftheworld
Agency : McCann Erickson Stockholm (Sweden)
LESS ORIGINAL
Olé Sports News – 2013
Source : AdForum, Cannes SILVER LION
Agency : Young & Rubicam Buenos Aires (Argentina)

The Frail Photography

Coup de cœur pour le travail de Htet T. San : une photographe birmane qui nous propose de magnifiques images. Aujourd’hui basée à New York, l’artiste nous dévoile des clichés réunies dans la série « The Frail Second », jouant avec talent sur les reflets de l’eau. A découvrir dans la suite.

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Vintage Crime Scene Superimposed

Le photographe américain Marc A. Hermann issu de la New York Press Photographers Association a recréé des scènes de crimes en faisant un mashup de photos d’archives tirées du New York Daily News et de photographies actuelles prises selon le même angle. Un travail historique bluffant à découvrir.

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Self Portraiting Dogs / La même « patte » créative?

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THE ORIGINAL? 
Pet Beauty – 04/2013
Source : Coloribus
Agency : Tuppi (Brazil)
THE ORIGINAL?
Chapion Pet Food « For better looking dogs » – 04/2013
Source : Coloribus
Agency : Porta Santiago (Chile)

Nitin Patel : Photography

Why are you a photographer?
Because I think that is the only thing I am good at.

Do you remember any decisive moment when you felt ‘I want to be a photographer’?
Not really, But few things I had In my mind very clear when I started thinking about What I want to do in Life & for my Living,
Rather sitting at one place for the whole day it’s better to explore world around you.
According to me, observing things is much better then to read, write or listen in LIFE.
Work when you want to, not like you have to.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
My Dad.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in photography?
It’s hard to say just one name because I have been influenced from many people who have come across in my life at different point of time. For Example initial stage of my career there was not much easy access to see, learn and understand other photographer’s who work overseas. The only time you can see their work was in some big exhibition or in books or some international magazine around you. But Now the Scenario has got changed after the computing world. We can easily see anyone’s work just on a click. Few People who really influenced me in Photography are Hardeep Sachdev, Ronny Sequeira, Henri Cartier Bresson, Raghu Rai, Prabhudas Gupta, Herb Ritts, Paolo Roversi, Peter Lindbergh and Annie Leibovitz are few names from the list.

How has photography changed over the course of the last couple of decades? Is execution/art direction more important than it used to be?
I really don’t know about the couple of decades. I am there from Last 1 decade only ;-) . What change I can see clearly is, there is no one eye execution after the digital has come in the market. Film was there, when I was introduced to the world of photography. All photographers use to shoot mostly on film. Art or creative director use to get few Polaroid’s in their hand to see how the final image is going to look like. But now in the digital age interference of all the creative and other Talents has been increased so much that they can get to see each and every frame as a Polaroid. It is equally good and bad that’s what I think. It is very hard to execute what you have in your mind in the beginning of the shoot, when so many people are involved in the execution process your vision gets diluted somewhere, that’s what I think. These day’s I don’t see that individual style which use to be earlier. There was a time we use to guess the photographer who is behind the Image by his own individual style.

Given a choice, no other constraints, film or digital?
ANY TIME “FILM”. It has a History of more then 100 years.

What do you think of the current state of Print Advertising photography in India? Is it at par with the work done worldwide?
It is still in progress. Agencies should come out from their comfort zone and try new talents.

Where do you get your inspiration?
From the life around.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit photography?
What…  ! ! !
Any current work in Indian Advertising that you find exciting? Especially Print?
Still yet to come on billboards.

Whats your dream project?
Keep on working good.

Who would you want to spend a dinner with?
I prefer my family should be around more than anybody else.

Whats on your iPod?
Indian Ocean, Nusrat, S.D. Burman, R.D. Burman, Mukesh, and few folk and sufi.

Mac or PC?
Was this a Question !!! Really….

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Omkar Chitnis : Photographer

“I a Mumbai based photographer. I completed my graduation from J. J. Institute of Applied Art, Mumbai in 2007 with photography as Major. My college years not only groomed me aesthetically but also provided me with a sound understanding of photography as well as related media.
Having assisted the ace fashion photographer Prasad Naik, I started on my own in 2009. In past two years he has worked for clients like Kaya Skin Clinic, Red Fm, Vodafone, Reliance, Officer’s Choice, Yes Bank, Axis Bank, Wagh Bakri Tea, Aquaguard, Aquasure, Vinegar and many more.
I believe in learning by best of his abilities & making most of any opportunity.”

Why are you a photographer?
I don’t really remember how I decided to be a photographer. I had this connection with camera since I was a kid. I had a toy camera, which kept me busy for hours. Somewhere I knew I liked this field. Once I got into J. J. School of Art I got the opportunity to know photography in better sense. In my 3rd year I chose photography over other elective subjects because I knew this is what I am good at than anything else. And that’s how it started.

Do you remember any decisive moment when you felt ‘I want to be a photographer?’
Once I was discussing with my uncle about photography and its prospects so he said ‘Why don’t you try your hand on my SLR? Try it for few days and you’ll know yourself.’ That’s how I got SLR in my hands for the first time. After spending hours n hours experimenting with it I was pretty sure that I want to be a photographer.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
It amazes me when I look back that I never had a role model in particular. When I was growing up I got inspired a lot by what was happening around me. There was not specific person or thing, I used to admire any quality of any random thing.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in photography?
Since I started assisting Prasad Naik, he became my mentor & inspiration. Whatever I am right now is majorly about what I learnt from him. Even Prabuddha Dasgupta and Patrick Demarchelier’s work fascinates me a lot. I can just keep looking at their work for hours.

How has photography changed over the course of the last couple of decades? Is execution/art direction more important than it used to be?
The photography has changed from analog to digital in recent years and I think that is a major shift we have seen. Not just the technique but even the approach has changed. In analog photographer cannot see the result instantly, also it is expensive. You cannot go on shooting hundreds of films as you can shoot hundreds of frames in digital. So study of the frame before actually shooting it was a crucial part and it demanded a lot of precision. Whereas in digital, it is convenient and economical because we can shoot a lot of frames and see the result immediately at much lesser cost. But at times because of it, photographers tend to rely on technology a bit too much. Execution & art direction have always been important, its just that now their importance has gained a wide acknowledgement.

Given a choice, no other constraints, film or digital?
Film anytime.

What do you think of the current state of Print Advertising photography in India? Is it at par with the work done worldwide?
I think the sector is emerging. With some good ad agencies coming up with better ideas and excellent execution, the print advertising is making wonderful progress. Also there is much more skilled labour available in India than it used to be earlier, may those be stylists, photographers, art directors, etc.

Where do you get your inspiration?
I’m an artist so I draw inspiration from absolutely anything. May it be an article, a poem, a painting, a song, a concept or at times my own work. But to name a few Raja Ravi Verma, Smita Patil & Frida Kahlo are some inspiring personalities. Specifically talking about photography Prabuddha Dasgupta and Prasad Naik always inspired me.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit photography?
No. Obviously there have been hard times in my life but I never doubted about my skill. I never had plan B.

Any current work in Indian Advertising that you find exciting? Especially Print?
Not really. Recently I have not come across anything striking in print advertising. But just to talk about print, editorials of Prabhudhha Dasgupta, Prasad Naik and Tarun Khiwal are really exciting.

What’s your dream project?
Shooting for Vogue cover page is my dream project. I also want to shoot Lakshmi Menon, Deepika Padukone, Kate Moss and Milind Soman. I find them just perfect as a model and a treat for a photographer to shoot.

Who would you want to spend a dinner with?
I would have gone dinner with Smita Patil and Frida Kahlo if they were with us. They have been always inspiring for me.

What’s on your iPod?
Indian Classical, Old Bollywood classics, Gazhals, Folk and country music from India and worldwide.

Mac or PC?
Mac anytime!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Flying Babies Part II

Dans la continuité de l’excellent projet Flying Babies, voici la suite et une nouvelle série de la photographe américaine Rachel Hulin. Une mise en scène amusante de son bébé Henry dans des positions en lévitation, comme en plein vol. A découvrir en images dans la suite de l’article.

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Fast enough… to do it twice / Une originalité qui part en fumée

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THE ORIGINAL?
Myvl “Fast enough” – 2007
Source : Cannes Archive Online,
Check out another very similar idea
Agency : Naga DDB (Malaysia)
LESS ORIGINAL
Seat Leon Cupra “265 Horse Power”  – 2012
Source : Adsoftheworld
Check out another very similar idea
Agency : Ogilvy One Bucharest (Romania)

David De Souza : Photography

A photographer by serendipity, happy accident. Bought a second hand camera in 1977 it had a mission and a destiny for me like a magic talisman, no one would have predicted, least of all me that I would change my profession for the third time with it.

Why are you a photographer?
I wish I could answer that, some people have profound answers, I dont think I chose it, it chose me. I sort of like being led by my nose, well……..err……let my wife not hear that.

Do you remember any decisive moment when you felt ‘I want to be a photographer’?
No there was no Road to Damascus or some bolt of lightening, sorry I know its boring, its just one of those things, after a few years of making photographs, I looked back and said – gee, I must be a photographer, because I am not gardening, or in an office or whatever. Its always by ‘default’.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
Oh yes of course, many, My Mother to begin with, and an artist friend Babla Senapati, were huge spiritual influences that I was aware of. Of course there were many more subliminal ones, like authors of classics, philosophers, literature, and spiritual gurus, India inspires me continually.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in photography?
Hard to give you one name, so allow me to give you a slew. Avedon, Bresson, Newton, Penn, Araki, Lachapelle, Cravo Neto, Recuenco, Tress, and many many many more actually.

How has photography changed over the course of the last couple of decades? Is execution/art direction more important than it used to be?
Photography sort of mirrors the times, it has become more explicit and with larger production values, of course there are so many genres of photography, so its hard to generalise, but societies values run parallel in the media. what one could not say 5 years ago one might be able to say today, generally its the other way around. here in our country its becoming more fascist. This I dont think is representative of society but political. Everyone plays one against the other, but what suffers is the art. It is becoming more a ’stylists’ domain.

What do you think of the current state of Print Advertising photography in India? Is it at par with the work done worldwide?
The standard technically is very high and comparable, but the ‘idea’, the story-line, the concept, is severely lacking, this you see in Bollywood too. We are terribly unoriginal, everyone copies.

There is a certain sense of stylization in your work. Its almost like a signature. Where do you get your inspiration?
I buy a lot of books only to know what not to do. I continue to do what I do, because I have never seen anything like it. BUt that can become its own trap, one needs to move beyond ones own self, its like a reverse shadow, that leads you and you follow.

You have also Written a few books , could you tell us a little in detail about them ?
Written’ not sure about, authored, yes, done 4 books now, shall talk mainly about the book my wife an I collaborated on, Itinerants – mumbai’s nomads. This was started 13 years ago, and was completed some 8 years ago, its a long story best read on my blog. but the upshot is that we eventually decided to self-publish, for several reasons, not least of which is that the work was being copied happily by many, so we thought, enough is enough, lets just put it out there and move on. We loved doing the book and it has motivated us to never wait, just do what  your heart dictates. Its easy to self publish now and even make a profit. See here and here.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit photography?

No never! But I cant honestly say I liked most of the advertising photography or meeting with the tribe of advertising people, felt that it was spurious, hype, spin doctoring,  fake and inflated. Prefer gardeners, architects and dancers, you can tell quickly who is good and who isn’t. No need for much talk.

Any current work in Indian Advertising that you find exciting? Especially Print?
Shucks, I actually dont go looking for it, as it has not been exciting, creative or unusual, so my exposure is extremely limited.

Whats your dream project?
Rather not talk too much about it as its likely to be plagiarized again (see how paranoid I’ve become). But its just that, I am photo-illustrating my subjects dreams. And I’ve chosen only the dark and the macabre; the bright, shiny, happy ones are the stuff of indian advertising.

Who would you want to spend a dinner with?
Mughda Ghodse, Amrita Rao and Halle berry

Whats on your iPod?
Its an eclectic mix given to me by a young german musician, he gave me eurpoean funk rock and hip hop in strange languages, mixed with classical and pavaroti.

Mac or PC?
That is not a question. there is only one kind of computer. I am a cultist, and a mac person for many  years now. Just believe in good design, dont like the prices, but think that it is a far superior product.