Hasta La Creative!

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.

The post Ritam Banerjee : In conversation with a photographer appeared first on desicreative.

Rohit is a man of few words, lets his work do the talking for him. Probably he was attracted to the camera before he noticed the opposite gender ;). As much as he is comfortable behind the camera the situation is totally reverse when he has to smile for the camera.

Why are you a photographer?
It’s the only Best thing I can do in this life. I m leaving my dream.

Do you remember any decisive moment when you felt ‘I want to be a photographer’?
Nothing specific moment, when I decided to be photographer.

I was an engineering student. I was very bad in studies, never enjoyed studying.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
Outside the field of photography the only person I look upto is Sachin Tendulkar.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in photography?
Umesh Aher and Saish Kambli, my mentors.

How has photography changed over the course of the last couple of decades? Is execution/art direction more important than it used to be?
Earlier as options were few and work was in abundance things were a bit sorted and the photographer took the calls on how he/she wanted to shoot their campaign. The pioneers of photography like Gautam Rajadhyaksha ,Suresh Natarajan & Tejal Patni had given a whole different dimension to photography and youngsters looked upto them and idolized them for their vision to bring fashion and commercial photography to the notice of one track minded Indians. Whereas now photography has become more of an extracurricular activity.

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

What do you think of the current state of Print Advertising photography in India? Is it at par with the work done worldwide?
Deteriorating day by day on the basis of creativity. Indians are focusing more on the quantitative work rather than qualitative. Whereas the worldwide print advertising scenario is progressive and diverse when it comes to creativity.

Where do you get your inspiration?
New day new leaf. Only an amazingly good day which brings forth new challenges and opportunities can inspire me.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit photography?
No. Never

Whats your dream project?
Want to shoot with my favorite actor Mr. Amitabh Bachchan.

Who would you want to spend a dinner with?
My Wife.

Whats on your iPod?
Bollywood and Trance.

Mac or PC?
Mac anyday!

The post Rohit Redkar Photography appeared first on desicreative.

Satyaki Ghosh grew up on a staple diet of meaningful cinema and black & white photography at Kolkata. He started his professional career on the sets of “Ghare Bhaire” by the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray.
People photography is his passion. From the aesthetics of sensual art to rustic appeal of tribal life, his camera captures every reality. Each of his frames seems to open a dialogue with the viewer. He relishes the world of colour in equal measure. His illimitable range spans across Fashion, Lifestyle, Advertising, Reportage, Documentary Shoots, Press Photography etc etc.
He travels extensively abroad as well as in his home country on global assignments.
Satyaki is presently based in Mumbai

Why are you a photographer?
Does any one tell of a fish why it can’t stay without water?
Photography comes naturally to me…. It’s in my blood.

Do you remember any decisive moment when you felt ‘I want to be a photographer’?
From the word go, I knew I would be a photographer. Once I saw a catalogue of the world famous exhibition “The family of man” that moment sealed my destiny.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
Padmasree Nemai Ghosh who is a renown photographer and also a photographer of the great Satyajit Ray is my father. Thanks to him I was brought up on a staple diet of photography and films…

Who was the most influential personality on your career in photography?
I was like a shadow of my father, following him everywhere, observing his every move….Even today, his reaction means a world to me….

How has photography changed over the course of the last couple of decades? Is execution/art direction more important than it used to be?
A good deal …. In fact, it is a big leap forward on the technical front. Today, with the technical advancement one’s imagination could be executed with ease, especially conceptually.
Yes, now one’s imagination is well expressed like never before.

Given a choice, no other constraints, film or digital?
Digital because it opens an aura of innumerable avenues.

What do you think of the current state of Print Advertising photography in India? Is it at par with the work done worldwide?
Yes, it is at par.

Where do you get your inspiration?
My lens loves to watch people of all kinds and creed. People photography is my foray.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit photography?
No, Never. I drink, eat and live photography…

Whats your dream project?
Pirelli Calendar.

Who would you want to spend a dinner with?
Audrey Hepburn, if she ware alive.

Whats on your iPod?
An interesting bouquet of classical and contemporary music

Mac or PC?
Mac always.

The post Satyaki Ghosh : Photography appeared first on desicreative.

“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!

The post Omkar Chitnis : Photographer appeared first on desicreative.

Kalpesh Lathigra was born in London, England in 1971 and educated at the London College of Printing with a Postgraduate Diploma in Photojournalism. After leaving the course in 1994, he was awarded The Independent Newspaper Photographer Traineeship. Kalpesh worked for The Independent as a staff photographer for one year before freelancing for the national newspapers in the UK for 6 years covering news and features. In 2000 , he gave up working for newspapers and made the decision to work on long term projects and magazine and commercial assignments. In the same year he was awarded a 1st Arts prize in the World Press Photo. In 2003, he embarked on a long term project documenting the lives of Widows in India, receiving The W.Eugene Smith Fellowship and Churchill Fellowship. In 2005, Kalpesh started a new approach to his photographic practice merging fine art and documentary practice for his projects looking at the Lakota Sioux, Native American tribe on Pine Ridge, South Dakota, USA. Transmission ( HIV in India) and Anglo- Afghan War .Kalpesh continues to work for the leading international magazines on assignments alongside personal projects.

Why are you a Photographer?
Theres something quite magical about taking photographs. Photography in many ways is a solitary activity and that suits my temperament. It allows me to tell stories about the people and countries I visit and challenges me intellectually and creatively.

Any decisive moment when you decided to become a photography?
Yes I was in Selfridges ( a Department store in London) , I looked at a photography book “Henri Cartier Bresson in India”, obviously I didn’t know anything about Bresson at that stage but it led me to search his work, one thing led to another, I was studying Law at the time, and eventually dropped out of the course to pursue photography.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
My father instilled a love of literature in me , whether it was the daily newspaper to plays and novels, so I was introduced to Shakespeare, Dickins, Tagore etc I still read alot and just reread Jhumpa Lahiri’s Unaccustomed Earth.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in photography?
Thats quite difficult , I love the work of Mitch Epstein, Clare Richardson, William Egglestone, Stefan Ruiz and Alec Soth to name a few.

But in terms of influential personality that has to be Nadav Kander, I attended a workshop with him Spain last year, His approach,dignity and focus in his all his work is self evident but what stood out more than anything else is his
humility and generosity of spirit. He has been hugely influential in helping me in all levels of my photographic practice this year / 2009 .

How has photography changed over the course of the last couple of decades? Is execution/art direction more important than it used to be?
Well I think obviously we have had a digital revolution but more importantly I think that photography’s broad church means that many photographers are no longer bound by the old fashioned ways where fashion photographers only shot fashion or photojournalists only shoot news or stories etc etc, today you can find a fashion photographer shooting a serious story bringing their vision to the story or vice versa. There are more outlets for work to be shown. I think also digital has forced many photographers to question their craft , I now shoot on a 5×4 film camera and a digital, I very much feel that whilst digital is easy , the photographer has to have vision and authorship in their work. That comes from turning back to the craft of picture taking and slowing yourself down so that you can move faster in the development of your photographs.

In terms of execution and art direction, I dont think it is more or less important, good creatives work with each other and respect the vision, it comes down to a collabrative process…..!! in terms of personal photography projects I think the formation of ideas where it is no longer found photography but set pieces ie Gregory Crewdson are interesting in their own right, as well the ideas of documentary photographers are finding new ways to tell stories which challenge the viewer without cliches. I think if you look at Alec Soth ’s Fashion Magazine , he collabrated with stylist Camila Nickerson, you can see two creatives who work and bring themselves to the body of work.

What do you think of the current state of Print Advertising photography in India? Is it at par with the work done worldwide?
Yes I am very much in touch with work in India, I have a love affair with India very much love and hate..!! and I am Gujerati by origin via Junagudh, Zanziber and Kenya …..! yes I am a NRI….!!!

The likes of Bharat Sikka, Anay Mann, Anita Khemka are challenging the stereotypes of photography we have seen of India. In terms of commerical work someone like Tejal Patni shoots amazing campaigns which are original.
So in many ways India photography is healthy , in terms of magazines and ad agencies there are so many new opportunities in India. Yes the work is on par being done worldwide, but we live in the age of globalization so I feel that
you will find photographers from wherever working all over the world. There is more dialogue in photography and that is opening up new ideas for photographers.

Any current work in Indian Advertising that you find exciting? Especially Print?
Bharat Sikka -: Space in Between
Anay Mann : Neetika
Anita Kehmka :  Self Portraits
Tejal Patni – Land Rover Campaign

There is a certain sense of stylization in your work. Its almost like a signature. Where do you get your inspiration?
Inspiration is by so many things, books , paintings, poetry and life. If you sit in a gallery and look at Mark Rothko’s or Jackson Pollock’s painting, read Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance……or listen to Miles Davis
all of these experiences will influence you, so when you are there with your camera you have so much to draw upon.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit photography?
I am only getting started….!!!! also looking at filmmaking..!!!

Any current projects of yours?
” Lily – A study of Narcissism and Celebrity” ( see attached picture)

Whats your dream project?
I do have one but am a little superstious of putting the idea out there..!!

Who would you want to spend a dinner with?
Friends , Family ……….Rothko……..Mandela…….Muhammed Ali ( The Greatest) ………and Shakespeare….!!! and Miles Davis…….!!

Whats on your iPod?
Miles Davis – A kind of Blue
Snow Patrol
U2
Abhiman _ old school indian songs that I grew up with, my folks used to play the album every weekend ….that film with Amitabh
Otis Redding
Debussy
Coldplay, Jeff Buckley ….lots of others

But if you want one album it has to be Miles Davis – A Kind of Blue….

Mac or PC..??
Do you even have to ask…!!!!! MAC…!!!!

Represented by David Birkitt at DMB Media in London

A little about Vikram, in his own words, from his website:

Have been a photographer for as long as I can remember. Though turned professional 13 years back. Photography campaigns for a broad range of products and brands from Jewelry to Cars to Airlines. Specialise in Fashion and People photography. Always try and bring an element of fashion to all my shoots. Of late celebrities and film stars seem to be in my kitty. Have worked with most magazines in India. At last count 300+ odd covers across different magazines.
Directed and shot a couple of short films.
“Yahaan Gandhi Bikta Nahin’, a short film on Gandhi in present dat has been part of a traveling exhibition to art galleries in the country.
Published a coffee table  quarterly ‘Twisted Heads’
The first photographer in India to do 3D Photography and something I call disappearing photography.
Have won approximately 7 international awards other than honorable mentions.
Just won an international award for my campaign for Skoda Automobile and another international award with acclaimed artists from our country.
Also mentioned amongst the top 5 most important people in the photography industry in India since the last 4 years.

Why are you a photographer?
This is a tough one.. My standard line to everyone generally has been that ‘ I was unemployed’ but on a serious note, I don’t think I have a reason… guess it’s in my blood. Mum and Dad were very good photographers, but casual photographers, nothing serious, though they had some beautiful images to their credit. Somewhere around 15, I discovered my love for photography, which, by the time I was 23 had become an obsession, to a point where I carried my camera to the loo and actually still sleep with it beside me, just in case I get an idea. And at 26 i got a chance to do it full time.. so here i am.

Do you remember any decisive moment when you felt ‘I want to be a photographer’?
There were many, but this moment is too long and complicated to put down on paper… but it was at the age of 20 i think, when i knew this is what i want to do for the rest of my life..

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
There were so many.. I’m a voracious reader of photography books, magazine and have been continuously been influenced by everyone from an amateur, to other professionals, life itself, movies, my parents,..

Who was the most influential personality on your career in photography?
Mum, Dad and then Preeti & Gayatri Bedi (Mitter Bedi’s daughters), for their guidance and support, and Girish Mistry for opening my eyes to see ‘light’, In recent years though David LaChapelle, Eugenio Recuenco, Herb Ritts… so many people and things around.. need to thank so many of them.

How has photography changed over the course of the last couple of decades? Is execution/art direction more important than it used to be?
From capturing the moment and capturing emotions and personalities, we’ve moved drastically into imaginative story telling.. But this is as far as the international market is concerned. In India we are still at the aping the west scenario. The art direction and creative’s we see a lot are mostly copied, scanned, mostly lifted and recreated. There is so much unnecessary emphasis on digital mixing, digital cut and paste that the work does not seem to belong to a photographer. There is no sense of personal style. Looks more like an art directors portfolio. The thing most lacking is a sense of style. I can only count on a couple of photographers in India who have a distinctly strong sense of style.
There are very few instances of actually coming up with something unique, especially india centric.. Though it has at times become easier with a clearer thought process going into shoots.

What do you think of the current state of Print Advertising photography in India? Is it at par with the work done worldwide?
Very bad!! In terms of photography and lighting we are very good. Equal to the best. But in terms of application, thought process, budgets, style we are very lacking and sadly mediocre. We do not understand that print is the pinnacle of Fashion in the world. Photography makes a brand and style statement for anything from cars, people, clothes, buildings, anything.. Can’t blame the creative’s only. It is a matter of educating the client to what can be achieved using print and the importance of it. Which most agencies are scared to push lest they lose the client. One of the reasons why MNC’s with hi end products like cars, fashion don’t shoot with us. They still prefer a foreign photographer.

There is a certain sense of stylization in your work. It’s almost like a signature. Where do you get your inspiration?
Everywhere.. I take things from life, from what I see, I hear…
Mostly I have realized that I do not want to do any mediocre work.. If I do a shoot and I cannot look at the pictures again, they were not worth wasting time over. I want to create IMAGES, every picture should be worth putting up, otherwise I’ve demeaned my art form and gift… I have many times not done a shoot because i did not agree with the clients nature, thought process, or whatever doesn’t agree with my sensibility. Though I’m not infallible. My obsession to detail before the actual shoot maybe shows at times.

Tell us something about your award winning works. Especially the wonderful work which won at PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris.
I’ve been lucky that I have clients and friends who now understand my style and give me the freedom and choice to create images the way I want to. We have a creative partnership with Skoda, wherein I create fashion images using their product range as part of the image. They sponsor my shoots and my creativity. In return they use the pics as a showcase at Lakme Fashion Week, internally with their international counterparts and as part of their group calendar. It gives the team at Skoda and us both a chance to showcase our creativity other than the regular boring advertisements. The Runaway superhero, was one of those series which was awarded the 3rd best Automotive Campaign award.
7 years back i had done a series with superhero’s, which luckily for me is still remembered by some of my clients. The images we created were loosely created on that series. The thought process was that even a superhero uses a Skoda Superb. We put him in a modern Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge style Bollywood movie, where he is running away with the bride, making out and then dumping her finally, all using the Superb. I have been lucky to have a good team of makeup artists, stylists, designers to back me up on my shoots. One of my most fun shoots. In fact the new one is better than this.. or maybe completely different than this one.
Also have received another award from PX3 for a fashion shoot/campaign which we created for TBZ jewellery.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit photography?
Yes a few years back. I was very frustrated with the type of work that was being asked for or being done by clients/ agencies. Somewhere down the line I realized my mind cannot do the typical straight boring images. I can create complicated pictures. And I slowly moved away from the regular work that was happening and that didn’t agree with me. But i’m glad i didn’t give up.

Any current work in Indian Advertising that you find exciting? Especially Print?
Can’t remember off hand… Nothing current i guess, But there have been some in the past..

Whats your dream project?
Don’t really have ‘A’ particular dream project. For me every new good job, where i’m allowed a free hand is a dream project. My dream though is to be an art photographer, shooting for myself, what i want to, how i want to. Though i’d definitely like to work on Lavazza and the Pirelli Calendars.

Who would you want to spend a dinner with?
hmmmm.. must be the toughest question.. but would be an anticlimax actually. I live for the day. So whoever i am with is my dream dinner date..

Whats on your iPod?
Everything from rock, country, pop, world music, hyms, to love aaj kal and the likes. Not particularly a huge fan of trance or heavy metal. Anything that’s uplifting and peppy.. Has to charge me up and make me feel positive. No sad songs…

Mac or PC?
Ah!!! Mac for its interface, PC for its adaptability. Right now on the latest custom made, i7 processor based PC’s ( they are the latest. Not even with mac. 7 cores.. )

You can reach Vikram through his website here.

Sharad Haksar is an award winning photographer and founder/CEO of 1pointsize, “a unique ad agency” in Chennai. 

Why are you a photographer?
What else can I be? I’ve been hanging around with a camera since god-knows-when. I guess the joy of capturing a moment in its most glorious form, is what drew me to photography. As I am evolving, I realize my driving force is no longer the quest for a pretty picture. It’s the thrill of sharing what I see with my creative eye. That’s what keeps me going.

Do you remember any decisive moment when you felt ‘I want to be a photographer’?
I wanted to be an architect. I was in the process of applying to colleges. One day, I just shared my work with photographer Iqbal Mohamed. He just asked me to give up my college plans and join him. That was the most decisive moment.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
My role models keep varying with time. In my formative years, it was the venerable names in photography – the likes of Ansell Adams and Raghu Rai. After 20 years of shooting, I’d say, I don’t have one role model now. I feel there’s a lot to learn from so many talented people in photography, advertising and design.

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