A la creatif: Part-1 Day-2.

Day-2 was a test shoot with my friend and new partner Rahul D'Cruze. We went out on the sunday evening and stood on the nearby road to catch a glimps of the street. I used my new Vivitar 285HV vari-power flash. Its I think the crown jewel for me. Awesomne effects I have got with this.









Judas: Rahul on Nazrul Islam Avenue.

1/50s, f4.2, ISO-400, Nikon D60, Sigma 70-300DG @ 95mm, Vivitar 285HV @ 1/4 on 35mm connected to camera, 40" diffuser umbrella.

Way beyond: Rahul on Nazrul Islam Avenue

1/50s, f4.5, ISO-400, Nikon D60, Sigma 70-300DG @135mm, Vivitar 285HV @1/2 on 35mm connected to camera, 40" diffuser umbrella.

This is my life: Rahul on Nazrul Islam Avenue.


1/40s, f4, ISO-400, Nikon D60, Sigma 70-300DG @84mm, Vivitar285HV @1/4, 50mm from the back of the model on tripod with diffuser and optical slave on it, Sunpak @1/16, 24mm from camera shoe with diffuser on and no tilt.

There is only one side of me now: Rahul on Nazrul Islam Avenue.

1/40s, f4.2, ISO-400, Nikon D60, Sigma 70-300 @95mm, Vivitar285HV @1/4 on 35mm connected to camera, 40" diffuser umbrella.

A la creatif: Part-1 First Day.

This is Part-1 for the project publication. I will give you all the shots that I have worked on for last one year during my study of photography along with the new ones.This part will include few specific modules.

• Bokeh decorations.


• Outdoor portraits with minimal setup for day and well lit places.
• Balancing strobes with the sun


• Night portraits with strobes+ambient balanced.


• Dimensional lights with artificial light blocks for designs and effects on background and face.


• Slow shutter speed.

Though I have written it as the Day first, however it includes photos from long gone days. So, day first means, the first day of my attempt to gather these photos for publishing. Hereafter I will post my photos on day basis, however, it is not a 365 or daily kind of blog that many photographers have.

Jamil: In front of Taj Hotel Bombay.

1/160s, f9, ISO-200, Nikon D60, Sigma 70-300DG @300mm, 42" round photopro warm reflector from the left of the model diagonally upwards to create a catchlight in the eyes and wash the shadows out. Warm reflector is used to give natural warm glow that we get in the setting sun or if we sit against a reflective object under the sun.







Photo:1



Photo: 2

Conviction: A taste of conviction for one's own soul.

Photo:1- 1/250s, f5.6, ISO-100, camera Nikon D60, lens Nikkor 18-55VR @ 36mm.

Photo:2- 1/250s, f5.6, ISO-100, camera Nikon D60, lens Nikkor 18-55VR @ 36mm.

This photo was shot while I was sitting beside a window during autumn of 2008. I saw the light coming through the window was forming some formation on the wall and I thought about some concepts of mine. First I brought a small mirror and positioned myself to place the shadows exactly the way I wanted on my face. Then I tried some random hand held shots. Two of them were good enough to put up here. You can also make paper stipes with black mount or board paper and then place them in from a reading lamp with a high wattage bulb. place your face by looking at the mirror and then click. You can place your hand in the light first and point the camera to check the TTL to set your exposure. Why your hand because your face and hand both have almost same reflective power, and hence the exposure will be almost correct. No photoshop correction has been done except B/W conversion.

Breakdown: A tortured face of today's youth.


20sec, f22, ISO-100 (to keep the grains and other noises to the minimum level), Camera Nikon D60, lens Sigma 70-300DG, @83mm.

Set the camera on tripod and pointed it to a predetermined position. Then calculated the distance between the spot and the camera and then set the focus at that distance (Sigma lens has a scale on the focusing barrel for distance measurement focusing.This was shot indoor with two ambient lights. One at 90-45 right of the camera and another from 15-65 left of the camera. You can use any light to get this shot. No flash is required here. even a high power flash light can do the job. Here I intentionally darkened the features of the face on the left of the frame, but you can use the light on the left of the camera get a little closer to the model (change the lateral angle from 15 to say 45) and bring out the features.

Trina: Trina at Russel St. Calcutta.

1/60s, f4.2, ISO-400, camera Nikon D60, lens Sigma 70-300DG @110mm, speedlight Nikon SB-400 with iTTL mode at 60degree tilt angle bounced from 42" round photopro warm reflector. The bokeh is original.

Jamil: Jamil in front of Victoria Terminus, Bombay.

1/40s, f4.2, ISO-400, camera Nikon D60, lens Sigma 70-300DG @ 110mm, speedlight Nikon SB-400 with iTTL mode tilted @75 degree bounced through photopro 42" round warm reflector. The model was standing against a taxi cab and the yellow roof of the cab actually gave a dimension to the background.

A la creatif: A project on creative portraiture.

Oh yes this is what you think is, a long longed project of mine that I am always speaking about here and there (but people seem to be ignoring me, hmmmm think am not tough enough for ya, huh!). I like simple setup and chase high end results. So here it comes, the simplest setup for creative portrait photography. I have tested these techniques and took photos for past one and half years (yeas, that is how long my photographic career is! I wonder sometimes), and now upto create something unusual with them. I will try few basic things with the new strobist setup I made myself. Yes you are right, another addition to the freaking strobist community. I think that is where I belong. Here is the list of my module I will be accomplishing with time in next few months with the models coming from all over the world. Most of my photos are shot outside the studio and my objective of this project is to show, how one can create a collection of nice thought provoking portraits without having a state-of-the-art and suave studio setup. Few photos are there which are shot indoor and with studio strobes. I will mention them and also tell you the technique by which you can create the same with a portable strobe.

• Night shots with ambient light and strobes balanced.
• Outdoor day shots with strobes balanced with sun.
• Dimensional lighting with one strobe (i.e. no-fill lighting).
• Bokeh (if you are wondering what bokeh is then go here) and portrayal of gradual fall in DOF.
• Long exposure.
• Light painting (please go here to know about light painting).
• Multiple exposure in non-multiple exposure cameras.

I will be posting photos and my blog archives with the details on how to shoot them. Don't think that I am here to teach or lecture on something. It is only a project of mine where I want to share my thoughts with all my readers and friends here (please bear with the obesity of brag sometimes). Now I should tell you about my setup that I use. First of all let me tell you that I am never pleased with my own photos and always want some more perfection in it (I hope I am not a freak, because that's all of us want for ourselves right?). I do not crave for mullah munching brands of equipment. I think the man behind the camera is more important than the make or model of the camera. I can give thousands of references of photographers who still shoot in B/W films and make people go mad with their photos (don't worry you won't have to consult a physician after seeing my photos, am not that insane). If you feel that whatever you have with you is sufficient to take good photos which will please you (atleast 50% pleasure is yours), then you are on the right track. However, if having several high end equipment and camera bodies is your prime interest and your efficiency also depends on them, then you need to contact the local camera retailer, not a photographic agency.

My gears:

• Nikon D60 DSLR
• Nikkor 18-55 mm AF VR lens
• Sigma 70-300mm DG lens.
• 1 Nikon speedlight SB-400 (which does not work off camera)
• 1 Vivitar 285 HV vari-power with an optical slave.
• Velvon PH-8 tripod for my camera.
• off brand tripods for my portable strobes.
• 42" Photopro warm/white hard light, hand-held, round reflector. (Phew!! lots of adjectives for one thing, take your pick.)
• 1 Small 40" diffuser umbrella.
• 2 Small 40" white hard light reflector umbrella.
• 1 Nova 2'X2' softbox.
• 1 Simpex 20"X20" softbox.
• 1 Nova Digieye-3 studio strobe.
• 1 Simpex-pro 3500N studio strobe.
• Nikon View NX software for raw file conversions.
• Adobe photoshop 7.0 for retouching and correcting glitches.
• AND etc.

I have put these facts here not to brag about what I have but only for you to understand that how simple my setup is and how you can also simplify your setup and still take beautiful photos with an ease. So good luck to me and good luck to as well. I will be start uploading the first lot of photos very soon.

Mind bender: The Dabboo Ratnani syndrom

The meeting ultimately happened after a one and half month long wait and ever lingering email & sms communication. Pardon my omission of context which is because of my over excitement. I started this communication when it struck me that what if I apply to all the legendary photographers in Bombay and other cities to work as their assistant three months back, and I believed that atleast, one of them will reply to me. Surprisingly, it worked and Jatin kampani and Dabboo Ratnani replied back. I was thrilled to see this and took no time to reply to Mr. Dabboo Ratnani , because Jatin Kampni reverted back tome, stating that he is unable to accommodate me right now and suggested to me to apply early next year (2010).

I reached Bandra to meet the the Indian legend of glamour and fashion photography. It couldn't be anything more for me that the big daddy himself gonna see me. The meeting only went 15 minutes long and what I summed up from that is, its not my cup of tea. Reasons being: I will not be remunerated as long as I am a trainee under him and he thinks so. Also the the odd working hours (which I don't have problems with if I am in Calcutta) which is a problem in Bombay. I however, did not let them know my intention at the first place. I waited for the call of the test shoot. No calls from them, till today.

Unto this point, one can think that I am heart broken and now going to start venting my soiled grease of experience here. Actually I am not going to do anything like that. Rather I will always be thankful to Mr. Ratnani, that he was all along honest to me, and encouraged me to reconsider my options, since I am more interested in Product, table top and creative studio portraits. He was keen on the point that if I am sure that whether I am ok about no remuneration and the extreme work pressure. Figuratively speaking, I was 50% sure of what I am going to do. I still did not understand a simple thing, that how come he is not going to remunerate me and accept my service. Though a strong point was made by Mrs. Ratnani, that working as an assistant to Mr. Ratnani is a learning experience (I also agree with this). Reason for not calling me after the appointment can be anything; but what comes to mind first is, I don't fit their bill. I realised a simple equation of the industry, the more experienced and famous you are, the less remuneration you can offer to your assistants. Awesome equation ain't it!

I decided to take a step backward and return to Calcutta, where a senior commercial photographer had already offered me a job as an assistant to him. Its a paid job, however, not a bang-bang boom-boom kinda thing that you are thinking. Better than nothing atleast. I wouldnt have imagined it this way. It is very important for us to atleast do whatever we feel like, atleast once, so that we don't regret later for not having the courage of attempting something. The way I see my career is a long straight line where I put the posts and others hang banners, lights, and other decorations on the way. So, I really don't feel intimidated by the weired ways that my life tries to drives me along, because I always owns the right of those posts and can also charge rent to those who use them. I though sometimes feel sad that how come I couldn't realise my own self a little earlier. I have seen a new phase of my life coming right through my needs. A necessity for some more learning and work more on my skills. Diversification is necessary and I always did that to bring a touch of variation in my platters. However, now I think is the time to concentrate on my specialisations. Variation can do some amount of trick to my work, however, not the wonder that one expects to see. No photographer can do good in all the segments of the big umbrella. I now need to choose one from my own platter and polish it. Choosing one door amongst many closed doors is very difficult, however, choosing one from many open doors is more difficult. It is because you can see all the doors' inside and can not decide what pleases you most and what will be more suitable for you to please your self in the long run. I think the best way to decide is to see that how far you can see through one door and then if you are able to understand this, then taking decision is a lot easier. I did the same. Life is not readymade by God, it is us who have to build it. I need to build the next staircases of climbing to the next level. That will not be very easy, but I know how to do it and knowing your way through the life is more important than actually building it and then come to know that you did it all wrong.

May be I have spoken much today, but I think that is what I am here for. However, still I need to stop, because now it is going to be repetitive. There are many things I am going to write about from the Bombay trip. I felt a need to bring those to everyone's notice. It will take time, but will be served slowly. So keep eating, err, reading (sorry).

Driving my lightbox crazy in Bombay

I stepped at Dadar station, Bombay (yes you are right, I am old school and I prefer to call it Bombay but not Mumbai) on 13th of October. It was 6:50 in the morning and the roads were suspiciously clean and free from the maddening crowd of Bombay. I reached my destination within 15 minutes in taxi, which usually takes more than 20-25 minutes by handling the traffic and other crazy issues. It was the Maharastra Govt. who earned the credit of keeping the roads clean for my arrival on the assembly election day. They declared the polling day a holiday to raise the voting rates of Mumbaikars (had to use, because Bombaikars is not in use anymore). Later in the evening I dropped at Dadar station and decided to take a ride of Bombay trains for some experience. The assembly polls were balloted that day and I was not hoping to cruise through the city smoothly. My experience of living in Calcutta for 21 years tells me something else which is not at all familiar to the election day experience of Bombay.

As soon as I reached Bombay, I have pinned the spots down and then I wanted some exclusive photos for my collection. Add to my pleasure was Jamil's casting for my outdoor model shoot. He is the model whom I can hire any day and even on the days when I don't need a model for a shoot. I think some people are born artist and Jamil is one of them. His expressive and outlandish thought process underpins my work. He always understands the architecture of the theme and provides the exact substance of drama required. We took two days to shoot some outdoor shots near Victoria Terminus, Gateway of India and Hajiali Darga. I tasted a different flavour on the streets than Calcutta and the snoozing hours of the city gave me a delight to see the speeding lights and dins around me. I roamed like a nomad and never was worried about the crowd who would spot me as a traveler and come questioning about what I am doing by sitting on the road and looking through the viewfinder of the camera for hours; nor they asked Jamil while he sat on the pavement beside the traffic signal near Victoria Terminus to pose for me. It is simple, people don't have time to even ask you your name.

The life in Bombay is not very easy but still its very popular and in high demands. People from different metros are dying to get settled here and youngsters are not ready to forgo any stance to pin their feet in Bombay. I was surprised to see that how comfortable people are traveling by a overcrowded train and never complaint about the inconvenience the congestion causes, and still the local trains are the easiest and fastest way of communication. Everyone is busy and every other person in Bombay is earning atleast a dime a day to survive. No one is sitting idle, actually you can not if you want to stay here. I have heard all these facts about Bombay from many, however, dint notice all these even when I was in Bombay, 8 years back. The pensive culture of Calcutta and rowdy crest of Delhi is a far off thing in Bombay. You can find anything if you know where to look for. You need to act fast if you are on the streets. No one will wait for you. Buses will not halt even if you stand in front of them to make them an unusual stop to get aboard. Even a minutes change in schedule will cause you a half an hour delay.

This is not an advertisement feature of how many ways the city is better than its counterparts. This is an account of what I have felt so far and I think a metro city should be like this. I don't crave to come and settle here, however, given an opportunity to choose between cities in India, I will any day & anytime choose Bombay for my work, and Calcutta for my living. There are issues about security and finance, and those will not fall off your back unless you are secured enough to put your roots here.

The photo shoots were not easy and I had to use my tricks to get some good captures. I bought a new tripod, since my old one is broken now. I used my new warm reflector and sigma lens to create some nice night shots. finding a good spot is not easy enough and also achieving the perfect shot is challenging. Night photography is a different flavour altogether and also requires whole lot of preparation to reach the goal. I have seen some photos on the i-net in some photographer's profile and since then I was determined to shoot something like that. I tried my level best and now it is upto my viewers to judge whether it met the standards or not. I will post the photos in my website as well as on my FB fan page later this month. I have also met the Indian legend of glamour photography, Mr. Dabboo Ratnani to talk about the prospects of assisting him in his work. Submitted my profile and still waiting for his call. However, that's a different story altogether.

Lightbox: A new chapter of my life

This is the first time I am using a blog application so vividly to get my voice heard throuhout my circle. I never use to opinionate so loudly and this is who I am now, voice box! No I dont think so. I expressions are more efficient and sophisticated through my photos. So I am a visionador or a light box and this is how account starts here on.

Its not long that I am writing on another blog in my website and it was quite good till I realised that it was not worth spending time over there for it and was not even spreading my words for the crowd and no one notices a unknown man unless you create a noise over the top. It’s been a long time that I didnt care at all to write for my own feelings and its since 2005 that I stopped writing. However, before I start, I should wish all of my site visitors a warm Bijoya greetings and prosperity for their coming year.

I stopped writing because I was then saturated with same ideas and feelings. It happens with all of us at some point of time in our lives, when we think only of ourselves, have one track mind and flimsy thoughts occupy our dreams. So, I took a break and believe me till today it never occured to me that I should write something about my own feelings. Also my mind never pushed me actually to write and I only opinionated and pondered over series of consequence of my life. Last few years was a topy-turvy ride for me. I switched jobs, shifted industries and even shifted my discipline of study. I still couldnt decide what's best for me and always listen to everyone but myself. Then came the time when I actually was courageous enough to choose my dream over my mind. I decided to be what I am, an artist. I chose the way of expressing through my photographs.

I spoke a lot and you think I spoke rubbish, dont you? I hope I could give you something to cling to this blog, so that you come back again to read more. I have seen many a things from a different perspective and that's also for the first time of my life.I never knew they existed or they deserve some of my attention, our attention more precisely. I have been living in Kolkata for 21 years and never knew my city has so much to offer. There are so many things there, that we dont even notice and we pass by them every day till the last day we spend around them. My existence spoke to me when I realised that I am missing out the best part of me. I took up photography. The result is Hollowman. I have never been to many places where a calcuttan should be. After I started taking classes I discovered many new things from my old. This is what photography means to me, an unexplored road to reality. This is who I am, a newborn out of the queen's paradise, Calcutta. I am not done speaking and will be doing it till the last day of my consciousness, either through photographs or words.

I was full hands during Durga puja and also busy shooting the festival fanfare at its best. This year puja was the second in line after I seriously took up photography. I was amazed to see that I have changed a lot in many ways. Not rigid and not liberal. Now that is very confusing. They are mutually contradicting. What I meant is, I am no more rigid about using various ISO levels and not liberal in compositions. Did it help you? If not then I think I should explain some more. Previously I use to break lots of rules of compositions to get my desired shots, later I discovered that people dont actually like that as a photograph and later I discovered more, I personally didnt like them after some time. Now I am more rigid about compositional rules and occasionally breaking them as well. Increasing ISO levels were a no no for me. I use to shoot only in ISO-100 and nothing more than that. It use to give me headache. Now I shoot even in ISO-800. Now it gives me pleasure to control grains by other means (not the softwares I am talking about). I think I am now matured in photography by one year.

Now some information about my coming assignments, I will be keeping busy for next three months for various assignments. I will also be setting up few schedules for TFCD shoots during November. Anyone interested can contact me. I need make-up artist, models (both female & male), wardrobe stylist and hair stylists. I will publish details in due time.

Till then, Take care and keep visiting.


P.S. The gallery section of my website has been modified and there are two new additions in the gallery. One for Jewelry designs and other is exclusively for Kolkata Durga Puja journal. Please visit them.

New, new, new.......lots of new things & Some same old S#!^^

There is a long gap between my last post and this current one. Reason being I was involved in several commercial assignments. There were party coverage, product, jewelry, industrial and model shoot. Last few weeks were real tough for me. However, to tell you the truth, this is what I was dying for, lots of work to show my creativity.

Before anything else, I should mention that I bought a Nikon speedlight SB-400 last month. It was worth spending $140 for the stuff. I did my party coverage and industrial shoot with the speedlight. It gives standard result if used properly. I got excellent results when tried the Rembrandt lighting. Its lightweight, handy (fits even inside my formal trousers pockets) and doesnt give you headache for low battery (provided you use good quality NiMH batteries).

Now comes the hard part (not for me but for my readers, to listen to the same old frustrations of mine)
The way people think and treat us artists: (same story, new page) Creativity doesnt count if it is not packaged with something easily sellable, e.g. cheap glamour shots, sexy models, etc. Some people are so damn cheap, that they try to bargain for professional services. It seems like they are buying something from the local roadside market. However some are there who truly understand and respect creative work. The last jewelry shoot for Airan Group was handled carefully according to my satisfaction and adding to my pleasure, client demanded some creative work. He gave me full liberty to create something good. Airan jewelry is a new brand launching in this festive season, so budget was indeed a constraint. Jewelry photos were for a design catalogue. I shot photos for another launching brand of cooking spices, Dollar Brand masala and I made three layouts for their banners and pamphlets.


Ultimately I am happy, because I could do what I wanted and I got some good assignments to start off. Increase in collection of photos, new clients, new connections and obviously a banner ad feature to popularize my work. Both the product banners and jewelry catalogue will be published in Mega Trade Fare at Helipad ground, Kolkata. I also sold one of my stock photos of Durga idol face. This was so far last few weeks for me. It was hectic and fast, but I enjoyed it that way. Hope this trend remains.

The "Roopmatis" of the Industry & Me

Yes its exactly what you think it is. They are the face of the fashion and glamour industry around the world, the "ROOPMATIS" (the archaic, sarcastic Hindi word, meaning a dumb beauty). They are everywhere and you can find then in every corner and every circuit of this industry, however, it is a very difficult task to find one good model who has got the "THING" in her. Most of them are after money and cheap publicity. On the floor, in front of the lens they are as dumb as a stone, most of them lack facial expressions, actions and unaware of what is going on. I have found many a good faces, but either they are not interested in conceptual and creative photography, or they dont have a wee bit idea of what that is. Another difficulty for me is money now. Not every time it is possible for me to hire expensive models to get my experiments done, unless I get a paid assignment. Paid assignments are 99% commercial and they DO NOT entertain conceptual or creative photography with low or medium key lighting. The reason being, those photos will not be considered as a "good" photo in the modeling agencies or by public. I once showed one low photo to one of my so called artist friend and he replied, "dude you should some good flash, the light is very low here", or "why dont you use photoshop to do some editing?" I couldn't help but laugh my heart out that day. Needless to say that he got offended and stopped talking to me.

TFCD seems to be a very good choice in this case, atleast for me. I have approached many a models and Most of them were interested about it after they got the details from me. Recently I am trying to materialise the themes and styles of Legendary Painter and Sculptor Mr. Gustav Klimt. Especially the late 1800 concepts of "Femme Fatal". It is very tough to regularise those things into a shape and then convert those concepts for photography. All of his work is abstract and he used mosaic style and other aids to hide the crude reality and give it a polish of art which is first drawn on the canvas. I would love to get suggestions on this particular topic. Need very intellectual and physically well articulated female models for this project. Looking forward to work with one of my British friends from Oxford. It is only possible if he comes here again within next few months.

Conceptual and creative photographs are not some pile of heavy stuff which most of the time is beyond our understanding, rather they are, according to me, the most easy ones to understand. They should carry one strong message, a story for drawing the viewer's attention, and an attractive portrayal/representation. I always found others talking about this in the other way round.Though it is a intellectual side of photography and also less explored, but still it tends to draw my attention and I always feel a need to work on this front to give my viewers some message on the issues less touched or avoided by us.

New stuffs on the roll

This time I have got a new zoom lens. Sigma 70-300mm DG. Awesome clarity and performance at this price range (price equivalent to $160 USD). I would say one of the best bargains I have had.

Later made a trip to Bankura for some travel and journalistic features. Results are increament in stock, new experience to count on and some more interests revealed. Also tried the other side of the Bankura and very ordinary places also looked beautiful through the lens. This is what the photography is all about. May be next time I will be able enough to reveal its beauty from the ordinary.

I also tried the lens with studio flash and setup, and guess what, it gave me excellent results. The only problems is the sound of the AF function motor. it sometimes allerts the insects/animals and I lose them. however I think this is a very good lens for the starters like me. The macro feature really helps you to get closer to the subject which I think is most important in macro photography. The minimum distance is 0.96m. which is about 3.1ft. A safe distance and also close enough to get a full length compositions.

There are other news about the press release and publications I had last and this month. Last month the photograph of Ranjit Kumar Maiti was published in the case study on Indian segment of AMD's operations. SPH publishing published my photo of Victoria Memorial on the Japanese edition of Silverkris. This is a magazine from Singapore airlines. Last month the local tabloid Somachar Saatdin published a review about my photo Hollowman from the 2nd Light & Shadow annual exhibition held at Kolkata information Centre during 17th to 21st June. However, I still havent got the hardcopy of Silverkris. What can I say, I am sincerely waiting for the mag to come.

Lessons of the trade

The 2nd annual L&S exhibition was a success and it concluded with a jubilant celebration where our one of the senior members' (Sujoy da) birthday celebration added some cheerful colours. There are few good news to relish and give a push to start me off again. We are trying to start off a new project under the lnsexhibits banner. It will be run by the students initially and to give some extra mileage to the serious photographers from L&S. that is why it is called Project-Mileage. It will be a stock photography project. Its my brain child and it is definitely gonna hit the bull's eye. As soon as money comes into play, lots of people take interest. Hope to get some good response.

I was approached by few viewers at the exhibition for sale of my photos. I was overwhelmed with the response. I was interviewed by the Shomoykaal magazine for my photo Hollowman. The young generation kids and youngsters seemed not interested in the creative portraitures. They were least interested in going deep and think about the issues which had been touched sensitively in those depictions. Older and senior most visitors were happy to see those intense thoughts. A lot has to be done to improve the culture of photography. People seem to be taking more interests in attractive and explicit portrayal of beauty. Photo editing and enhancement softwares have taken over the camera tricks and other techniques e.g. forced application of slow shutter speed, long exposure, zoom burst, panning, simulated panning, DOF illusions, etc. People seem to get lazy when taking a photograph and do the trick while sitting inside their cozy cabin with a cup of coffee. However, they fight and compel others to call those end products, Photographs. Is it right? I dont think that I need to answer this question. Any sensible person will regard them as an excellent form of art(that I also do) but not as photographs. Concepts and execution has also lost its meaning and importance. The photo is shot anyhow keeping in mind that the Post Production can change everything and make it a masterpiece.

I think variety is the key of any successful photographer. you may be a vary good photojournalist, but if you have few beautiful landscapes or creative studio portraits in your portfolio, then people will start respecting you for your diverse skill. Because working out of your line of work is something extraordinary and that is what people want to see. It is my personal experience from this exhibition, that people like my personal non-commercial galleries more than my commercial ones. because they already know from my resume that I am a glamour or creative portrait photographer. However, when they see something unexpected they start seeing the other side of me which is equally good. So, its been a constant from my side to develop different styles and varied perspectives. That is what is needed to diversify my work.