Ashima Sharma, Keekli Reporter, September, 2014, Shimla
“The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a witness” — a famous quote by Yann Arthus-Bertrand perfectly describes the stunning and rapturous work of Siddharth, a photographer who uses camera as a tool for exploration and imagination !!!
A landscape photographer, independent researcher, writer, curator and a PhD Scholar in Education from the University of Cambridge, UK, he has done it all. He did his Bachelors, Masters and MPhil in English Literature and in Education (Children’s Literature) from Delhi University.
With a keen passion for photography, he has organised three solo photographic exhibitions, including the one held at an annual event in Cambridge in May 2013, at Gaiety Theatre Shimla in October 2013 and then in June 2014, all of which received great critical and popular acclaim. The latest exhibition held in Gaiety in June this year, titled ‘In the Image of the Other: Visualising Shimla’, was a first display of its kind that compared and contrasted the natural and built spaces of Britain and Shimla. The exhibition drew a record number of visitors — 10,000, from India and abroad.
Self realisation as a photographer came when he started clicking photographs about six years ago and with time it only turned into his passion. He said, “The time I have spent in Himachal has deeply influenced my photographic vision. The beauty of places like Shimla is so incredibly enthralling that it brings out the best of your imagination”.
In today’s era when post processing and expensive gear have become a necessity for photographers, Siddharth believes in originality, simplicity and prefers the rawness that helps the pictures from losing their uniqueness. Talking about his style and approach he says, “I know photographers use very expensive cameras and lenses to get the best shots but as far as I am concerned, my Panasonic Lumix DMCTZ30 camera has become my most precious possession. As far as post processing goes I don’t really prefer doing that, the most I do with my photographs is to heighten or lighten the contrast”.
Siddharth is undoubtedly an amalgamation of brilliance and creative panache as he has been a Commonwealth Scholar at the University of Cambridge in 2012-2013. He has also been awarded the 2012-2013 Commonwealth Shared Cambridge Scholarship, a full award of £28,000 by the Cambridge Trust for pursuing a one-year M.Phil Education (Children’s Literature) Programme at Homerton College, University of Cambridge.
Talking about his inspirations he says, “The very magnificent and striking spaces of Britain and Shimla captivated me during my travels and inspired me to take photographs. Himachal is so picturesque that it comes naturally to me. Indian Cinema too has played a pivotal role in shaping me as a photographer. I admire and would call one of the ace directors, Sanjay Leela Bhansali my greatest inspiration. His cinematic work is extraordinary. I consider one song from his film Guzaarish as the basis of all of my photographer. It is a song called ‘Dhundhli Dhundhli Shyaam Hui’, and it is played when the hero of the film played by Hritik Roshan is sadly lying on bed in the latter half of the film, with rain outside. In this song three architectural shots are taken which describes magnificently the feeling of agony and isolation in the heart of the protagonist. It surprises me how human emotions can be portrayed without showing humans in a shot. When it comes to Shimla, I am inspired by Samuel Bourne, one of the finest photographers of the British Era known for his prolific work in India. The journals of this beautiful city have also played an important role in shaping my imagination as a photographer”.
He further adds, “My parents are the support system in my life and I think most of my artistic traits come naturally as both my parents are very creative. My father is a famous wildlife and landscape photographer and my mother is also an artist and a craftsperson. They regard photography as a vital ingredient of my education”.
Giving a word of advice to the young budding photographers he says, “One should keep himself/herself open to various connections in this world. It is very important to be conscious of how things around us work and to be aware about our society and culture. One can find inspiration anywhere; you just need to have a keen eye. As the famous quote by Rene Descartes goes ‘Wonder is the foremost of all passions’, wonder and inquisitive nature makes you learn something new in life everyday”.
As per his future plans he says, “I am presently working on my coffee table book on Shimla as well as a spatial-cultural history of Shimla, which I hope to release soon. I will soon be leaving for Cambridge as I have been awarded the 2014 Cambridge International Scholarship Scheme (CISS) Award of app. £90,000 (the University’s highest award for pursuing doctoral work) for the three year PhD in Education (Children’s Literature) programme at the University of Cambridge. Other than that I would like to keep learning more and more about photography and bettering my skills”.
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