Had solo exhibition in wildlife week in October 2000, at Bombay Natural History Society. - A Thousand Words.

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A man and his camera are honoured by the Bombay Natural History Society and Sanctuary Magazine during National Wildlife Week, by way of a solo-wildlife photography exhibition of his work. What makes a man living in Mumbai and dealing in electrical accessories take off for vast portions of the year and vanish into the wilds? What encourages his family to support and encourage him and allow him to invest significant parts of the family income into the purchase of expensive photographic equipment and even more expensive trips to destinations across the far corners of India?

I asked Hira Punjabi these questions and came away impressed by the resolute power of people who believe in themselves.

I would rate Hira Punjabi among the best Indian photographers in the country today. Yet he started along this tough and lonely trail less than five years ago. He was, of course, a keen birdwatcher already, but when his interest turned to photography he really pulled out all the stops.

"It was tough. I used to come to the BNHS and ask Isaac Kehimkar how to take photographs because I loved his pictures and he was a good friend," said Hira in conversation yesterday at the BNHS where 91 of his best works are on display. "He was really patient, but obviously no one can learn photography this way" he went on to add, stating that he actually went to a photography class to learn the technical ropes. This done, he turned his focus to work in the field. All through this, Isaac Kehimkar was a constant support (as he has been for scores of budding naturalists at the BNHS over the years).

Something worked. Hira has exhibited more than 400 of his images in national and international photographic competitions and has won over 100 citations and awards, including a Gold Medal at the Taipei International Photography Competition held in Taiwan. He was also short-listed for the final round of the BBC Photographer of the Year 2000 contest.

Hira Punjabi is a great wildlife photographer. It is not merely that his images are good, but his attitude as well. He loves to share experiences. He is helpful to others who wish to follow his example. He is modest, even as he manages to communicate his passion.

His pictures are a regular feature in Sanctuary Magazine, which he has been reading for years and which he generously credits with being the trigger for his interest in photography.

Yesterday Adhik Shirodkar, Member of Parliament and a great photographer himself, paid Hira Punjabi a most wonderful compliment when he inaugurated the exhibition at the BNHS' famous Hornbill House: "Only five years? You have been taking pictures for only five years? I am exceedingly jealous of you because despite a lifetime of photography in Bharatpur, I have been unable to get an image such as that of your kingfisher with a fish in midair, about to be swallowed. "

My personal favourite is that of a leopard peering down at him from the thick cover of a tendu tree in Bandhavgarh. It captures every secret moment, every hidden charm of wild India.

Every citizen of Mumbai whose heart beats to a different drum should go to see this exhibition, which has been jointly organised by the Bombay Natural History Society and Sanctuary Magazine. And if you have children, make sure to bring them and their friend along too because every frame, every animals belongs to them. This is their heritage and it is severely threatened.

In Hira Punjabi's words: "I live to photograph nature so that I can share my love and concern with others. If we are not able to protect what we have left of our natural heritage, our children will never forgive us."

As adults there is very little more you can do to be good parents, or good citizens than to share your concern for the earth with young people. Hira Punjabi and the hundreds of dedicated photographers who take the trouble to get out into the wilds to bring back flashes of the exquisite world they love can help you to this.

Group show at Tangent art gallery in Mumbai in October 2003.

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The Beginning
There was quite uncanny predication made by a man called de la Roche around 1760s in a work called Giphantie an imaginary tale, he wrote it would be possible to capture images from nature, on a canvas which had been coated with a sticky substance. This surface, so the tale goes, would not only provide a mirror image on the sticky canvas, but would remain on it permanent. The author would not have known how prophetic this tale would be, only a few decades.

The first successful picture was produced in 1827 by Niepce, after an exposure of eight hours. But only in the year 1839, the name “Photography” was coined by Sir John Herschel, the word being derived from the Greek words for light and writing.

And after several years of experimentation like Daguerreotye, Calotye, wet collodion process, Celluloid processing and till today the digital process the art of photography is making progress in leaps.

Now
The days when it was necessary to defend photographs as works of art are long past. There is an emergence of serious, non-commercial still photography as an art. The Contemporary Photography is a stimulating and innovative forum for the creation and examination of images, objects, and ideas embracing a wide range of contemporary aesthetics, technologies and understanding of the natural, cultural, social and political implications of the image in our world today.

Much of the digital art being produced at the start of this millennium has taken a noticeable shift from self-conscious cyber aesthetic of 1990s to neo-materialist sensibility. For us there is expectation of digital art and to examine the synergy between analogue and digital media.

This exhibition is a spectra of few of the best Indian contemporary photographers whose photographs like poems – reaching for tone, and the spell of evocation – for resonance and panache rhythm. Their belief in the power of images is limitless and in their images everyday familiar objects change in order to provide a complete impression of the object a new grace and wit while some are documenting with conviction and intensity.

Whether the emergence of the image from the waters of the developer, when the light becomes forever fixed in shadow, is a unique moment that detaches itself from time and is transformed into forever on paper or printed digital with the most advanced machines in fractions of seconds. These photographs will live on after their subjects and their author, bearing testimony to the world’s truth and hidden splendor.
                                                                                        - Ujwala Iyer, Art Curator

Also participated in a group show “The Incredible moments” arranged by People for animals at Delhi in August 2005.

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Art aficionado Maneka Gandhi believes if art can command mind - boggling prices, so can photography. The show is an attempt to bring photography centre stage so that it too can capture the imagination of the world as ha happened with art. Proper packaging and institutionalized support will help detonate this into a worldwide presence.

Rabindranath Tagore said, ' I love India, not because I cultivate the idolatry of geography not because I have had chance to be born in her soil, but because she has saved through tumultuous ages the living words that have issued from the illuminated consciousness of her great sons....'

The living words are now the living images brought alive by a band of talented photographers. It's all about encapsulating the life force of a nation and then storing it in the treasure trove of the heart.
                                                                                                     - Rashme Sehgal

Moods of Nature and Wildlife at Piramal gallery at NCPA, Mumbai October 2005

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Mood is a particular state of mind or feeling in Nature. I try to capture the emotional qualities on my films, by including the visual elements, dramas, gestures or an important factor in capturing moods and feel of the atmosphere. Dark and stormy light expresses a threatening mood. Bright sunlight expresses a cheerful positive mood. The mist expresses an atmospheric feeling. The orange and red light of sunlight creates a warm and satisfying mood. The fast action creates the mood of excitement while a slow shutter speed - a relaxing mood.

When there is a mix - up of art and craft in photography, the very best pictures are produced and these images make impact not only visually, but deeply on our minds as well. We look at these pictures and feel the atmosphere. hear the waterfall or feel the chill of a winter morning.

Nature Photography is a medium to achieve a dialogue with Nature.

Therefore, the composition should reflect our feelings and emotions. This, along our mental frame as an artist, together goes towards making our pictures speak for themselves. While doing Wildlife Photography for so many year, I always wanted to create something new every time, which was not always possible. The challenge is great, as wild creatures and wild places are tough enough to capture on film at all. The moods of nature and wildlife, which I had captured on films, are not only just an individual's effort but also with the blessing of nature, without which this wouldn't have been possible.