The Picture Passion

'A photographer must have and keep in him something of the receptiveness of the child who looks at the world for the first time or of the traveler who enters a strange country.'

For Sahil Lodha,a winner at the recent Delhi Photography Festival,photography is about creatively capturing the simple things in life

‘A photographer must have and keep in him something of the receptiveness of the child who looks at the world for the first time or of the traveler who enters a strange country.’ These words by noted photographer Bill Brandt continue to inspire young Sahil Lodha. This city-based law and liberal arts student is a keen photo enthusiast. The latest award for his passion came at the Delhi Photography Festival held recently.

“The theme of the festival was ‘Affinity’. This could be interpreted as bonding,love,affection. The photographs had to pertain to this theme,” says Sahil. His winning picture was clicked at Jodhpur. All his pictures make one want to know more about the subject. Pointing to one of his photographs,he says,”It encourages a different perspective on simple things in life. It reminds me that there is always a different way of doing things.”

When he completed his Std 12 examination,he found himself at a crossroads of sorts. “I had absolutely no clue what to do in life. I was disappointed with me grades. To clear my head and find my calling,I took a year off and travelled around India,” he reveals. That is how he realised that he was meant for photography. “Even today,I want to shoot everything that interests me,” he says. In the last four years,he has embarked on different journeys. “I have recently finished two wedding photography projects. I have also been exploring documentary,fashion,underwater and travel photography,” he says.

Today,photography is akin to story-telling. A topic is picked and the concept is followed up over months and even years. “I may get into a specific genre of photography at a later stage in life. For now,I cannot restrict myself to a particular genre. I need to explore more,get inspired more and keep an open mind,” he feels.

Sahil is constantly in touch with photographers from different cities via Flickr. “I think my pictures speak about the kind of person I am,” he shares. “I would like to see people around me encouraging creativity. A new idea is something to be valued as it gives satisfaction and brings in originality. Otherwise we just end up copying the west or emulating that which has already met with success before,” he says.

Sahil is drawn to black and white photography. “I did a year’s course at Fergusson College through which I was introduced to black and white photography and how to print one’s pictures. I was instantly hooked,” he says. Even now,he continues to print his own pictures and enter them into different festivals and competitions,both national and international. When he gets time off from studies during Diwali,Christmas and summer vacations,he sets off with a new travel plan,clicking wonders that will be framed in time forever.

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