Capturing moments and much more

But he did not stop there. Children, rural India, manifestation of Lord Shiva all found their way into the viewfinder’s eye. Thus, the exhibition is divided into seven sections Frozen Frames, Nostalgic Journey: Bombay, People & Places, Behind the Mudwall, The Presence of Shiva, Personal Expressions, Viewfinder Glimpses: USA.

Associated with the NCPA since its inception (he is now Senior Assistant Director of Piramal Art Gallery), Patel’s first exhibition, Forms of Nature, was held at Jehangir Art Gallery in 1974. “I had some work which was 30 feet wide, some six feet wide and the entire exhibition hall was covered with photographs,†he remembers.

One of the most interesting picture in Frozen Frames (the first section in the ongoing exhibition) looks at the sea of people thronging Marine Drive the day the Mahatma was assasinated. Nostalgic Journey relives the city before and after British Raj beetle cars, double-decker trams and bowler hats that dotted Mumbai’s streets. One particular photograph, taken in 1947, shows the surging crowd, taking shelter from rain under the roof of Metro cinema after a show of The Belle of New York (an eye-filling technicolour laugh and dance hit). “If you notice most of the pictures have a lamp in the foreground. I was actually on an assignment from General Electric and while doing their work was also documenting history!†he says.

A breathtaking 1957-picture of the Gateway of India has been taken from the top of the structure which is now out of bounds for tourists and photographers. “Yes, it is a rare picture of the Gateway,†he acknowledges.

Behind the Mudwall is a series of photographs in Uttar Pradesh’s Jamunapar village where projects under the Green Revolution were taking place. One of his more celebrated work has been for Stella Markish’s book Presence of Siva, for which he based his work on some of the major archeological sites and museums in the country.

Of the section People and Places, Patel says: “Places have their own charm, personality, even its own vibration. They also offer you a different experience each time you visit some new and old places, because both you and the places have grown and changed.†A part of this are some rare pictures of master photographer Jehangir N Unwalla at work.

While most photographs are in black and white (“I enjoy working in black and white the most,†he says), Viewfinder’s Glimpses: USA begins with an image which is essentially black and white with spurts of colour like blue birds, and then goes all colour with the following photographs. As part of this section are two digital photographs Christ on Cross and Collage of Painted Cows, celebrating the advent of technology.

“This is where my journey ends…it has been a long one,†he says with a smile.