-A Tribute to the Legend- Rakesh Syal

-A Tribute to the Legend-

Rakesh Syal

Legendary photographer Rakesh Syal ji is no more. He left to the heavenly abode on 30 November, 2021. His demise is a great loss to the world of photography. He will always be remembered due to his mastery over Portrait/Still Life photography and due to his decent nature.

Here is a small feature about him : -

"Rakesh Syal, an ace lensman had inner instinct for dimensions, textures, light and expressions. Born and brought up in Ludhiana, he was among the most talented photographers of his country. An artist by instinct he picked up his camera in 1975. Deeply fascinated by the world of photography he never looked back and made a mark in the field of portraiture, still life, product, industrial, fashion, food, interiors and wedding photography. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away …that’s what Rakesh Syal ji thought. His works are remarkable for their technical and formal mastery. Still life by Rakesh Syal is class apart. His compositions carry a signature style of his own and are from the genesis of an idea. A challenge to creativity and technical skills, Rakesh Syal’s portraits are magical. With enigmatic backdrops he created the best of formal and informal portraits inside and outside his studio. Nothing succeeds like success and for this artist success is a journey, not a destination. With over 35 years of experience to combine with his exceptional skills Rakesh ji was very passionate about his work. His immense talent made whatever he did highly recognizable and his charismatic power to turn the ordinary into extraordinary!

He had to his credit some 3500 acceptances & more than 900 prestigious awards in National & International photographic competitions. FELLOWSHIP honour by India International Photographic Council (2007), AIFACS award by All India Fine Art & Craft Society, New Delhi (1994) and the ARTIST of Federation Internationale del Art Photographique (AFIAP) Honour, Barcelona, SPAIN (1994) are some of the prestigious laurels that Mr. Syal possessed. From year 1991 to 1998, Federation of Indian Photography & India International Photographic Council, placed him at Number One Position in top ten Exhibitors. He had achieved the “Platinum Exhibitor Award” by IIPC (1998). He was a Faculty in reputed photography workshops and conferences conducted by IIPC & FIP. He had been jury member in many National & International Competitions of art photography."

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma