-Great Masters- In Love with all Genres of Photography : SUDHIR SAXENA, ARPS, EFIAP/s, EFIP, Hon. FICS

-Great Masters-

In Love with all Genres of Photography

SUDHIR SAXENA

ARPS, EFIAP/s, EFIP, Hon. FICS

A resident of Indore (India),  Mr. Sudhir Saxena is professionally a Civil Engineer. He has worked as Engineer in Chief, Govt. of M.P., P. H .E. Deptt and as Sr. Consultant in the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Govt. of India, New Delhi. He Started Photography in 1972 with a Russian make camera. Later he used Yashica 120 camera somewhere from 1975-76 and a Pentax camera for some years. Finally he shifted to Nikon which continues till date.

Sudhir Saxena got to know about the specifics of photography with his friend, Late Mr. Gopal Gupta, the owner of the oldest Studio (Gopal Studio) in Indore. He used to sit at his studio for hours to understand what photography and printing are all about.

Later he came in contact with Padmshri Waman Thakre, FRPS, FPSA, Hon. EFIAP. Mr. Thakre was also in Govt. service in Bhopal, M.P., Being in Govt. service Sudhir Saxena had to go to Bhopal quite frequently. He used to take some new prints to show to the legendary artist. Mr. Thakre would briefly comment on those and would give some of his prints (B/W only) to him to see and study. Thakre Sahab was an encyclopedia so far as B/W photography was concerned. His prints, mostly portraits and pictorial prints of rural areas were books in themselves and Sudhir Saxena was always very nervous to see them. After some meetings, Thakre Sahab became friendly with him and explained in detail the finer points of printing and pictorialism. Sudhir Saxena started doing B/W printing at his home and used to show the results to Thakre Sahab. He gradually learnt what pictorialism is all about and how B/W printing is done. Sudhir Saxena gives the credit of his knowledge of photography to Thakre Sahab to a big extent. In consequent years he started doing photography in colour medium as well.  

Very soon he started participating in National and later International Photo Exhibitions, which were very few during that time, unlike present day scenario. His pictures started getting recognition all around the world. He never limited himself to any one branch of Photography. He loves Pictorial Photography, Nature & Wild life Photography, Travel Photography, Portraits, Street Photography, Creative and Photo Journalism equally.  Being in Govt. service and working as field engineer he always had ample opportunities to travel and click pictures. He did not miss to click while his holiday trips as well.

The pictures of Sudhir Saxena are the fine examples of creativity and have earned big name and fame for him.

Achievements/Contribution of Sudhir Saxena in Photography-Field

1. Awarded Associateship (ARPS ) of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, in the year 1984. Awarded Artiste ship (AFIAP) of the Federation International de la Art Photographic  in 1985. Awarded next higher honour of Excellence, EFIAP in 2009 by the FIAP. 

2. Awarded next higher level of Excellence - EFIAP/Bronze in 2017 and next level of that - EFIAP/Silver by the FIAP in 2019.

3. Awarded Excellence, FIP, EFIP distinction in 2019 by the Federation of Indian Photography.

4. Conferred with Hon. Fellow ICS by the Image Colleauge Society International, USA in 2017.

5. Conferred with the “Grand Progress Award”, GPA.PESGSPC, USA in 2017.

6. Awarded as The Photographer of the Year, 2002, by the famous Media House, Naidunia group of publications.

7. Photographs on theme “Sadhu” exhibited by Photo Club “Espoir Pessacals”, France as guest of Honour Photographer.

8. Founder of Photolovers Photographic Society. Have organized 16 International Photography Circuits so far, including 4 Grand Circuits.

9. Photolovers Circuits have a rare honour of having received 5 Star rating which is awarded by FIAP to world exhibitions, for 6 of Photolovers Circuit Catalogues, which NO other Exhibition could achieve in India so far. These were published as Coffee Table Books by Photolovers and are rated as best in the country. Now, since last few years, for cost and postage considerations, only PDF/CD catalogues are being prepared.

10. Have organized One man Photography Exhibition named ‘SADHU’ in which 100 excellent photographs on the theme ‘Sadhu’ were displayed, the exhibition was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of M.P. at Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal. One more, one man exhibition on Tigers has been organized.  

11. Helping young and aspiring photographers to achieve National and International Photography honors by guiding them to prepare their images and portfolios for these honors.

12. Was Working Committee member of the Federation of Indian Photography during 1997-99 period.

13. Few thousand photographs on wide variety of subjects have been accepted and exhibited in many Salons across the world. Listing them properly has been in my ‘wish list’ for few decades now, hope to do it someday, same with list of Awards!

14. Have won many awards including Gold Medals of FIAP, PSA and Gold Trophy, Silver Medals, Bronze Medals and many other medals and trophies and many Honourable Mentions, Certificates of Merit etc.

15. Photographs have been published in many news papers and magazines including “Dharmyug”, “Saptik Hindustan”, “Illustrated Weekly of India”, “Dinmaan”, “keynote”, “Swagat” etc etc., in addition to publications in many Photography Salon Catalogues.

16. Working as member of Jury in many International Salons since 1984, can’t tell the number now but they are many.

17. Have published limited edition Photo Books on Ghats of Varanasi and Kumbh. 

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma

-Great Masters- A Milestone in Photography : S. Paul

-Great Masters-

A Milestone in Photography

S. Paul

Born on the 19^th of August 1930 in Jhang (Now in Pakistan), S. Paul was an internationally acclaimed photographer of India.  He is known as one of the pioneers of photo journalism in country. After the partition his family moved to India. Having completed his education he started doing a job in Shimla as an Engineering Draftsman. While doing his stay in Shimla he purchased a Camera and started clicking the subjects of his choice. He used to take help of photography books and the owner of a photo studio to polish his skills. As he was a hard-working man, he gradually trained himself as a good photographer.

Later in 1962 Mr. Paul joined the reputed news paper of country, The Indian Express at Delhi. Very soon his pictures started getting popularity and subsequently he became CHIEF OF THE PHOTO DEPARTMENT in this publication. The key characteristic of his photographs was the story telling value which set him apart from others. His works were narratives in themselves. The reason behind this was that he used to put his heart and soul in his images. While doing work with The Indian Express he established himself as a photographer par excellence. He remained with this publication till 1988.

Mr. Paul always thought himself a learner. He firmly believed in regular practice. He used to say, “A little gap in practice can take us far away from our path.” He always kept his camera with him. Whenever he found an object worth clicking, he never missed the opportunity. He was very much quick in clicking. As soon as he saw the subject, he clicked immediately. This quality is seen in very few people. His deep patience and attachment with his work made him a legend. He is a role model for photography lovers. He left for his heavenly abode in 2017. He is not among us today, but his life history has set an example for all photography enthusiasts. His masterpieces will always be a source of inspiration for all those who love photography. 

 The ace photographer Padmashree Raghu Rai is his younger brother. Mr. Rai had started learning photography in 1962 under the guidance of S. Paul Ji.

A number of reputed awards and recognitions go to his credit. This is worth mentioning that his name is among the most awarded photographers of India at International level. Many of his photographs have been the part of esteemed publications.

 Few Achievements of S. Paul

1. First Indian to have been profiled with a portfolio of four pictures by the World’s oldest and most prestigious THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHOTOGRAPHY ANNUAL 1967 followed by another portfolio with article in such short space of time in the 1969 edition (U.K)

2. First Indian to win NIKON INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTEST in 1971. 7 more awards in different years (JAPAN).

3. A record 7 pictures published in PHOTOGRAPHY YEARBOOK 1990 U.K. (A collection of years best pictures from the world over) since its inception in 1935.

4. FIRST PRIZE in the BALLANTINE’S FINEST INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWRDS (U.K) on the theme “THE INSPIRATIONAL IMAGE”.

5. FIRST PRIZE in the POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY MILLENIUM PHOTO CONTEST (60,000 pictures submitted from the world over) U.S.A

6. FIRST & SECOND PRIZE in the 7^th SARC countries Photo Contest by UNICEF on the theme “GIRL CHILD”

7. 14 DAYS visit to BULGARIA, TOP AWARD in 1979 in the world’s biggest Photo Contest on “HUMOUR” pictures (BULGARIA).

8. GRAND PRIZE in the UNESCO’S ASIA & PACIFIC Countries Contest on theme “PEOPLE AT WORK” (JAPAN).

9. 1^ST PRIZE SANCTUARY ASIA MLLENIUM Contest on “WILD-LIFE”.

10. 1^ST PRIZE MEN AT WORK in the AGFANET INTERNATIONAL Photo Contest (GERMANY).

11. GOLD MEDAL in 48^th & 49^th International Photo Exhibitions of JAPAN.

12. FIRST COVER STORY on an Indian Photographer in the FOTOGRAFIE magazine of GERMANY.

13. WORLD PRESS PHOTO, NETHERLAND BROUGHT OUT A COLLECTION OF 40 YEARS BEST PHOTOGRAPHS: “THIS CRITICAL MIRROR” IN 1995. IT HAD ONLY 2 INDIAN PICTURES, of which one of them is mine.

14. EPSON INTERNATIONAL AWARD (JAPAN) SECOND PRIZE, an invitation to Japan, DECEMBER 2004.

15. THE FIRST INDIAN TO BE PROFILED WITH 5 PICTURES IN THE B & W MAGAZINE U.S.A, DECEMBER, 2004,(For collectors)

16. WORLD”S MOST PRESTIGIOUS B & W SPIDER AWARDS 2006, ON THE CATEGORY “FINE-ART” & “SILLHOUTTE”.

17. BIRD WATCHER MAGAZINE (U.K.) WILD BIRDS PHOTO CONTEST NOVEMBER 2004 – TOP PRIZE IN BIRD BEHAVIOUR CATEGORY

18. WORLD”S MOST PRESTIGIOUS B & W SPIDER AWARDS 2007, SECOND PRIZE IN FASHION PLUS SIX MORE PICTURES ON OTHER THEMES.

19. FIRST PRIZE ON THEME ‘COMMUNITY’ IN THE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR CONTEST 2005 BY THE WHAT DIGITAL CAMERA MAGAZINE (U.K.).

20. The B&W magazine USA, supposedly the most prestigious photography magazine (whose each issue is a collector’s item) has labeled him Henry Cartier Bresson of India in their magazine and the website December 2004.

 21. B&W ANNUAL SINGLE – IMAGE CONTEST INTERNATIONAL 2007- THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD TO HAVE WON FOUR AWARDS.

 22. THE WORLD’S GREATEST BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK (2007) HAS PUBLISHED HIS FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS (TOTAL 7 FROM INDIA), JUDGED BY 47 MOST RESPECTED NAMES FROM SEVERAL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD.

 23. S.PAUL, has been conferred the newly constituted National Award viz :-LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN PHOTOGRAPHY by the MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING, GOVT. of INDIA, which the VICE PRESIDENT of India, Dr. Ansari gave to him on the 19th August 2010 (which incidentally is his birthday) and is celebrated internationally as THE WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY DAY.

24. He was appointed as the Chairman of the Jury, to nominate awardees for the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN PHOTOGRAPHY by the MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING, GOVT. of INDIA in 2012.

25. HELD TWO ONE MAN SHOWS AT NEW DELHI ON THE MAX MULLAR BHAVAN’S INVITATION, and one each AT STUTTGART, BONN & BERLIN, by invitation, GERMANY, one at Chandigarh.

 26. A massive book called ‘MADE IN INDIA’ about the ART and CULTURE of India, published in France in 2008, carried 2 of his award winning photographs.

27. Pictures published in the COLOR MAGAZINE PORTFOLIO AWARDS SPECIAL ISSUE 2009 U.S.A, portfolio consisting of three color picture.

28. Pictures published in the TIME U.S.A, NEWSWEEK USA, STERN Germany, THE TIMES London.

29. Pictures published in several editions of the following “ANNAULS”, which carries World’s Best Photographs yearly like, PHOTOGRAPHY YEAR BOOK U.K, THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHOTOGRAPHY U.K, 35MM PHOTOGRAPHY USA, WOMEN ANNAUL USA, FOTOJAHRBUCH GERMANY, FOTO ALMANACH INTERNATIOAL GERMANY, PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD JAPAN, U.S CAMERA ANNAUL etc.

 (Information and Pictures Courtesy: Mr. Dheeraj Paul)

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma