-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