"Abhivyakti: Expression through Photography" Completes 16 Years

"Abhivyakti: Expression through Photography"

Completes 16 Years

I feel extremely happy to share that our blog, “Abhivyakti: Expression through Photography”, has completed 16 successful years of its voyage. This blog began in 2009 with the goal of sharing the knowledge of Photography among the art enthusiasts. We started our journey with various sections, like Learning, Photo Feature, On Project, Great Masters, Story behind the Picture, Profile, Youth Gallery, etc. Later Dashboard and Event sections were also added to the blog in order to expand the sphere of knowledge. Our chief aim has always been to provide platform to the beginners who have never got the opportunity to showcase their talent. Besides, we aim at sharing the works of the Great Masters so that the novice may have opportunity to learn from them.

The readers and followers work as the strength of any blog. A big number of readers from India and abroad have associated with our blog. Their valuable association and impartial ideas/suggestions have helped us improving the quality of the contents. I’m grateful to all the readers and followers. I assure that our blog will always try its best for the benefit of art lovers in the years to come. 

Regards,

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma

-Profile- Obsessive Nature Photographer : Samra Mahankali

 -Profile-
Obsessive Nature Photographer
Samra Mahankali

A resident of Kodada, Telangana (India), Sarma Mahankali is an obsessive nature photographer. Though he loves clicking nature in its entirety, birds are his favourite. He remains very patient and careful while clicking birds, which according to him is essential for good results. Capturing the right moment is the right way is his speciality, which is evident in his photographs.

He has worked as administrator in various educational institutions for around 18 years in past. Now he is working in real estate field. He had inclination towards photography for a long time. Inspired by his friend Mr. Kola Venkateswarlu (ARPS), he started photography a few years back.

His pictures have received wide recognition among art lovers. He is determined to work hard in his field in future.

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma

-Profile- “Capturing Human Emotions with Perfection” - NGUYEN AN DI

-Profile-
“Capturing Human Emotions with Perfection”
NGUYEN AN DI
(PPSA, T IAAP, IIG/s, A.APS, HON.GNG, HON.FPMP)

 Nguyen An Di, popularly known as ANDY, is a resident of beautiful coastal city called Nha Trang in Vietnam. He has been involved in photography since 2003. He has mastery about capturing the human emotions through his camera. He prefers black and white medium in his pictures as he believes – “this medium is ideal for portraying human emotions.” 

He is currently a member of international photography associations such as FIAP, PSA, IAAP. He has been jury member in several international photo contests organised/sponsored by FIAP, PSA and IAAP. He has got many precious distinctions and awards from these prestigious photography associations. He is representative of FPC in organizing PSA Patronage competitions and also an Ambassador for IAAP in Vietnam.

He specializes in portraits, street life and landscapes. The most important quality is his pictures is story telling value which makes him special. He loves to connect with photography enthusiasts around the world.

 -Dr. Pankaj Sharma

Profile : A Visionary in Art and Photography: Manish Khattry

-Profile- 
A Visionary in Art and Photography:
Manish Khattry

On the 8th of February 1973, an artist’s soul graced this world—one destined to leave an indelible mark in the realms of art, literature, music, and culture. From a tender age of 16, Manish Khattry’s creative brilliance found its way into the pages of a leading daily newspaper through his cartoons. What began as a youthful passion soon transformed into a lifelong devotion to the artistic world.

In 1994, he pioneered a revolution in Indian art by introducing the computer as a recognized medium of artistic expression. Training over 3,000 students, he guided them to showcase their digital artworks in prestigious galleries, including the esteemed Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi.

Among all artistic pursuits, photography became his true calling—a medium through which he could immortalize the timeless essence of Banaras. With a keen eye for antiquity and an unwavering passion for storytelling, he has spent over a decade capturing the rich cultural heritage of Varanasi. His collection, now exceeding a million images, intricately portrays the city's diverse facets—its architecture, daily life, fairs, festivals, food, and crafts. This labour of love is not merely a photographic endeavour but an earnest mission to preserve the real, ever-evolving Banaras for generations to come.

His work has earned him the prestigious title of the top-ranked street photographer in the world. With a deep commitment to sharing his vision, he has compiled and published numerous books, each an artistic masterpiece and a visual narrative of Banaras.

Some of his notable publications include Varanasi –

‘Varanasi - The Luminous City’ (2007)

‘My World Through My Lens’ (2014)

‘The Book of Banaras’ (2015 & 2017) got unveiled by honorable Governor of Uttar Pradesh, India Shri Ram Naik

‘The Life of Banaras’ :: Volume 1 - Black and White (2017)

‘Bhaj Vishwanatham’ - The first coffee-table book of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Hindi - 2017)

‘The Life of Banaras’ :: Volume 2 - Color (2018)

‘Sanskrit Bhagirathi’ (2018)

‘Mysterious Banaras’ (2019)

‘Kashi - Older than History’ by Times Group & Ministry of Tourism for the Pravasi Bhartiya (2019)

‘Magh Mela Prayagraj’ (2019)

‘Bhaj Vishwanatham’ - Pictorial story of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple (English - 2019)

‘Banaras - Sacred Thread of Eternal Peace’ (2019)

‘Banaras ke Thath - 84 Ghat’ by Jagran Group (2020)

‘Guru Nanak Dev Ji - Footsteps in Banaras & Beyond’ (2020)

‘Banaras - City Eternal’ (2020)

‘Kashi - Fairs and Festivals / Lakkha Mela’ (2020)

‘Sublime Banaras by IndiaOil’ (2022)

‘Kashi Rahasya 1 - Shiva Khand’ (2022)

‘Kashi - Ek Nagar Ka Mahakavya’ (2023)

‘Baba and Me - Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan’ (2023)

‘Modi ka Banaras’ (2024)

‘Yug Pravartak’ - Portraits of Shri Narendra Modi by Maniah Khattry (2024)

‘Meri Kashi - Older than History’ (2024) by Ministry of Tourism for the G20 summit published by Times Group, released by the Prime Minister

‘Refractions - Seven Perspective - One Spectrum’ (2024)

‘Timeless Kashi’ (2025)

‘Shivoham - a pictorial story of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham’ (2025)

‘Unscripted’ (2025)

and 20+ upcoming publications and many more, with over 20 upcoming publications. 

Taking Banaras to the world, he showcased his black-and-white photographic exhibition, Life of Banaras, at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture, Mauritius, organized by the High Commission of India. With invitations to exhibit in several other countries, his vision continues to transcend boundaries.

His artistic excellence has been honoured with multiple awards, including three Gold, two Silver, and one Bronze in the Kashi Sansad Photography Pratiyogita 2024.

A gold medallist in Master of Fine Arts from Banaras Hindu University, he also contributed to academia as a visiting faculty at the Department of Applied Arts, BHU. His photographic contribution to the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

As he continues his journey, compiling and publishing timeless visual stories, his unwavering passion and dedication serve as an inspiration to artists and storytellers worldwide.

(The pictures shared in this article are from the series of Manish on the theme “Kashi ~ Colors of the Life in Monochrome”)

Photographs and text courtesy: Manish Khattry.
Manish Khattry's profile photo courtesy: Manoj Kar

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma