Profile : Creating Visual Poetry : Sona Beniwal

Profile

Creating Visual Poetry

Sona Beniwal

  Sona Beniwal is a Photo Artist, born in a small village at Sirsa District of Haryana (India) in February, 1974. The uniqueness about photography she feels is: “You start to see the world around you with an entirely different vision.” She was obsessed with pencil sketching in her early youth and soon converted her interest in capturing fleeting moments in the camera. She is into her ultimate passion for Photography since 2007. The process of seeing the world through a viewfinder presented before her an entire new opportunity. Her creativity did not look back since then. Be it Mother Nature’s bounty or elements of daily life – she always creates visual ‘Poetry’ out of them. She nurtures her subject with a soulful heart and that brings to life whatever she crafts. Her depiction in monochrome shades needs ‘special mention’ as they perfectly complement her abstract personality, which she is. Being an Artist, she tries to project an emotional intent into the viewer’s realm of imagination.

She has achieved many Awards from different National and International Salons/Exhibitions from more than 25 countries. Her works has been displayed in many exhibitions and has been featured in a travel magazine ‘Let’s Go’ as well. She has served as a Judge in many International Digital Photography and Print Salons/Exhibitions/Circuits in India. She is serving as a Contest Captain in FIP, handling quarterly contests, FIP Indian Photographer of the Year and FIP Youth Photographer of the Year. She has received many honours from reputed national and international organizations.

In her words... “Photography is my Passion and Editing... my Meditation.”  She admits, “Creating something artisic and unique out of nothing embedded with a straight-forward approach is the best part of my passion for photography. Monochrome and Nature fascinate me the most. I am passionate about the entrancing beauty of the colourful birds as they are a symbol of FREEDOM. I always try to portray the beauty of world in my own style while catching the innocent exquisiteness of the nature and humankind at the right moment and understand it in a deeper sense.”

--Pankaj Sharma

Youth Gallery : Photography Works Like Meditation for Him : Sanjay Joshi

-Youth Gallery-
Photography is Like Meditation for Him
Sanjay Joshi

Sanjay Joshi, a resident of Jodhpur (Rajasthan, India) works with National Law University in his own city. He has been passionate for travelling since his student life. While his trips to different regions a desire to capture the beauty of different places took birth into his heart. Then after he purchased a camera and his journey of photography began. He decided to pursue photography seriously in 2018 when he met Late Piyush Purohit. Piyush motivated him a lot. After the sad demise of Piyush he came in touch with the esteemed photographers, i.e., Prof. Shivji Joshi and Mr. Manoj Bohra. He learnt the basics of photography from both. Successively Sanjay came in contact with another art lover, Mr. Abhishek Purohit.  He accepts Abhishek as his mentor and motivator.

Sanjay has received various awards at National Level photography competitions till date. His works have been accepted and exhibited in several exhibitions organised in various countries. The Federation of Indian Photography has honoured him with AFIP laurel (Artist FIP).

According to Sanjay photography has changed the meaning of his life. Photography is like meditation for him as this gives him deep satisfaction and pleasure.

He loves clicking people, places, streets, & wildlife. 

--Pankaj Sharma

-Youth Gallery- Photographing Golden Moments: Vishal Kumar Singh

-Youth Gallery-

Photographing Golden Moments

Vishal Kumar Singh

Born in a small village, 'Kharasara' of Ballia District (INDIA), Vishal Kumar Singh is an Animator by profession. But his real passion is photography.

He had interest in photography since his childhood days. He decided to pursue his hobby seriously in 2015 and purchased a Nikon D7200 DSLR Camera with 18-105mm Kit Lens. The process of clicking started and his initial pictures were not satisfactory. But he continued his efforts and gradually there came an improvement in his work. 

In consequent years he came in touch of Mr. Shivji Joshi, is a renowned photographer from Jodhpur. Vishal started sharing his pictures with him for review. The interaction with Prof. Shivji polished his skills. In 2018 Vishal’s first picture was published in National Geographic’s popular section, “The Daily Dozen”. This success added wings to his passion. His couple of pictures have been recognised by National Geographic till date. Now he is among the popular emerging photographers of country.  

Vishal loves street photography in particular. He always feels that photography is one such creative medium which can capture everlasting golden moments. He doesn't go too far to take photographs; he captures his nearby surroundings through his lens. He admits that he is not a self taught photographer; he is learning photography from everywhere and from everyone.

Vishal is an example for all those who want to pursue photography as their passion. Vishal gives message to all beginners, "if we strive hard with single minded dedication, no one can stop us from achieving our goals."
--Pankaj Sharma

Profile : Journey…through the eyes of an artist : Gurdeep Dhiman

-Profile-

Journey…through the eyes of an artist

Gurdeep Dhiman

Born in a very small village, ‘LASARI’ of Punjab (India)  in 1979, Gurdeep Dhiman studied at Department of Fine Arts, Kurukshetra University where he obtained M.A. in Drawing & Painting. He always felt that Photography is one such creative medium which can capture everlasting golden moments for years that can be remembered and enjoyed forever.  Eventually in 2013, he went through the creative photographs  of  Sebastiao Salgado which left a profound effect on his vision and transparency regarding photography.

Afterwards creative works of renowned photographers such as Henri Cartier, Jimmy Nelson, Raghu Rai, Steve McCurry etc. left a big impact on his vision of creativity. He started realising Photography as a vast ocean.  His desire was not only to swim on the surface of this ocean but to measure all depths, and this was possible only due to hard work and continuous efforts. He started to pay attention into this genre of photography very seriously and gradually his works started to be recognized in the realm of art. His pictures, specially portraits and landscapes have their own identity due to their unique presentation. 

Gurdeep says “I very much like to work on long-term projects…There is time for the photographer and the people in front of the camera to understand each other. There is time to go to a place and understand what is happening there. …When you spend more time on a project, you learn to understand your subjects. There comes a time when it is not you who is taking the pictures. Something special happens between the photographer and the people he is photographing. He realizes that they are giving the pictures to him.”

--Pankaj Sharma

Profile - In Love with People and Places : Voleti Ravi Kumar

-Profile-

In Love with People and Places

Voleti Ravi Kumar

Voleti Ravi Kumar, the resident of Tenali, Andhra Pradesh (India) is a gifted photo artist. He has been into the field of photography art for a period of more than 25 years. He loves Pictorial Photography, and so his pictures seem the fine pieces of art. He is passionate for travelling and has visited many places in India. As he is inclined towards the lifestyle of Indian Tribes, he has documented the tribal areas of Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh and the Bonda Tribe in Orissa thoroughly.

His photographs have been awarded in many esteemed photography contests in India and abroad. Recently he has received Special Mention Award from Photo Division, Ministry of information & Broadcasting Government of India. 

The Federation of Indian Photography and the Photographic Society of Singapore have honored him with their prestigious Associateship. India International Photographic Council, Delhi has honoured him with the most coveted Fellowship.

Ravi Kumar is the Secretary of Tenali Camera Club for last 15 years, and has conducted many Photography Workshops to promote the Art of Photography.

He gives the credit of his success to his mentor, Mr. T. Srinivasa Reddy of Vijayawada, who is a renowned photographer of India.

 --Dr. Pankaj Sharma

             

-Great Masters- Born to Love Photography : JOSEPH K.S.TAN

-Great Masters-

Born to Love Photography

JOSEPH K.S.TAN

 This all began when a colleague of Mr. Joseph K.S. Tan sold a camera to him in 1963 at the age of 35. After a lapse of two years, trying to figure out how to improve his photographic skill; he decided to go for a proper photographic course. He Joined Photographic Society of Singapore in May, 1965.

 Upon completing the course, he was enthusiastically trying to perfect his skills. The breakthrough came in 1967 when he submitted a portrait of an “Old Indian” to the 18^th Singapore International Competition. He was overwhelmed when he was announced one of the Top 10 Winners of the World. This cemented his confidence and determination to embark and propel his career into the world of photography. 

 In order to succeed, he then decided to go overseas to further improve his skills.  He left for Rome, Italy in 1974 to take the challenge.

 Back in Singapore, he was headhunted by Robinson’s Portrait Studio as Chief Portrait Photographer/Manager where he made a mark as a leading Portrait Photographer in Singapore. While in Robinson’s Studio he had the opportunity to photograph the Royal Family of Brunei and many other dignitaries of Singapore and the neighboring countries.  He was also given an opportunity to have a two year stint in Bangkok, Thailand to provide photographic services to the elite group e.g. 4-star generals and tycoons. One remarkable experience was having an audience with the King of Thailand as well as taking photographs for the Royal Family and the Chief Monk.

 Upon his return to Singapore in 1992, he started Joseph Master Photography (School of Photography) to share and impart his vast experience and knowledge to young and aspiring photo enthusiasts from all walks of life irrespective of age and experience.

 Mr. Joseph has been serving for the cause of art photography wholeheartedly and always aims at imparting knowledge among the art lovers. He has been honoured by many prestigious organizations of the world.

 --Pankaj Sharma

-Dashboard- Fishermen at Godavari

-Dashboard-

Fishermen at Godavari
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River Godavari plays an important role in the life of Indians. Fishing is an important activity in this river. The act of Fishing provides food to many and on the other hand gives money to the needy people. This picture was clicked at Papikondalu, Andhra Pradesh India. The camera was Nikon D-90. The exposure was f-5 at  1/2000 sec. ISO was 500.

--Pankaj Sharma

-Dashboard- Newly Wed

-Dashboard-

Newly Wed

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During my visit to Kolkata (India) in January-2016, I was strolling on the bank of River Hooghly one morning. I met a newly wedded couple there with an elder woman, probably the mother of bridegroom. They had come here to perform some rituals, and seemed to have profound faith in their culture. I felt deep respect for them and wished to click some pictures. They did not oppose.  Out of the clicked frames, I personally like this picture a lot. I love the way; the post wedding rituals are being performed.  

--Pankaj Sharma

-Youth Gallery- In Love with Nature and Travel Photography: Trikansh Sharma

 -Youth Gallery-   
 In Love with Nature and Travel Photography

Trikansh Sharma

Trikansh Sharma is a promising photo artist from Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) India.   He is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in computer applications. He had interest in photography since his childhood days.  He decided to pursue his hobby seriously in 2016 and purchased a Canon 1300D SLR camera with kit lens. Then after he started photography wholeheartedly, and after a phase of time he found himself deeply inclined towards nature & travel photography. He admits that the company of senior photography enthusiasts motivated him to do more and more in the field of creativity. In addition, the internet has helped him a lot in understanding the fundamentals of good pictures as he thinks. From 2017 onwards he started doing nature & wildlife photography more dedicatedly.  He began spending lots of time at one location in search of good pictures. He thinks that he is not a self taught photographer; he is learning photography from everywhere, and from everyone who is a true art lover.  Now photography has become his passion.  Many of his pictures have been awarded and recognized by reputed platforms like National Geographic.

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma

-Dashboard- Devotee

-Dashboard-

Devotee

Sometimes a few people leave deep impact on our mind and soul. It was on the occasion of Holi, the festival of colours, I was in Barsana, in February, 2018. Barsana is associated with Goddess Radha.  The celebration of Holi starts a few days prior to the actual festival here. On one morning I was in Radha Rani Temple which is situated at a hill. After visiting this temple I went to another important temple which is located nearby. The whole atmosphere was full of divinity there. I met a lady in the campus of that temple who was sitting close to the sculpture of Lord Krishna. She was in deep meditation of her beloved God. The matchless dedication of the lady towards Lord Krishna, the colours of Holi smeared on the sculpture of Lord and the historic architecture all around, fascinated me intensely. I clicked a few pictures. Here is one of them.

I used a Canon EOS 6D Camera with a Tokina 17-35 mm lens. The exposure was: f 11 at 1/1250 sec.

ISO was set at 8000.

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma