BANGALORE: Six photographers display their works on October 31 at Chitrakala Parishath to mark Rajyotsava. The exhibition, Pratibimba!, brings lovely images from historical and contemporary Karnataka. It took the photographers almost three years to explore the state and click these pictures. The exhibition brings to life Karnataka's rich culture and architectural elegance.
Raghavendra KS
Picture: Performers at the Mysore Dasara
Reason: Groups from the entire state come together to participate in the procession. Their passion for our culture and tradition is commendable.
How it was shot: It was a tough picture to shoot as it involved a lot of leg work. I had to follow the various dance troops in the heat. However, my efforts paid off when I finally got the shot.
Sabir Ahmed
Picture: Rocking chair at a homestay in Coorg at sunrise.
Reason: During our travels, the most important aspect that struck me was the peace and tranquility of the places we visited. This is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the city that we are so used to. But this is an everyday situation for people living there. No wonder they seem so happy despite their tough life. I wanted to bring some of those aspects to life through my pictures.
How it was shot: The picture was clicked when I was having my morning tea in the verandah. The moment I saw the rocking chair, I set up my camera on a tripod, metered the scene and shot it. I was the only team member shooting on film while everyone else was shooting on digital cameras. So there were no second chances to get this shot right!
Apart from this, my most memorable experience was during our first team shoot to Chikkamagalur. It also established a strong bond between the team members.
Renith Valsaraj
Picture: One of the madanikas (sculptures of women) of Belur - Shuka Bhashini.
Reason: The sculptures have always fascinated me. The fact that they are so lifelike is very intriguing. No two sculptures are the same.
How it was shot: I have taken the picture at such an angle that the entire structure fits into one frame.
The biggest challenge was to bring to life her expressions and give it a sort of 3D effect.
Another moment worth capturing is Hampi at sunset.
I can sit for hours on top of the Matunga hill and admire the ruins.
Venkatesh Katta
Picture: Chennakeshava Temple of Belur
Reason: Architecture is an interesting subject to shoot as it is a reflection of the culture and tradition of yore.
How it was shot: As this temple is always crowded, I had to wait for almost 15 minutes to shoot this particular picture.
It requires a lot of patience to shoot a monument of historical importance as different people perceive it differently. Besides this, shooting the buffalo race in Mangalore, popularly known as Kambala, was also quite a challenge. Your entire life flashes in front of your eyes when you stand in front of the racing buffaloes.
Anita Bora
Picture: Sunset at Hemkuta Hill
Reason: Wherever I travel, I try to get a glimpse of the sunrise and sunset. However, on all my visits to Hampi, I encountered bad weather. So it was after a long time that I was finally rewarded with crimson skies at sunset. The silhouette of a man walking towards the horizon made it a beautiful shot.
How it was shot: I walked around till I found the perfect backdrop. I wanted to capture the setting sun against a hill.
Another memorable experience at Hemkuta Hill was when I lost my camera at the end of a shoot and surprisingly found it the same spot a while later. After a fun photo shoot, we made our way back to our hotel. On reaching, I realised I had left my camera kit behind. We quickly rushed back. Thankfully, it was where I had left it — next to a tree.
Hema Narayanan
Picture: Ibrahim Rauza, the inspiration for the Taj Mahal
Reason: Heritage and architecture fascinate me. To photograph an unknown monument, that influenced the Taj Mahal, was exhilarating.
How it was shot: I wanted to do justice to this beautiful structure that has stood tall over years, but was never given its due credit. I therefore worked on an unique perspective, with the light falling on the minaret and with drama in the clouds. To get all three in the photograph was quite tricky and needed a lot of patience.