Comments (0)
News |  15 Mar 2011 14:59 |  By PavanRChawla

Mumbai's first Live Music Photography exhibition

* Tamagna Ghosh and Kunal Kakodkar showcase 11 Indian and international bands and artistes at Zenzi, Bandra

MUMBAI: One's a radio professional, another works for a music magazine. Both are passionate about music and photography. And with the support of popular music-art-and-culture-driven-resto-bar Zenzi in Bandra, Mumbai, these talented photo artists, Tamagna Ghosh and Kunal Kakodkar, have put up an exhibition to showcase live music photography. Up since Thursday, the 10th of March, this exhibition with a unique theme, music photography -- Mumbai's first -- will run for a month till 10 April.

It showcases the some handpicked pictures Ghosh and Kakodkar have clicked of some independent music bands and international artists who have performed in India 

What made them put this up? Ghosh says, "It's a matter of great pleasure to showcase our work, and to promote the independent music scene. Besides commercial Bollywood music, our country has a plethora of musical talents catering to different genres of Music - be it Rock-n-Roll, electronica or fusion, and we have selected 16 photographs -- eight apiece shot by Kunal and myself -- for display to showcase such talent. We are truly proud of the talent in our country, and we are doing our bit to promote it and take it to world standards."

The exhibition also includes some of the live acts of acclaimed international stars who had performed lately along with notable Indian bands. The 16 pictures showcase Vishal Dadlani (Pentagram), Sidd Coutt and Bobby Talwar (Zero), Anushka Manchanda (Shkabang), Vasu Dixit (Swarathma), Ananda Sen (Supersonics), Monica Dogra (Shaair-n-Func), Chandresh Kudwa, Ravi Iyer and Mahesh Tinaikar  (Axetortion), Hussain Bandukwala (Demonic Ressurection), Asian Dub Foundation, Bryan Adams and Michael Angelo Batio.

The exhibition is divided into two parts -- live band member expressions and live act ambience. "We intend to capture all facets of high-energy live music gigs," Ghosh says 

Ghosh says he believes in the "fine-art quotient" of any photograph. "As my work goes under the signature name of Hami, meaning a tender peck on a baby's cheek, I critically choose the best of my works which are as beautiful, tender yet dramatic as my signature. Although the photos showcase band members and the live-act mood, the photos on display don't have any explanation of their own, except the titles. I leave it to the admirer to interpret the depth of the works."

Which, perhaps, is the reason Tamagna Ghosh's pictures on display are very simply titled: The G3- Feat. Chandresh Kuda, Mahesh Tinaikar and Ravi Iyer . Shot @ Axetortion; The Scream- Feat Vishal Dadlani Shot @Pentagram Live at Sula Fest; The Bomb - Shot at Chitrakoot Grounds, Parikrama Live; The Growl - Feat Anushkka Manchanda, Shkabang Live @JD RockAwards 2010;  The #9 - Feat Bryan Adams Live @MMRDA Grounds; The Double Tap - Feat Michael Angelo Batio Live @Bluefrog; The Light - Feat Sidd Coutto, Zero Live @IRock25, and The Desire - Michael Angelo Batio Live @Bluefrog.

Persuaded to name his favourite picture, Ghosh picks The G3. "This black and white photograph was clicked in one of the premium live music venue in the city," he says. "It showcases Chandresh Kudwa, Ravi Iyer and Mahesh Tinaikar in a series named Axetortion -- a guitar jam session. This picture is a favourite because of the play of light and shade and the capturing the right moment at the right time."

Ghosh recalls shooting The Double Tap. "It was an epic phenomenon," he reminisces. "The entire pub was full beyond expectation, and like at a rock show,  the front row was full of mad fans with tremendous moshpit and violence. Standing in such an area with expensive gear, trying to get your best shot not only requires a huge amount of patience but also tremendous amount of risk and a lot of practice. After all, you have to capture the best of frames in low- and fast changing light conditions. I was being pushed from all sides and just got a 5-minute window to click some of the memorable shots of Michael Angelo Batio. That was some experience!"

Kunal Kakodkar's eight pictures on display are titled with more information. Edited, the titles read: Prithpal Rajput (ADF), shot in December 2010, featuring British electronica veterans Asian Dub Foundation at last year's NH7 Weekender in Pune; Bobby Talwar (Zero) and Ravi Chary, shredding on â€?Christmas in July,' again from last year's  NH7 Weekender in Pune; Ananda Sen (The Supersonics), Kolkata's post-punk act which, sadly, broke up last year. Taken at Blue Frog last April -- the last time they ever played together in Mumbai; Vishal Dadlani (Pentagram), featuring the indie pioneers at SulaFest in Nashik in February 2011; Bassist, Independence Rock XXV, shot at Chitrakut Grounds, Andheri last year; Monica Dogra (Shaa'ir + Func), full of manic energy and "pretty easy on the eyes", shot at Blue Frog; and Vasu Dixit (Swarathma), the Bangalore folk rockers shot at Hard Rock Caf?©, Worli; Invasion, from the stage at Palace Grounds, Bangalore  before the first leg of the inaugural Invasion Festival.

Asked to pick his favourite, Kakodkar says, "The photograph of Ananda Sen of The Supersonics is my favorite of the ones that are being shown at Zenzi. The Supersonics were one of the best Indian bands in recent times, but sadly, they broke up last year. The photo was taken at what would be their last ever gig in Mumbai."

Ghosh is happy with the way music lovers have responded to the exhibition. "Keeping in view the fact that such an exhibition catering to the independent music scene is happening for the first time in Mumbai, the turnout has been good," he says. "On the first day, we had some up to 200 visitors." However, the duo is expecting a lot of people to turn up, considering the exhibition is on for a whole month,  and is being heavily promoted through social networking sites and blogs. "We also invited all musicians in the circuit for the inauguration, and had the company of sme of them the day we opened," Ghosh says."An exhibition inauguration at 9PM in the night at a restaurant-bar is what surprised everyone. Happily, whoever came had a positive opinion about it and said it's a trend that needs to be explored more."

They're selling the photographs, of course. Or at least, they intend to sell them? "Yes," says Ghosh. "All the photographs are up for sale  In fact, some of the visitors have shown interest in a couple of photographs." And what's the price list like? "We share the price of each photograph only on request," says Ghosh.

How did Zenzi agree to put up the exhibition? Are they paying a  bomb, or is Zensi helping the cause of great photography here? "Well, both Kunal and I have been shooting live gigs for quite some time, and we have a solid networking base with the musicians in the circuit," says Ghosh. "Zenzi has been quite proactive in approaching both of us to give us a platform to exhibit our work for the cause of Music and Art," he says gratefully.

As much an equipment freak as a gifted photographer, Ghosh says he uses a Canon 450D DSLR with a 50mmf/1.8, 18-55mm kit lens and a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L series lens. "I have been shooting live gigs for the last 3 years. In fact during my early years I used to shoot mainly with my 50mmf/1.8 lens and my kit lens until recently I procured the expensive canon 24-70f/2.8L series lens." Does he have any favourite piece of equipment? Ghosh says, "I still feel the inexpensive 50m f/1.8 lens is the best lens to tackle the low light erratic conditions in concert photography."

Kakodkar started shooting Indian bands in 2003-04 with the Nikon D70, one of the earliest digital SLR models, and a kit lens. "Over the years I've upgraded my gear, and currently shoot with a Nikon D80, 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII Nikkor lenses," he says. Any advice for inspired shutterbugs? "For aspiring concert photographers with DSLRs, I'd highly recommend the 50mm f/1.8," he says. "It's available in all major lens mounts, and at about Rs.5000, it's a great, fast aperture lens to start covering low-light environments like concerts."

Frat heroes have left some excellent comments in the guest book. Randolph Correira, guitarist with Pentagram and Shaair and Func,  commented, It's great to see a music photography exhibition happening in a pub where you can come and party with your friends and at the same time get to see some amazing photographs. It's great to see your fellow band members with whom you play on stage to be up on those walls, framed and  up on display, as a great piece of Art....

Arijit Datta, Vocalist, Airport, commented, Zenzi has always been a great place catering to music, art and culture, and this is a great initiative to showcase music photography. I think it's a great initiative and there should be more such showcasing of such work."

Obviously, the duo will not rest now that they've set the ball rolling with this unique exhibition in Mumbai. As Ghosh puts it, "This new genre of photography is gaining prominence slowly, and we need more venues to allow us to showcase our work."

By his own admission, Ghosh has always loved to showcase photography with a fine art quotient attached to it. Moving away from the routine journalistic photography and adding that extra punch to each work so that everyone desires to put it up on their drawing room wall has always triggered that extra enthusiasm in his work. That, he says, is what Hami stands for. Ghosh's specialised music photography and music art work can be viewed at www.rockyourhami.com.

Tags
Games