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Photographers are observers. Yes, this was
the quote of the prolific photographer who has lived for last
26 years in London. He has made many firsts in still photography
in ice cream and food subjects. This person is none other
than Swapan Mukherjee, who has made Raheja Vihar in Powai
his home for last 10 years now. He is a quintessential bachelor
having dedicated his heart, soul and life to capture beauty
in his box.
This International photographer, born in
pre-independence East Bengal (now Bangladesh), brought up
and studied in Bihar, UP. He finally took off from Delhi after
finishing his B.Sc Honors from Delhi University in Chemistry
to Great Britain in early 60s. Since his father was in Railways,
he had the opportunity to live, enjoy and understand the beauty
and culture of this Great Country called India. He has traveled
to most places on this beautiful Planet and still has the
verve and enthusiasm to travel across globe. With four decades
of stint in still photography he has risen from the level
of Black and White photography era to the most ultra modern
color digital photography today.
When he wanted to change from Architecture course to Photographic
Course in London, the Indian Embassy, first refused to change
the course, because he exclusively went to UK to study Architecture.
He stood firm on his idea to join the photographic course
and then continuing for an Architect Degree. His ardent patience
and love for Britain got him a UK Citizenship, way back in
1965 and still he holds his British Citizenship for last many
years.
He moved to London to study Architecture. During his study,
he used to work in studios and night clubs to earn that extra
pocket money to cater his hunger for success in photography.
He was very much fascinated about photography, a perfect photo,
which speaks in volume than just writing in many number of
lengthy pages. He has the opportunity to get the membership
in Camera Club which was started way back in 1892 in Great
Britain. He worked in Studio Ace for seven and half years
and showed his prowess in all the photographic work that he
handled.
He was thrice awarded from 1981 to 1983 as 'Beauty Photographer'
consecutively. He specialises in Cosmetic make-up and Casting
photography. During his early days though he worked as an
assistant in a studio in London, he participated in Kodak
International worldwide Symposium with the theme as "WORLD
and ITS people" inviting 100 plus photo-graphers from
all over the world. He sent 4 photographs in different category,
he got selected in all the four. In a sweet 'rossogulla' cheerful
soft voice he says it was my most cherished award. He was
awarded as Best Photographer by AAAI (Association of Advertising
Agencies in India) for Vadilal Ice Cream photography in 1985.
This was a challenging campaign for the then Enterprise Ad
Agency and this campaign was headed by Elsie Nanji the Senior
Art Director. At present she is holding the position of Director
in Ambience Agency. He has worked for many campaign for JWT,
Lintas, OBM (now O&M), Benson and other leading advertising
agencies in India and abroad. So far, he has handled all types
of still photography projects for many small, medium and large
scale companies across the globe. His very first photo-graphic
assignment in India was in 1982 during his short stay for
'Femina Fashion Feature. 'He respects and admires Tina Ambani,
though she belongs to the leading business family of India,
but finds time for art, culture, photography and other ethnic
work quite silently.
He reminiscences, "When I moved to Powai (Chandivili),
the area looked so pleasant, no high rise building, cool and
fresh air with Powai Lake and rich green Powai Hill. Now it's
becoming like any other another concrete jungle of Mumbai.
He is hopeful to see the Lake Frontage come up someday when
we will have a nice walking track right from L&T corner
to IIT, along the lake.
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