Praful C Patel's A Viewfinder's Journey, showcasing 55 years of transformation from glassplate to digital, will be on exhibit from 2 to 28 December, 2000 at the Centre for Photography as an Art Form's (CPA) Piramal Gallery. Patel has enjoyed all aspects of photography from an early age, both as a medium as well as an active practitioner. To him, photography is a labour of love, a vocation which demands complete involvement and commitment.

After completing his Diploma in Still and Cine Photography from St Xavier's College, he was appointed chief photographer for a Ford foundation pilot project on rural India at Allahabad Agricultural Institute. He then worked for the publication of the book 'Experiments in Extension: The Gaon Sathi' published by the Oxford University Press, and moved on to produce a number of film strips. He has to his credit the photography of many books, like the one he did for Dr Stella Kramrisch's book 'The Presence of Siva.' Later he worked with Mitter Bedi as technical director of the 'Mitter Bedi Academy of Photography.' Today, as senior assistant director of CPA, he has organised over 270 photography related exhibitions and events in India and abroad.

He held his first exhibition in 1974, entitled 'Forms in Nature.' Now, a quarter of a century later, he would like to share his experiences and creative efforts with young photographers and collegues with his exhibition which is a collection of work done between 1945 to 1999. The work will be presented in 7 sections, each representing professional assignments as well as images from purely personal pursuits.

In 1949, Patel started off with studio portraits and family group photography using a large wooden English camera. Today, he finds himself experimenting with digital imaging, a medium that has soared to dizzy heights. He fells that there are few places in India which can produce quality black and white prints, hence he does the printing himself. According to him, black and white images are more graphic and have a unique charm of their own, offering one the flexibility of controlling it through handcrafted prints. Patel foresees a radical transformation in the very definition of the term 'photography' in the near future.

To coincide with the exhibition, Patel will release his book 'A Viewfinder's Journey'.

Venue: Piramal Gallery, CPA, National Centre for Performing Arts, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400 021

Phone: 202 9483 / 283 3737

e-mail: ncpa@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in

By : Anupama Vinayak