‘Photographic imagery is different in the new generation’

Just like the portrait photographer first replaced the portrait painter, photography too is finding its place in the art world, Abhishek Poddar, owner of Tasveer, India’s first photogallery, tells DNA.

What was the reason behind Tasveer? How has the response been since it opened?
We started Tasveer because we felt that photography had come of age in India and no one was really showing it seriously at the time, which we felt was needed. Photography was only being shown a little in art galleries, while paintings were getting all the attention.

The response has been phenomenonal. There has been a lot of interest from collectors, photographers, artists and people curious about photography.

What are the current trends in photography?
Technology is aiding the growth of photography. Most people think photography doesn’t require much skill and one just needs to point and shoot. But it is not as simple as looking through the viewfinder and clicking. Traditionally, photography was expensive because of the equipment, the flash and the camera. You couldn’t take 100 pictures and delete 99 as you can today. Those days they had to be sure of each composition because film was expensive too.

Is the work of younger photographers more experimental?
Certainly. Younger photographers are not pre-conditioned and the imagery they have been exposed to is completely different from the previous generations.

Is there more interest in collectors as far as photography is concerned?
There are various kinds of collectors. Those who feel like they were left behind when the art boom happened don’t want to miss the bus with photography. But according to me, the boom is yet to happen. Photography has a huge future and potential and this is just the beginning.

What do you think of photography as an art?
In the beginning, photographs began replacing paintings for documentation. The portrait painter was replaced by the portrait photographer. Today, it has come a long way, and the purpose of photography is really whatever the photographer chooses it to be.