CHENNAI PHOTO BIENNALE
Architectural Photography
Panel Discussion
CPB2019 and Hindustan University bring together some of the well known names in the architectural photography industry to discuss the need and importance of documentation in architecture, be it new or old. The panelists will also talk about their work and how they shoot, basic practices, processes including
post-processing techniques.
About the panelists
Bharat Ramamrutham is one of India’s leading Architectural, Interiors, Landscape, and Travel photographers. With a background in architecture and design and an abiding interest in the arts and crafts of India, his work in both the built and natural environments covers landscapes, architecture and interiors, and the documentation of people, places, and traditions all over India.
With a unique blend of style developed through a broad range of artistic and photographic experience and frequent reinvention of his creative approach to his work, Bharath Ramamrutham has created a body of work which has come to exemplify not only the purist approach to the medium, but to many people the definitive pictorial statement on Indian architecture, design and the landscape.
Harshan Thomson has been photographing architectural and interior works across Asia for over 20 years. Being an Architect, Harshan has a keen eye for aesthetics and a deeper understanding of the built space, its proportions, scale, texture and most importantly light. His principle aim is producing honest images while achieving technical excellence in every image. His works have been widely published in a range of architectural and design journals across the world. Harshan is also a partner in Calm Studio, an Architectural design practice based in Chennai.
Having started shooting Architecture using large format 4x5 Sinar and Walker camera systems he is currently working with a digital technical camera system – Cambo WRS, Schneider Digitar optics, and Mamiya Leaf Credo medium format digital backs, He also uses a full frame 35mm digital camera systems from Canon and Sony with highly resolved tilt-shift lenses. Harshan believes in making the best use of light to enhance architectural forms and materials, ambient light on its own or in combination with fill flash when required. Critical areas that Harshan focuses on for setting up a precision composition are choosing the right focal length, angle, the height of the camera, lens movements for controlling converging lines etc.
Sreenag is an architecture photographer based out of Chennai, working in the industry for the last 14 years.
He's a graduate of Loyola College's Visual Communications program and the third generation in his family to make their living with a camera. His aptitude for photography materialised at an early age and was always encouraged to grow.
Architecture and design has long been a passion of Sreenag's, and this interest and endless hours of reading on the subjects helped him understand the needs of architects, in order to get them the photos they need.
Last year, Sreenag's photo placed a Final Shortlist at the World Architecture Festival, won a Bronze at the Tokyo International Foto Awards and an Honorable Mention at the International Photo Awards.
About the Moderator
Kavita Selvaraj is the founder and director of CityWorks Design Consultants Pvt Ltd and the director at C.R Narayana Rao Consultants Pvt Ltd
CityWorks, a social enterprise has a focus on public space design, and Kavitha is associated with various projects including street design, solid waste management, parks, and open spaces and affordable housing.
Inclusive planning is a key area of interest. Kavitha believes in using unconventional means to engage citizens such as wall art, social media and community events, as civic engagement is critical for sustainable initiatives in the public domain.
She is also actively involved with Non-profit organizations such as Chennai City Connect, 100 Resilient Cities and The Nature Conservancy to shape the built and natural environment and offers advice to various government departments such as Corporation of Chennai, Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board on the design and planning of public spaces.
In her role as Director at C R Narayana Rao (CRN), which is a large well-established architecture practice based out of Chennai, Kavitha is involved in a wide range of projects from concept to completion for various building types. She has specialized experience in master planning, urban design, large scale campus projects including IT Parks, townships and Industrial facilities.
She teaches in various educational institutions in the city including School of Architecture and Planning, Chennai, MEASI Academy of Architecture and Rajalakshmi College.