Photography, he says, is his dharma, and creativity, his language. Raghu Rai, one of the ace photographers of the country, has famously engaged with photographs for several decades now. He doesn’t mention techniques and high-end cameras while explaining the art, but narrates his experience of the world on the other side of the lens.He hates to be labeled as a photojournalist or a documentary photographer, what he is most known for, and says, “I photograph everything that touches me; things I can interact with.” One of the many such subjects is trees and he is exhibiting his second series titled “Trees” at Art Alive Gallery in New Delhi; an eponymous book was launched at the start of the exhibition some time ago. The first series, in monochrome — contrary to the present collection in color — came out last year.“These are the photographs I have been clicking here and there, everywhere and anywhere during work assignments or holidays. These are the whispers; while you are on your way and a tree, almost in revelry, distracts you and you can’t walk past it without capturing it in your eyes, mind and camera to stay forever,” says Rai.His photographs of the trees are not taken in serene and scenic surroundings of the Himalayas. These are the pictures taken in ordinary surroundings with an extraordinary perspective; a tree standing tall in the desert of Rajasthan, a family almost living by the tree in Gujarat, a couple sleeping peacefully under the shadow of a tree. Some of the most gripping photos are taken at his own farm house in Gurgaon on a rainy night, capturing the wind gushing through the leaves of the trees. “If you go to click a beautiful mountain, it will obviously look beautiful in the pictures, the challenge is to make the ordinary look beautiful,” he says.The first picture of this collection was taken in 1966 in monochrome. While shooting trees year after year, he never thought it would turn into a book at some point. And these are the photographs taken without any creative constraints. “When you are given an assignment, you have parameters and you try to work within that brief but creativity lives beyond briefs and these are the moments that I have captured beyond briefs,” he says.Some of his pictures in this series can also be seen in pervious collection in black and white. A little eccentric in his approach, he says that one must never take a colored picture for the color’s sake. “If you take away color from my picture, it must speak still,” he adds.The man who got into photography “by chance” has been holding the camera for nearly 50 years now. He received a Padmashree in 1971 for his work and has given the country some of the finest pictures of its socio-political dynamics. Capturing a day in Indira Gandhi’s life to Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 to giving voice to the minority communities of the country and the heritage of Kolkata, he has measured the length and breadth of India through his camera. He believes his pictures must be free of time, space and identity. “I discovered that in a daily newspaper, pictures and news die a daily death; very few stories can carry on. So, a picture is good if it’s remembered. For instance, Indira Gandhi was the strongest Prime Minister the country has had and if a foreigner or a villager doesn’t know who she is, they must look at the picture and gauge of her bold personality. The picture must live for itself,” he adds.Rai’s USP is the way he treats his photography, it’s unusual in a way he doesn’t let his previous experience or knowledge come in the way of how he sees his subject while capturing. Creativity and innovation are at the helm of great pictures and one must “live beyond any thorough process because interaction between life and nature is from the heart and mind must never interfere”. Even to his students, he says, “We don’t expect great photographs from you but the ones that speak of your own style”.As he takes a look at his pictures of trees, he says, “The world is fascinating at so many levels, one can’t help but respond to the call of nature.”— Raghu Rai’s exhibition, “Trees” is on view at Art Alive Gallery, S-221, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi till April 30.Follow @ARTINFOIndia
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