Tarun Khiwal
Tarun Khiwal | |
---|---|
Born | 1965 (age 58–59)[1] Mathura, Uttar Pradesh |
Occupation | photographer |
Years active | 1990 – present |
Website | tarunkhiwal |
Tarun Khiwal (born 1965) is a noted Indian fashion and commercial photographer, based in Delhi. An engineer by education, he left his first job in 1989, and apprenticed with photographers, Hardev Singh, Atul Kasbekar and Prabuddha Dasgupta, before starting out on his own in 1995.
One of the leading photographers in the Indian fashion industry, he was awarded the 2005 Hasselblad Masters Award, given by the Hasselblad Foundation, he is the first and only Indian recipient so far of the award. His other awards include, "Fashion Photographer of the Year Award" at the Lycra MTV Style Award and Kingfisher Fashion Photographer of the Year. In 2015, he was part of "The Reflected Eye” organized by Totem which was a narrative photo exhibition that happened at New York and pays homage to and celebrates the artist behind the camera alongside pioneers from the Photography fraternity - Rankin, Ralph Gibson, Douglas Kirkland, Alexi Lubomirski, Platon and the likes. He is also listed among the top ten photographer by Model management, Link: www.modelmanagement.com/modelling-advice/top-10-fashion-photographers/
Early life and background
Khiwal was born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh,[1] and grew up in Lucknow, where his father was an Indian Railways officer. He started taking photographs at age 15, after his father gave him a Pentax K1000 camera.[2] Growing up, he wanted to become a painter, however neither it nor photography was considered financially viable career option by his father, thus ended up studying mechanical engineering at the Institute of Tool Room Training, Lucknow, where he studied for the next four years.[1][3]
Career
After completing his education, Khiwal started his career in early 1989, designing press and die casting tools at West India Power Equipments Pvt. Ltd in Jagdishpur, an industrial town near Lucknow. However, finding him unable to apply himself well at work, even eight months after joining, the technical director of the company, gave him the book,The Magic of Thinking Big to read. The book impacted him deeply, a few days later, he returned the book and also left the job.[1][3]
Thus, he shifted base to Delhi in November 1989. A few months later, he gained apprenticeship with renowned architectural and interior photographer, Hardev Singh.[1][4] This was followed by apprenticeships with fashion photographers, Atul Kasbekar and Prabuddha Dasgupta.[1][5] With the latter, he apprenticed for two years, this left a deep impact of photography, as he later recounted in an interview, " (with Dasgupta) I discarded all the notions I had about photography."[6][7] In 1995, he started to work independently, initially with magazines like Society and First City. This gradually led to his entry to the fashion industry, over the next few years.[1]
Recognition came to him in 2004, when he was awarded the "Fashion Photographer of the Year Award" at the Lycra MTV Style Award and Kingfisher Fashion Photographer of the Year award, while international recognition came with the Hasselblad Masters Award in 2005, which made him the first and only Indian photographer to win the award.[1][3][8] He incorporated his experiences while growing up into fashion and brought about an Indianess and took Indian fashion to the world. Not only did he shoot western fashion but also a lot of traditional Indian textile and clothing and made images which were upheld Indian aesthetics were yet fashionable and have received appreciation through out the world. His campaigns for L'affaire and Ekaya blend in Indian Fashion, culture and tradition aesthetically.
Over the years his studio has been a learning centre and an institution in itself. His assistants have been able to carve a niche for themselves and today are well established photographers themselves. His studio has been home to individuals of many nationalities who have come and successfully interned and assisted him.
Over the years, Khiwal has worked with brands such as Reebok, Nestle, Nokia, Panasonic, Gillette, American Express and Honda and magazines like Elle,Tank Vogue,Harpers Bazaar, Grazia.[8]
Personal life
Khiwal is married, and lives in Delhi with his wife Ritu, and two children, a son and a daughter.[9]
Awards
HASSELBLAD MASTER - 2005
MTV STYLE LYCRA AWARD 2004
ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD: PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2005
ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD: PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2015
EPSON MASTERS WORLDWIDE EPSON PRO PROGRAMME
MARIE CLAIRE FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2009
L'OFFICIEL LUXURY AWARD, 2008
F AWARD - FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2005
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Akshai Jain (31 January 2010). "Right focus made it click". Livemint. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Interview : Life behind the lens". The Hindu. 10 August 2006. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ a b c "Shooting star". The Telegraph, Calcutta. 13 November 2004. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Camera days are numbered: Hardev Singh". Hindustan Times. 19 August 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Shooting star". Economic Times. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Memories of a master". Hindustan Times. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Tribute: The silent frame". Mint. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ a b "Master 2005, June – Tarun Khiwal". Hasselblad.com. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Tarun Khiwal: Photography". imanthan. Retrieved 4 October 2013.