Reflection

Title: Reflection (2012)
100/100 Limited Edition Prints

Print Dimensions & Sale Price: To be Announced by May 30.

Background: Legend has it that a 16th century Indian Princess (Maharani) after bathing, unfurled her hair to dry, and basked her body in the morning sun, at her hilltop palace overlooking this scenic lake. Her ancestors’ legacy as the patrons of the Arts in India has survived 1000 years later; embodied in the UNESCO World Heritage temple sculptures of Khajuraho (incidentally the photographs of these ancient temples by French historian Alain Danielou were part of the first photography exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1949).

Photography: Shot from uphill, across the other side of the lake – the essence of ‘color, hue & light’ have exhibited their vitality as the ‘spices of photography’ through Reflection. As evident in the photograph, the brightly lit lakeside mountain village, under the gentle guardianship of the vast blue sky, has created a shimmering fusion of multiple colors in its reflection. A winding road up the mountain village, more than 100 dwellings, 49 visible strangers, and one stunning Reflection.

Reflection (2012)

Reflection (2012)

History: It is believed that the lake was built during the Gond Dynasty in ancient India. The principality of this lake and its region surprisingly finds mention in American Orientalist, Fitzedward Hall’s manuscripts from the 1860s, which I presume are currently housed within the archives at the Harvard University.

Fitzedward Hall's 1867 manuscript auction announcement, Leonard & Co., Boston.

Fitzedward Hall’s 1867 manuscript auction announcement, Leonard & Co., Boston. Image Courtesy – Harvard University.

Here’s what the research team stumbled upon recently. A copy of the 1867 ad, announcing the manuscripts’ auction by Leonard & Co., in Boston.

That’s not all – the temples in the region are found to have had close ties to the transcendental meditation guru of The Beatles. Here’s a slideshow of photographs by Pattie Boyd.

1000 years later the Reflection in its true meaning – Reflects History in all its Colors!

Fine Art Prints of the Reflection shall be available for sale, starting May 30. Enquiries are most welcome at www.allanfernandes.com/contact

Riverine of Death

Title: Riverine of Death (2012)
100/100 Limited Edition Prints

Print Dimensions & Sale Price: To be Announced by May 30.

Background: Legend has it that the Riverine is filled with ferocious crocodiles. Its colossal length – more than 800 miles through the country’s most rigid landscape, makes it one of the largest westward flowing rivers of the Indian peninsula.

Photography: Shot from the edge that was decided after numerous visits, this expansive landscape photograph provides a gigantic view of the natural marvel, through which the mammoth river flows.

Riverine of Death (2012)

Riverine of Death (2012)

Silver coin inscription of King Kshaharata Nahapana. Image Courtesy: British Museum.

Silver coin inscription of King Kshaharata Nahapana. Image Courtesy - British Museum.

History: After extensive research, I was surprised that the river finds mention in the Periplus of the Red Sea; written in Greek during the 1st Century. The Periplus also mentions Roman trade at the Indian port, which was situated at the mouth of this river, on the west coast of India. Further investigation on the subject, led me to the world’s greatest museums of human history and culture, the British Museum in London. Restored here is the ancient coin of “King Kshaharata Nahapana” who ruled the region from 55 to 100 CE. This discovery solved the mystery.

Geography: Geologists suggest that river flows in a rift valley. The lowland between highlands as seen in the picture was created by the spreading apart of the earth’s surface, forming a graben.

2000 years later, the Riverine of Death still flows!

Fine Art Prints of the Riverine of Death shall be available for sale, starting May 30. Enquiries are most welcome at www.allanfernandes.com/contact

Google India Art Project showcases Indian Artists, Iconic Artworks

I am surprised! The Ministry of Culture in India has turned a new leaf for the promotion of Indian Art & Culture using the online medium. Strengthening its partnership with Google, the Union Minister of Culture, Kumari Selja inaugurated the Google Art Project in India. As part of the initiative, artworks from the National Museum, and the National Gallery of Modern Art would be accessible to internet users worldwide.

The Union Minister of Culture, Kumari Selja addressing at the inauguration of the Google India Art Project, in New Delhi

The Union Minister of Culture, Kumari Selja addressing at the inauguration of the Google India Art Project, in New Delhi. Image Courtesy - Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Selected Indian artworks that you and I can view online at www.GoogleArtProject.com are:

  • MF Husain’s “Zameen” (1955)
  • Bhupen Kakkar’s “Man with Plastic Flowers” (1975)
  • Raja Ravi Varma’s oil paintings (1890s)
  • Jamini Roy’s paintings describing tribal and folk culture.
  • Amrita SherGill’s pre-colonial paintings

The art website also allows you to view more than 30,000 artworks from museums collections across the world, including,

The:

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)
  • National Gallery (London)
  • Palace of Versailles (France)
  • White House (Washington DC)
  • Museum of Islamic Art (Qatar), and many more.

All I can say is that – appreciation of Indian Art took a new form this past weekend. Just like other countries, India too has a heritage that needs to be preserved and showcased to an audience who wish to know more about Indian culture. Hope this endeavour is successful in creating awareness and renewed understanding of Contemporary Indian Art among art observes in India and internationally aswell.

I am pleased that the overall Google Art Project is not linked to the company’s advertising revenue and more importantly, does not allow users to download or print images.

Vogue Fashion Fund: Calling Fashion Designers in India

Following a similar format as in America, France and Italy, the world’s leading fashion publication, Vogue has launched its inaugural edition of the Vogue Fashion Fund in India. The Fund, calls upon talented fashion designers from across the country, providing them a lucrative platform like never before.

Vogue is one of the most highly regarded fashion publication in the world. The magazine, starting with French Vogue has played a pivotal role over decades in revolutionizing the manner in which fashion is understood by the masses. Photographers like Richard Avedon, Mario Testino and other greats have brought to the magazine an era of fashion photography that is inspiring and soulfully fulfilling even today.

If you’re a fashion designer and your answer to the following is “Yes”, you are eligible to participate:

  • You either have a degree or a diploma in fashion/design from a recognized institute
  • Your designs were showcased in atleast one Fashion Week
  • Your collections have been in the retail market for atleast 2 years
  • You have received editorial/ press coverage, and
  • You employ a team of professional staff

Winner’s Bounty:

  • Cash Prize
  • Year-long mentorship with an industry professional
  • An opportunity to commercialize your collection with a leading retailer
  • Access to industry platforms, like the Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week, and
  • The biggest prize – A fashion shoot in Vogue India.

Believe me. This is an lifetime opportunity being provided by Vogue India in collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). And must be made good use of. Innovative, talented, and creative fashion designers should actively participate and showcase their collection that eventually has the potential to re-position their career towards greater heights. A BIG thanks to Vogue for initiating the Vogue Fashion Fund.

To register for the Vogue Fashion Fund 2012 visit – http://www.vogue.in/promotions/Vogue-Fashion-Fund/

Download PDF: Vogue Fashion Fund (size: 57kb)

Web URL for reference: http://allanfernandes.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/vogue-fashion-fund-india-fashion-designers/

Most Influential, Followed Photographer on Twitter

This is surprising! Though I am yet to explore the full possibilities that accompany such a high twitter follower-base; simple math has revealed that I am the most followed photographer on Twitter in India. More than 5300 active followers and still increasing by the day.

Let’s do some logical math:

In normal circumstance, of every 100 people I know/who know me, only a single-digit percentile may have a twitter page, handle. Let’s consider, of these an approx. 2-3% are actively following me @PhotographyAF.

With more than 5300 twitter followers that the page has garnered so far, the actual prospective reach of the photography page rounds up to an amazing number:

2% of 5300 = 106

5300-106 = 5194*98 = 509,012

That is BIG. Twitter as a micro-blogging platform has offered a trend-setting medium of public communication for celebrities, professional photographers, and artists worldwide. These numbers offer immense reach, and are influential in nature. I’m looking forward to make good use of the opportunity that it provides to my photography.

Suggestions are most welcome.

Download PDF: Twitter Photography Page (size: 49kb)

Web URL for reference: http://www.allanfernandes.com/blog/most-influential-followed-photographer-on-twitter/

Photography Blog: Here’s Why I PhotoBlog

Long after being part of meaningful meanderings of several top photographer’s blogs, I’ve decided to jump onto the bandwagon myself. So here it is, my own Photography Blog – www.allanfernandes.com/blog.

But why should a Photographer blog afterall? I have my recurring clientele and the referrals keep increasing, as the breadth of my work broadens. Why then was there a need for me to hop onto the trend of having a photoblog, as many call it.

To Interact with You: I needed a platform of interaction for those who’ve been touched by my work, but are not sure about the available means to communicate and express themselves easily. You can comment, shoot me an email, critic and even make suggestions on this fotoblog.

Be seen across all Four Corners of the World: I want my work to reach to a wider audience. The internet as an interconnected web gives any creative artist plethora of opportunities that can be harnessed towards greater reach. YouTube paved the way through online videos. Blogs too are an effective medium of visual communication for photographers.

Of the many famous photographers who blog, my two favorites are the much-admired Joe McNally and Magnum’s Martin Parr.

To follow my photography blog you could sign-up for the email newsletter or add the blog URL: http://www.allanfernandes.com/blog/ to your web-browser’s feed reader/favorites.

Thank you for stopping by.

Download PDF: Photography Blog (size: 46kb)

Web URL for reference: http://www.allanfernandes.com/blog/photography-blog-why-i-photoblog/