A shot of spontaneity

The word “kaleidoscope” brings to the mind’s eye a random riot of colours. That same instinctive impression is the central thread that runs through the collection of photographs by British fashion photographer of Indian origin Ram Shergill, currently being exhibited in Delhi in collaboration with Vacheron Constantin and Tasveer.

“I chose the word ‘kaleidoscope’ as the title because I think it embodies all that is India. India is truly a kaleidoscope of colours, people, senses, moods and love and I chose these images to suit that concept as well. These are some of my favourite images and in a sense also reflect my own personal history. The one with the butterflies, for example, is a historical image because it symbolises the three people I’ve worked with who started my career: Isabella Blow, Philip Treacy and Alexander McQueen,” the photographer explains.

Several other aspects of his personal history also feed into the work he has come to be noted for. “It was always a struggle growing up as an Indian in England. We weren’t very welcome when we first arrived but society has undergone great transformations since then. When I look at my body of work so far, I would say that the sophistication and elegance of London combined with the elegance and culture of India have made my photography everything it is.”

Asked if his compositions are born more out of spontaneity or created to replicate a more deliberated vision, he responds with immediate enthusiasm, “Spontaneity, for sure. If you force something too much, it loses its magic. When I take my pictures, I normally take three or four shots and end up liking the first one I took the most, because it is the most spontaneous. For example, with the girl and the butterflies, I took one picture and knew that I didn’t need to take any more. This comes through confidence as well. The great masters didn’t paint ten paintings to make one masterpiece. They just made the one. They may have corrected it with layers upon layers afterwards. I bring layers to my images with my subject’s personality.”

Another distinctive aspect of the photographs chosen for the showcase, as of most of his work beyond it, is an inherent element of performance in their composition, as though the subject or subjects are indulging in theatrical role-play. The photographer shares that he works by the much-known Shakespearean adage that all the world’s a stage. “I think when we wake up in the morning and put on clothes, we ready ourselves for a world of performance where we play our best parts. That’s how I shoot my images too, giving everyone a role to play,” he shares.

Ram is at present working on several collaborative projects, including one with Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla and another to raise awareness about the potential extinction of the Asiatic Lion.
“One thing I’m looking forward to the most is having a coffee table book made of my work. I’m in talks with various publishers around the world, so that’s really my next step,” he signs off.