A play of bold contrasts
Taras Tarapovala loves his photographs to be minimal, clutter-free, raw yet chic, ranging from greyscale to bright hues.
Taras Tarapovala hadn’t even touched a camera until he was 20. Yet, a brief stint at an advertising agency sparked an obsession with the shutter and frames. What followed was a photography course in Melbourne for three years and the next thing he knew, he was an in-house photographer for Grazia India. “I started out photographing everything. My dog, events, nature and people around me. Somewhere along the line, that turned into capturing famous names in the glamour industry,” says the award-winning fashion photographer whose works have made it to international media platforms more than just a couple of times.
The signature essence of Taras’ photography is grey-scale portraiture. Raw and chic at the same time, Taras also plays around a lot with colours such as green, bold red and the classic denim. “Most of the people appearing in my photographs have minimal make-up on which I think helps me capture images that are real and true to the subject. The style of photography is minimal, often on white or grey backdrops drawing attention to the subject while keeping the image clutter-free,” he says about his personal style.
When not shooting profiles, Taras captures historical locations alongside colourful carnivals and fairs. The most striking element in his photography is the bold contrast he weaves. Yet mainstream fashion photography isn’t the only field he has actively indulged in. Earlier in May, Taras was one of the celebrity travellers in the Nexa Journeys On Asian Highway 1, a reality show revolving around 10 travellers, 4,325 kilometres, three nations and one mind-boggling journey, where five celebrities from different backgrounds formed the clique. “The most enthralling part was how each of our passions blended together to frame a common ground,” says Taras.
Photography as a career was always a risk but a thriller too, admits Taras. “I have always had the full support of my family. My mum is a music teacher while my dad has been in theatre on and off for the last 30 years. They understood that somewhere along the line I would be more inclined towards a creative pursuit. They have never questioned or tried to stop me from doing what I love,” he concludes.