Just one quick, cursory glance at photographer Sharad Haskar’s new series and it’s the vibrant hues that jump out at you, grabbing your attention at once. Entitled Red, Blue and White, the collection of photographs by the talented Haskar is all set to premiere in the city today.
Capturing parts of Japan and the coast of Iceland, the photographs have been shot over two years and take you to exotic locations where the setting for the most exquisite photos are found. “Both these countries have always fascinated me and I wanted to showcase the natural beauty of these regions through my lens,” begins Haskar, a Kashmiri Chennai-based lensman, who founded One Eyeland, a highly successful online platform for photographers to display their skills.
The ‘red’, in Red White and Blue, comes from Haskar’s visit to Japan in autumn 2014. “It offers a rare glimpse of the autumn season in Japan when the koyo or coloured leaves are in full bloom. During the peak period, the leaves of the maple and gingko trees turn red and yellow presenting a stunning view at every turn,” explains the photographer, who made stops at Kyoto, Tokyo, Mount Fuji and Hakone to get the best shots. The white, refers to images of the cherry blossom season in Spring 2014. “The cherry blossoms appear for a mere 12 days a year so I had to get the best I could within the 12-day window. The sakura are seen widely by the Japanese as a symbol of elegance, hope and new beginnings. There are over 200 varieties of sakura in Japan and most of them grow to a height of 25 feet to 50 feet with a canopy spreading up to 40 feet wide,” he explains.
The blue is from the icy landscapes of Iceland, a place that Haskar was quite thrilled to visit. “It’s a country that’s so far off the tourist map that there were no proper facilities in place for tourists. On one of our days we got caught in a snowstorm. Luckily we were in our car so we didn’t get blown away. But I stepped out for a second and I was actually thrown to the ground by the force of the wind. I had to hold on to the car’s door for dear life. It was so bad that my jacket ripped open at the impact,” he recalls, adding “I shot at some really remote locations and captured ice caves, glaciers and icebergs on the beach, forming a stark contrast against the black sand.”
Printed on museum quality paper and canvas, the collection of 40 limited edition snapshots of the artiste’s travels will be on sale at the Art Corridor, at Taj West End from today.
The show is ongoing at theArt Corridor at Taj West End.
