TFOD Profile Of The Week: Shilpa Gavane, Photographer, Ahmedabad

‘Photography is frozen poetry’ is a thought that floods my mind every time I see the work of Shilpa Gavane. It is the lyrical beauty of the pictures that captivates the attention of the viewer. Shilpa captures the most basic of structural elements in magical ways on her lens; often stressing on the material and sculptural quotient of the subject – which, more often than not, is a building or parts thereof. 

Another very significant aspect of Shilpa’s photography is her ability to explore the nuances of space through light.  Light, after all, is the crux of photography. It is important to keep looking for the ‘right’ light, for capturing an errant sun beam, a poignant reflection, a deep shadow, just about anything that enhances a photograph. It is interesting to see photographers exploring the ways in which light interacts with the environment. Whether natural light, the shade and shadows forms cast, or the dramatic inferences a good photographer can derive from artificial lighting – Shilpa betters herself with each shot.

“I understand architects better since I've worked as an architect; so I mainly do architecture, interior, landscape shoots...” says Shilpa. This explains the natural incline towards architectural photography, and consecutively towards building up a career in the same niche. 

The architectural background helps her in understanding what an architect or interior designer himself/herself would want to highlight from his/her work; and the photographic skills allow her to capture the essence of the built forms.

Working for some of the most reputed architects and designers in Ahmedabad, and across India, Shilpa’s work has been featured in several journals, websites and magazines and some of the photos have even made it to the covers of the leading publications for the architecture and design fraternity! 

Among the various architects and designers whose work Shilpa enjoys clicking include M/s Prabhakar Bhagwat, Vinod Gupta, Samira Rathod, Apurva Amin, VMS, ADS, Earthscapes and Avasiti. However, it is Aniket Bhagwat that Shilpa is particularly grateful to, and considers to be her mentor. “I'd like to give credit to Aniket Bhagwat sir who has encouraged me the most and his studio’s work is always challenging and fun to document,” she acknowledges.

TFOD – The Future Of Design commends Shilpa Gavane’s photographic talent and wishes her much luck on her journey ahead.