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About the Artist
Background
I am a native of West Bengal, India, and hold a degree in Commerce from the University of North Bengal, Darjeeling, India. I came to United Sates in 1995 as a Software Engineer. I'm currently employed with Fujitsu Consulting and engaged in implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
I picked up camera approximately when I was a 7th grader. Back in India, my dad had an AGFA camera. I had a privilege to use his camera, and my photography was limited to point and shoot happy family snaps & travel photos using B+W film. In those days, commercial color labs didn't exist in India. After my graduation from college, I purchased a Konica point & shoot camera with tuition money I earned and started shooting color films. After getting my first job in 1986, I purchased a 35mm Olympus point & shoot camera. After coming to United States in 1995, my Olympus eventually died and then I purchased a 35mm Minolta SLR camera body, but my photography was mostly limited in point & shoot mode.
Fast forward to 2004, a Nikon DSLR advertisement in National Geographic magazine tempted me to buy DSLR body. After an extensive research on Internet (dpreview.com, luminous-landscape.com, and normankoren.com), finally I settled down with Canon EOS 10D and few Canon "L" lenses. That camera had just arrived before a planned family vacation to Maui. I took this camera along for our family vacation to Maui. DLSR gave me tremendous opportunity to experiment and learn photography.
Since then I participated in few photography workshops. Initial experience was not so satisfying about the productivity of those workshops. But finally I was able to connect with two contemporary masters, Keith S. Walklet and Charles Cramer (through their workshops conducted by the Ansel Adams Gallery). Keith taught me how to raise the bar of my landscape photography. Charlie taught me the art of digital fine print making. I highly recommend their workshops. I had very limited interaction with another legend Bill Atkinson, during an artist’s reception in his honor at Ansel Adam’s Gallery in Yosemite NP. I use his color profiles for EPSON printers. He shares these profiles freely “in the spirit of one artist sharing brushes with other artists”.
I'm fortunate to be a resident of California, which I believe to be one of the most beautiful regions of our planet. The mountains, deserts, oceans, and rivers, it's amazing diversity have provided me with an infinite source of inspiration. Everyday brings here fresh hopes. And at times when the human-made world is too much to bear, there is always the real world to escape to. I do feel the sense of joy, fulfillment and peace in natural world. But it is unfortunate to see much of the natural world fall victim to shortsightedness and profiteering. I feel it is important to convey to humankind that it is the responsibility of everyone to preserve it and other miracles of nature on this planet. This beautiful planet is my home and yours. One of the primary reasons I'm here is to rejoicing and communicate the beauty of our natural world through my photography.
Since last two 2 yrs., my 14 yrs. old teen age son Ankit has started following his father's foot steps. He recently graduated from Canon A85 (compact digital camera) and has purchased his first DSLR, Canon EOS Rebel Xti. This camera he has purchased from his savings from last few years including birthday and Christmas gifts. He was one of the finalists and published in 2005 annual edition of the Photographer's Forum magazine. As soon as his new DSLR has arrived, his 6 yrs. old younger brother Arjun has took the possession of Canon A85 and has started shooting randomly.
I live with my wife and two sons in Fremont, California, which is not far from beautiful California coastline. |