Shutterbugs are different from the usual crowd. They are different because they are forever hungry for their subject. They work with clockwork precision. And they are ever – ready to tell a story in just one shot. Ajaish Jaiswal, a senior shutterbug, who also has a prominent stake in one of the hotels in the city, is no different.
A professional who believes in staying rooted, his exhibition at Lalit Kala Academy has been underway. It showcases some of his best works where the lensman captures the Mudras and Bhaos of the multiple danseuses he got to capture in his camera.
The tough thing about covering dance performances is that a cameraman does not get the time or the privilege to bat an eyelid. Once a moment is lost, the shot is gone forever. It is here that the craft of Ajaish Jaiswal comes into play. The exhibition titled Dancing Lens on World Dance Day brings out about 186 of his best works celebrating a danseuse.
As a city that is known for its culture, tradition and dance forms, the photographer pays rich tributes to the dance of Lucknow. Mostly revolving around Kathak and Bharatnatiyam, the exhibition captures various colours and moods of the performers over several years.
The overall curation of the show has happened under the aegis of senior photographer Mr Ravi Kapoor.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Kumkum Dhar, eminent exponent of Lucknow Gharana Kathak.
The exhibition is running in a city that once was the seat of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah’s rule which saw the founding of the Lucknow Gharana by Ishwari Prasad.
Photo Credit – Ajaish Jaiswal
Known for his work amidst his own fraternity, it was back in 2012 that Ajaish took up the challenge of quietly working on what he has finally shaped through his photography.
He started in 2012 clicking nothing less than 10,000 photographs from different dance recitals. From 10,000 the number came down to 300 by shortlisting and then to 186 photographs which are now on display.
Photo credit – Ajaish Jaiswal
Born and brought up in Lucknow, Ajaish Jaiswal is a product of St. Francis College, Lucknow. Having trained under well known photographer Ravi Kapoor, he has to his credit 7 solo photo exhibitions on Bada Imambada from 2012 to 2018. He is well noted for a calendar each year on such images. As a foodie cum photographer, his work featured in a book Chicken from my Kitchen, with Pankaj Bhadauria, India’s first master chef.
In 2017, he was roped in for a project by author, Vipul B Varshney, titled – Lucknow: The City of Heritage & Culture – A Walk Through History. The book was published by Niyogi Books.