Raghu is a hard core explorer and refuses to take ‘easy’ and ‘comfortable’ position and ‘hefty pay’ as achievement parameters. Speaking at the two hours introspective practicum exclusively organized for photojournalists he says, "I am here to uproot you from your so called ‘easy lives’ so that you become a complete individual from an editors ‘yes man’. When you start relaxing then you actually loose the charm and intrigues of photography and you tend to get old before time. The real purpose of photography is to capture the time we live in with overtly flowing human energy, expression and intensity." Raghu’s work proclaims the rich diversity of contemporary India, with its juxtapositions of ancient and modern, where the people are the landscape. The unlimited Raghu wishes to be 5-6 of him at a time so that he can be everywhere to capture every bit of the wonder that is India. He calls it ‘the photographers’ paradise’.
Raghu’s photography career began with clicking a photo of a baby donkey with an ordinary borrowed camera. His transition from civil engineering to professional photography was rather accidental.
Raghu believes that "the photographer’s job is to cut a frame-sized slice out of the world around him, so faithfully and honestly that if he were to put it back again, life and the world around him would begin to move without stutter."
Talking on a variety of issues like professional ethics, difference between photography and movies, pictures and stories woven around them, the magnanimity, grace, empathy, tragedy involving an assortment of political leaders and religious leaders and haunting memories of Bhopal gas tragedy Raghu seemed more of a saintly philosopher trying to change everybody’s life in one way or the other.
The sexagenarian rubbishes aside every ageing gesture and ‘nostalgia’ most of it as he trusts that the present time is also his moment as he believes in living his ‘life right here right now’ and every bit of it in the present as this is his current canvas of life which is altogether very exhilarating. Currently he is busy doing a book on classical Indian musicians.
Thanks for the motivational news i am working as a news photographer at Banglore with an local news paper. Please give me Raghrai mobile i want to talk to him.
Regards
Arvind