A picture may be worth a thousand words, but the true beauty in it may not be visible to the untrained eye. So, with a clear vision for aesthetics, a clever intuition and a desire to explore what is usually hidden, Navin Sakhuja’s camera captures and rediscovers old beauty that was once forgotten.
Sakhuja’s interest in looking at the world in new ways led him to photography several years ago. The passion for silver bromide has given way to the digital format, and his public showings have kept track of these changes over time. On a recent visit to the US, in a deep canyon in a remote desert in Arizona, Sakhuja came very close to his personal quest of taking the perfect photo.
Based on his visit to Arizona, his solo work, Light In The Passage, is on view at the Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre from 10 am to 8 pm till Sunday, presented by the Discovery Channel.
Sakhuja speaks on his inspiration, “Some canyons are wide, like large rooms that suddenly change in shape and size as you turn at the next corner. You have no idea what to expect beyond a few yards. Nature retains her equal ability to surprise and mesmerise.”
The fact that Sakhuja is a full-time practising eye surgeon with a driving passion for photography is a matter of debate. Is it that he sees things differently because of his intimate knowledge of the eye?
The answer is no. “I love my work and I am passionate about my art. I don’t pretend to ask myself whether it is ophthalmology that drives my passion for photography or the other way round, because I believe both are deeply related in the sense that they require total commitment,” says Sakhuja.
“I know that the perfect photograph has never been taken and the perfect eye surgery has never been performed,” he says, but to have the opportunity to do both, Sakhuja is definitely twice blessed.