Suvo Das, a true photopoet

Published in Mega Modelz magazine – Jan-Feb 2009 Issue – © Manali

For most of them, photography is just another form of expressing art, and for the rest, it is a cordial passion. But when passion becomes profession, it creates a prodigy… and makes an astounding ingenious like what Suvo Das is today. Mega Modelz gives an insight into the man’s life.

When Suvo Das started photography 17 years ago, his main motive then was only to impress his school friends.Fiddling with the camera of his elder brother, he gradually became passionate about the tool. Later, Das completed a photography course from Triveni Kala Sangam where he met Mr. O.P. Sharma, who exposed him to people photography. Progressively in 1994, his photographs launched former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen in a big way, and since then, there has been no looking back for this Delhi based cult photographer.

Suvo Das’s photography today is synonym to finest artistry, refinement and magical work. Besides being an ace advertising photographer, Suvo Das has worked with several fashion designers, top notch models and actors too – thus being acknowledged as one of the most popular photographers in the country. Ask him what kind of shoots he personally enjoys the most, and he swiftly replies, “Be it advertising, modeling portfolio or a shoot for a designer, the contentment quotient depends on the people involved in it. In advertising industry, the work depends on the layout given by the Art Director that is approved by the clients. And in the rest, I get a freedom to create image gratifying my visualization.”

According to him, any branch of photography needs keen observation and an ability to scrutinize people’s behavioral pattern. Nevertheless, he believes it’s equally important to have healthy interaction with the people in front of the camera.

So, is he selective about the models he works with? “Of course one has to be choosy about the models. Apart from having decent looks, the most quintessential thing required is to have is an indomitable attitude,” explains Das, who enjoys shooting at the studios and outdoors evenly. However, Das reveals that outdoor shoots do get expensive for the clients and otherwise also, he says, ‘a lot depends on the finalized visuals that need to be created’. One thing that he really enjoys about his work is traveling to the best locations across the world, but he confesses about the personal life that does take a back seat at times because of his demanding schedule.

Ask Das what does he like to indulge in when not working and he quickly replies, “Traveling. Since Himalayas is close to Delhi, I usually find myself backpacking there.” He further adds, “People all over the world spend fortunes to come and experience the greatest mountain range, so I feel like making the most out of my favorable proximity to this place.” Traveling has also brought some of the toughest challenges he faced in his work. He recounts the appalling times he had while shooting in Ladhak and on the sand dunes in UAE.

Das divulges, “Severe cold and high velocity wind in Ladhak was quite unnerving and the low Oxygen level completely left me in jeopardy. On the contrary, UAE was very hot. The slight wind had the whole setup distorted; while the pressurized air cans got consumed in no time.” However, he affirms, “Any assignment is a challenge in itself. It’s up to the photographer how s/he manages to handle it in an efficient way.”

If not for photography, what would have he liked to be? “Photography had always been my passion and… music is a great soother. But, my secret ambition since school days was always to become a drummer,” he smiles. On final note, what is the advice he would like to give to all the aspiring photographers? He says, “Shoot, shoot and shoot. If you are an esthetic person then the technicalities won’t bother you. But of course, in this age of technology one has to be abreast with everything.” And he signs off.