The Freedom Shoot: A 1993 Portfolio Masterpiece at GG Studios

         

In the mid-1990s, I had the privilege of working on a remarkable concept for my portfolio in the AIPA directory, brought to life by the visionary Art Director Satish Kochrekar. The theme was "Freedom," symbolized by a sunrise emerging from a flower—a powerful metaphor for liberation and new beginnings. We collaborated with a fashion designer to create a custom dress that embodied this concept, complemented by carefully selected jewelry and chains sourced from the old city area of Hyderabad.

The model, Anjali, was extraordinary. Her pose conveyed two profound ideas: breaking free from shackles and releasing a dove, a universal symbol of freedom. I must admire Anjali’s consistency and stamina—she held the pose for extended periods throughout the shoot with unwavering dedication, ensuring we captured the perfect shot.

We used two cameras for the session: one to check Polaroids for lighting and composition, and the Linhof (6x9) 120 film camera for the final shots. The lighting setup was intricate, using five lights to create the desired mood. A red gel light from the left illuminated the background, while a blue gel light from behind the pillar added depth. A spotlight from the left separated Anjali from the background, giving her stunning highlights, while a dim softbox on the right gently lit her face. A harsh light was used to accentuate the chains, and the dove was brought to life using a 35mm projector for a dramatic effect.

The shoot took an entire night at GG Studios International in 1993, but the effort paid off. The final image was a striking representation of freedom, blending symbolism, fashion, and technical precision. Reflecting on this from June 2025, this remains one of my proudest works—a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity in photography.

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