In the Press

AGAINST ALL ODDS

Up in the air, over the blue and in the deep bowels of the earth, GuruDutt has shown remarkable courage as a corporate photographer.

Bulbul Pal meets the man who gave Indian photography an interesting new dimension and has brought corporate photography into its own in the country.

For Guru Dutt who is well known to India’s best-known corporate kings as an exceptionally perceptive image-creator, stunt photography from jet-speeding land and air vehicles is normal work.
Clicking from helicopters is routine. ” To capture the perfect frame, I once needed to have a chopper skid back to former position, a tough manoeuvre. But the pilot agreed to brave it and I got my shot, of course neither of us will forget the struggles we went through, for a long time !”
Perhaps Dutt’s greatest adventure was a virtual journey to the depths of the earth, to the deepest point man has ever been in. In fact this happens to be the Kolar Gold Fields deepest mine, Champion, which goes almost three kilometres vertically into the bowels of the earth. It did not help to know that the Champion is famous for disastrous “rock-bursts”, in which deep rocks, subjected to unbearable pressures from the weight above, explode violently without warning, killing anyone nearby.
“People aren’t supposed to work there for more than a few hours at a stretch,” Dutt says, “but I’d lugged my heavy equipment down, and had to keep at it for ten hours or more

Dutt’s unslakable thirst for perfection has brought dozens of top corporates, including multinationals, on his client list. He is often ensconced in conference with tycoons, to arrive at a correct understanding of just how the latter views the ‘spirit’ or ‘culture’ of his conglomerate.

It is Dutt’s business to convey through pictures this indefinable entity, in a holistic manner, no matter how many diverse fields the company may be engaged in. “Translating someone else’s overall mental concept into articulate celluloid images and reflecting a theme based culture – the theme could be human values, or the enviornment – is what I’m all about,” explains Dutt.
The Dutt’s travel all over India and abroad as corporate photographers. His wife, Sharmila, is herself an outstanding photographer. But once out of the their house, they are hard core professionals, or say, a professional and his assistant.
They purchase state of the art equipment, even borrowing from the banks to have it. Their latest camera cost them a fortune.
Guru Dutt has brought Corporate photography into its own in the country.

-SATURDAY TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA

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FACE OFF

Up in the air, or deep in to the very depths of the earth, Guru Dutt – shows a dash of bravado, going where even angels would fear to tred. This new generation corporate, industrial and aerial photographer, has seen his photographs included in prestigious Corporate brochures at the Paris, Farnborough and Singapore Airshows. Eustace Alexandra attempts to find out what makes him tick

Quotes:

“I am not God-fearing, but God-loving”

“In my opinion, a key factor in the production of excellent pictures – is “Lighting “and unless you create good lighting, you cannot create depth that enhances the appeal of a photograph”
“Clients are envious of the money that we get, but nobody sees the tragedies, mishaps and dangers & risks we undergo”
“We Corporate Photographers are the Unofficial Ambassadors of India Inc, as our Photographs help the Corporate India to sell their Dreams abroad.”
“It is the small details which make the big difference in a good Photograph”

Guru Dutt got his initiation into photography whilst working with Mitter Bedi – his `guru¹ and a pioneer in industrial and advertising photography

Flying High:

Flying at a height of 2000ft above the Arabian sea, this lensman was supposed to photograph another aircraft flying alongside, but the commander refused him permission to even peep out. He wasn¹t amused by the idea of being hemmed inside a glass bubble. This gem amongst Mitter Bedi¹s many precious stones, wouldn¹t take no for an answer. “I sweet talked my way into hanging out by a harness. Try taking pictures with three cameras and a wind-blast of 250 miles-an-hour hitting you in the face and you will know what I mean when I say that it was another kind of `face-off¹ with the elements.

A MIRACLE:

Putting his life at risk seems second nature to him and he lives to tell his tale. During one photo assignment, I climbed in to a bucket of a 100¹ snorkel. Through some hydraulic error, the bucket started jerking and suddenly swung violently through an arc and miraculously came to a halt a few feet away from a high tension wire that was probably carrying 10,000 volts. He has a deep faith in the almighty and has unerring devotion to Shri Satya Sai Baba. I am not God fearing, but God loving, he explains.

AND ATOP CHIMNEYS:

Equally dangerous was his tiny perch on top of extremely high precarious industrial chimneys and equally high cranes. It was a matter of life and death.

MELTING LENS:

Once when I was shooting for a Steel Industial Giant, I was asked to shoot from behind the heat resistant glass window and was not allowed to enter the area just outside the furnace;. I went inside with heat resistant protective clothing, I held on to the tripod only to feel it melting and what¹s more, the front lens element of my Camera had by then melted – this lens cost me a packet. There are the hazards of being an industrial photographer

DESCENT INTO HELL:

His finest adventure was his descent of almost three kilometers. Into the bowels of the earth, which in this case was the Champion mine of the Kolar Gold field.

QUEST FOR PERFECTION:

I am very particular in creating Quality Photographs and I do not believe in compromising on this front. It is the smallest of details which make the big difference in a good Photograph This quest for perfection paid of in terms of him being able to bag many of the top corporates,

CORPORATE IMAGING:

It is very important to take good pictures, as the Company¹s Image in the market, and abroad is depicted thru the Photohraphs We Corporate Photographers are Unofficial Ambassadors of India Inc, as our photographs help Corporate India to sell their Dreams abroad. This branch of photography encompasses the entire range of imaging of a corporate. But surely there is something more than mere good pictures that is required for corporate imaging. We have to showcase its Corporate Culture, its products, Facilities its environment – including portraits of their top brass. I spend a lot of time interacting with the CEO of the company, and incorporate his vision into the image of his company;, I also talk to employees on the shop-floor and give them a pep talk that this is their company this motivates them to clean up their workplace before the shoot and co-operate during the shoot.
The biggest company cannot carry their machines / Industries / Facilities with them, so we have to project their Industry in good Light

COMPETITION:

I don¹t think that there is as much competition here as in other fields of photography mainly due to the hard work involved and amount of equipment required. Also when you offer Quality work ­ you do not have to worry about competition ! I believe with conviction that ­Do your Duty that is the best, and leave unto the Lord the rest.

EQUIPMENT & COMMERCE:

This sharpshooter uses a Hasselblad motor drive with fast f/2.8 lenses, a 4″ x 5″ Sinar , besides a 6cm x 12cm Panoramic format Camera, which he uses a lot and a Nikon 35mm system, which he rarely uses. His
lighting equipment includes Elinchrome and Bowens 3000 power packs and lot of 1500 Mono lights.
A Hasselblad gives me tremendous sharpness, color saturation, and depth; but this is only one factor in the production of a good picture., a key factor in the production of excellent pictures – is lighting, and unless you create good lighting, you cannot create depth that enhances the appeal of a photograph.
I carry about 500 kgs. Of equipment of which the wear-and-tear is very high. Much of that I make goes towards
updating my equipment, Clients are envious of the money that we get, but nobody sees the tragedies, mishaps and melting lenses. Industrial photography is very capital intensive. A top-of-the-line Camera, Lenses & the related accessories can cost a fortune,. It is not just commerce, but more a passion for me. I think, eat, breathe
photography. And enjoy doing what I do. Till my last breath I will continue to shoot pictures. I am dead sure on that. Pun unintended.

BACK TO BASICS

Industrial photography is a very challenging field where you get to meet the best brains in the industry.

The Four D’s required in life to do well are DUTY, DEVOTION, DEDICATION & DISCIPLINE.

BIPASHA BLUES :

He is dejected when asked to comment on why after spending a lifetime as industrial photographers, they get to see their work printed in brochures, annual reports and calendars, but, a newcomer with a 35mm camera who manages to shoot, say a glamorous Model for the cover of Magazine overnight becomes the hottest property in town. It fills my heart with happiness that you have cared to sympathize with our plight.
It is very unfair to us, that we have to put in much more input to bring life into a dead subject like machines, but it is a fact of life is that our names do not get the publicity of a fashion Photographer Anyways at the end of the day, it doesn¹t really matter if the `aam janta ¹(common person) does not know you, it is important that the people who matter ie. The Coporate Kings “Pashas” know you .

PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE:

His passion in life is doing service activities for the Satya Sai Service Organization like organising Blood Donation Camps & First Aid Training Camps and community service. He ends on a philosophical note, We must give back to the world, what it has given to us. Money comes, and then slip out of one¹s hands, but morality comes with humanism. These are words that come from deep within his heart.
This humane, gentle soul amidst the turmoil and the razor-edge dangers of the competitiveness of aerial, industrial & Corporate photography, is a man who leaves a sort of impression on you which is difficult to define – as a professional news hound. It has been a fulfilling experience to meet a man who is somewhat different from others of his trade.

-BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY

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Up in the air, over the blue and in the deep bowels of the earth, GuruDutt has shown remarkable courage as a corporate photographer.
Bulbul Pal meets the man who gave Indian photography an interesting new dimension and has brought corporate photography into its own in the country.

For Guru Dutt who is well known to India’s best-known corporate kings as an exceptionally perceptive image-creator, stunt photography from jet-speeding land and air vehicles is normal work.
Clicking from helicopters is routine. ” To capture the perfect frame, I once needed to have a chopper skid back to former position, a tough manoeuvre. But the pilot agreed to brave it and I got my shot, of course neither of us will forget the struggles we went through, for a long time !”
Perhaps Dutt’s greatest adventure was a virtual journey to the depths of the earth, to the deepest point man has ever been in. In fact this happens to be the Kolar Gold Fields deepest mine, Champion, which goes almost three kilometres vertically into the bowels of the earth. It did not help to know that the Champion is famous for disastrous “rock-bursts”, in which deep rocks, subjected to unbearable pressures from the weight above, explode violently without warning, killing anyone nearby.
“People aren’t supposed to work there for more than a few hours at a stretch,” Dutt says, “but I’d lugged my heavy equipment down, and had to keep at it for ten hours or more

Dutt’s unslakable thirst for perfection has brought dozens of top corporates, including multinationals, on his client list. He is often ensconced in conference with tycoons, to arrive at a correct understanding of just how the latter views the ‘spirit’ or ‘culture’ of his conglomerate.

It is Dutt’s business to convey through pictures this indefinable entity, in a holistic manner, no matter how many diverse fields the company may be engaged in. “Translating someone else’s overall mental concept into articulate celluloid images and reflecting a theme based culture – the theme could be human values, or the enviornment – is what I’m all about,” explains Dutt.
The Dutt’s travel all over India and abroad as corporate photographers. His wife, Sharmila, is herself an outstanding photographer. But once out of the their house, they are hard core professionals, or say, a professional and his assistant.
They purchase state of the art equipment, even borrowing from the banks to have it. Their latest camera cost them a fortune.
Guru Dutt has brought Corporate photography into its own in the country.

-ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY