Shiv Ahuja’s rock ’n’ roll photographs have been printed in Rolling Stone India, The Indian Express, Rock Street Journal and other publications. Having shot The Raghu Dixit Project, Indian Ocean, Faridkot, Menwhopause and others, the 20-year-old economics student can claim to be the leading photo-documentarist of the swelling Indian rock scene. This fortnight, Ahuja displays some of his photos at The Living Room. He wrote to Jane Mikkelson about the Indian indie scene, rocking out and taking photos.
Which happened first: your interest in photography or in rock ‘n’ roll?
It was the music first. I started playing in a band called Five8 straight out of school and was introduced to a lot of original Indian music. I had already started shooting a little bit through my last year at school, but I really discovered the camera much later.
Now I find myself increasingly going out to listen to newer bands, and looking to document the behind-the-scenes [action] of the Delhi indie scene.
Does rock-’n’-roll photography as a profession have a symbiotic relationship with the music industry (you help their careers, they help yours), or is the work independent?
According to me, it’s completely dependent! Here in India, rock ’n’ roll photography is not really a profession. It’s more of me shooting bands/music as personal work, as opposed to being on tour with them or being hired by the artists.
Do you have a favourite photo among the photos on display?
I particularly like the photograph of Ameeth Thomas from Junkyard Groove. It was one of those true rock ’n’ roll moments. I was on stage, trying to find my way down after taking some close-ups, and suddenly Ameeth fell to the ground! The band played on, as did he, strumming his guitar while he was flat on the floor. I pressed the shutter and didn’t let it go for about ten seconds, firing frame after frame.
What’s the coolest experience you’ve had while on the job?
The fact that I’m here at this time, when the scene is new and just starting out is the coolest experience. Who knows how big some of these artists are going to become? I am a fan first. Half the time while on the job, I cannot decide between making pictures and grooving to the music. Early on, I used to get a lot of blurred pictures because I’d be bobbing up and down, not realising it would spoil the picture.
Source : Time Out Delhi ISSUE 11 Friday, August 20, 2010
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