In conversation with Photographer,
Prakash Gurnani
At first glance, it would be difficult to guess that this serious, no-nonsense, unassuming young man, would be capable of creating waves with his camera. But it is true. Prakash Gurnani has managed to do just that with his passion for photography. A passion that was triggered off by a present his parents gave him at the age of 16 for doing well in his exams.
Eye for detail
What began as an impetus to academic excellence, has evolved into a serious hobby. "I never leave the house without my camera. You don't know when the perfect picture opportunity will present itself, " says Prakash. Not that it would worry this keen photographer, because his eye for detail and precision allows him to transform ordinary real-life detail to a spectacular photograph.
Trial & error
Accolades from experts and the industry have only underlined his talent for photography. Prakash has been adjudged the Photographer of the Year by Minolta, among other prizes his photographs have been regularly securing. "I have not had any formal training", he admits, "and all my learning has been through extensive reading and good ol' trial and error - by far the best way to learn for any amateur photographer", he asserts.
Best of both worlds
For most of us, hobbies and interests are sacrificed at the altar of 'bread and butter' pressures. Prakash has however, worked towards enjoying the best of both worlds. A US-educated Computer Engineer, Prakash works as a Network Engineer for Mercator - Emirates Airlines. "I am really fortunate in that I enjoy my job as much as I enjoy photography". Inspite of his rigorous work schedule, he manages to take time out for his photography and currently has a stock of over 4000 images in his collection, taken at various places like, Las Vegas, Malta, Paris, Kenya, and of course Dubai. His pictures have found corporate acceptance with the big names like Coca-Cola, Standard Chartered, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Gulf Agency Company, to name a few, using his photographs in their publicity campaigns.
Future Plans
The equipment he started out with 10 years ago was a Pentax SFX with a normal lens, and today his kit comprises of different cameras and an assortment of lenses & accessories. "I believe that I have a long way to go and a lot to achieve in photography," says Prakash."My future plans include a lot of travelling with my wife Babita, to locations such as Australia, Jordan, Russia and China, to capture their scenic beauty." Creating a website for this computer engineer cum photographer was the next logical step. "I want my website, to be a window to the world - it will feature the best photographs taken during my travels around the world". His recent DSF collection can be viewed on his website and is dedicated to all those who couldn't make it to Dubai's shopping extravaganza. |