From rocks to rock stars

Rajat Ghosh was supposed to become a geologist. Until he gave it all up in 1995 to study photography instead. After completing his Masters degree at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, he was lucky enough to work with all kinds of pioneers in the field - from environmental portraitist Richard Morgenstein to digital guru Gerald Bybee, to still life exponent Lon Clark - before setting off on his own.

A decade later, Ghosh appears to have done just fine. He has become a favourite with musicians and celebrities like Metallica, Kiss, Motley Crew, Tommy Lee and Sugar Ray. Back home in India, he has had a taste of Bollywood, after working with publicity for films like Devdas, Company, Koi Mil Gaya and Shaheed Bhagat Singh. He has also notched up an impressive list of clients for his commercial work, including Indian Oil, Eureka Forbes, Hyundai, and the Taj Group of Hotels, apart from shooting for magazines like Forbes, TNT and Cosmopolitan.

The photographer has also pioneered a technique referred to as 'false infrared'. His show on landscape images is set to open at Mumbai's NCPA on February 17. Intrigued by his past, Rupali Nimkar decided to ask the man behind the camera a few questions.

Photograph courtsey: Rajat Ghosh

Also See: Rajat Ghosh's website