How the practice began
I began photographing in 1987 and turned professional in 1997, after studying mathematics at Elphinstone College and running chemical factories. The technical thinking I learned there still shapes how I approach a picture: structure and precision matter as much as instinct.
In 1998, I introduced stereoscopic 3D photography to Indian fashion publishing, creating the first Indian 3D anaglyph fashion shoot and the first 3D ELLE cover. My work has moved between fashion, beauty, celebrity portraiture, advertising, architecture and film, alongside personal art.
I moved from film to digital photography in 2007, after shooting about 4,000 rolls of film. I also developed an infrared approach known as the “Bawa effect.”
Outside the studio, cars, travel, writing and technology keep me curious. I am restoring a VW Beetle and enjoy working out how things are made; that curiosity now also informs human-led AI production.
The subject and context constantly question each other in time, space and texture.
Rajeev Thakker · Architect, curator and artist · Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Mumbai · 2012
