Chiiz Volume 7 :Fashion Photography

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Editorial 

Tarun Khiwal 

Prakhar Garg 

Chief Visualizer 

Sheetal Mann 

EDITORIAL 

Design 

Priyashi Negi 

Yasmeen Sheikh 

Analysis 

Prateek Kashyap 

Noopur Sharma 

Writer 

Meenal Singh 

Shreeja Chaterjee 

Karishma Rana 

Ankit Tyagi 

Sana Singh 

Kamana Singh 

Technology 

Sachin Arora 

Ashvin Gajbhiye 

Rishabh Jain 

Bharat Bhushan 

Business Development 

Rajesh Basu 

Amit Ghosh 

Dimas Fajar 

Sales 

Insaf Khan 

Krishna Srinivas 

Amit Gupta 

Marketing 

Kanika Maurya 

Anurag Khaneja 

Public Relations 

Barkha Chandra 

Dimple Chaudhary 

Staff Photographer 

Susana Gomezmoreno 

Urshita Saini 

Tarundeep Singh 

Finance 

Neelu Singh 

Consultant 

Apratim Saha 

Mansa Inc. 

Fashion is about something that comes from within 

you. – Ralph Lauren 

I am sure Ralph not only referred to the creativity 

that a designer craves or finds within himself but 

also something that many individuals always strive 

to find- a level of satisfaction in being themselves. 

When people stand in front of the mirror to have a 

good long look at themselves, they always hope to 

see a better reflection of themselves than what they 

have seen previously and with all this, they have grown conscious of how they 

appear and how comfortable they are with what they wear. 

Not only their clothes, but also their comfort level, express the sense of style and 

their conformity to the outer world. A world that we humans have come to fear in 

our own true self and have taken shelter in nuisances which have created gaps 

among the civilization of humans and here we stand at crossroads with our very 

own self being. 

In this issue, what we have focussed on might not be the mainstream fashion and 

people might not get the hype that revolves around the fashion world but what we 

have here is something that is responsible for all that we have achieved so far in this 

industry. Be it natural beauty by Lynn Theisen, backstage brilliance by Ishaan Nair, or 

the street fashion by Rohit Arora which is now gaining popularity among the more 

prominent photographers. 

The interview with John Rawson is an eye opener. He is has been through it all and 

his experiences form a great lesson for all of us. The series of Roshini Kumar with 

Suhail Nayyar is also a masterpiece in itself which is a true symbol of comfortable 

fashion statements. Rod Klein and Jorge Gonzalez’s underwater fashion 

photographs present an altogether different approach to see things. 

Another mesmerizing story is that of Michael Lee, a street photographer who has 

done a commendable job with the expressionism and Zina and Zoya tries that out 

on the fashion front. This pair gives a totally different level of satisfaction to the 

viewer. 

I have come to believe that there is a very fine line between comfortable fashion and 

the nonchalant way of expression and fashion is also a little more than just being 

comfortable, it is about presenting a style of living to the world. A style that is yours 

but makes you of the whole world. The chauvinism you display is the statement you 

make every time you step out of your home. Be careful what you portray but also, be 

free, because you are. 

Regards, 

CEO 

Mukesh Kumar 

Cover Photo 

Thom Kerr

CONTENTS 

Thom Kerr and the Talk of the Town 

24 

Gear Review 

Nikon D850 

30 

The Terrible Two’s 

Zina & Zoya Singh 

31 

In Talks with John Rawson 

36 

Old is Gold - Begum Para Shoot 

James Burke 

46 

Fine Art in the Streets 

Michael Lee 

49 

Tips and Tricks 

Your Guide to Fashion Photography 

56 

App of The Month 

Darkr 

58 

Durga 

Sharmishtha Dutta 

60 

Bringing Bappa Home 

Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi 

64 

Being Beautiful 

Keeping it Natural 

68 

The Backstage Brilliance 

Ishaan Nair 

70 

Movie Review 

High Art 

74 

Nicotine Soaked Lives 

Meriç Aktar 

80 

Beyond the Normal Imagery 

Rod Klein 

88 

Photo by John Rawson 

Current Mood 

Arjun Mark 

94

Florian Ledoux 

Florian Ledoux, 28, is 

always in search of 

places where nature 

is queen and savage, 

where the colours of 

the earth are never 

the same, where men 

have a history, where 

encounters forge the 

spirit, it is alone or 

accompanied that he travels the world to share 

with us this passion and above all to make us 

aware of the fragility of Nature. He spenat last 

summer photographing Arctic wildlife in Nunavut 

(Baffin, Devon, and Somerset Island) bringing 

unique drone images of the different species that 

live there. 

This year he received the 3rd pla wce at the 

international drone photo contest organized 

by National Geographic, for a photo he did in 

Greenland. Insta: @florian_ledoux_photographer 

Scattered Flights 

Nikon D5 400mm F/7.1 1/640s ISO2000

Brothers-in-Arms 

DJI FC6310 9mm F/8 1/15s ISO100 

Another Sloppy Day 

Nikon D5 400mm F/6.3 1/160s ISO2500

Bridging The Atlas 

DJI FC6310 9mm F/8 1/640s ISO100 

Park Stroll 

DJI FC6310 9mm F/8 1/800s ISO100 

Just Another Day 

DJI FC6310 9mm F/8 1/160s ISO100 

Bloodshed Waters 

Nikon D5 400mm F/9 1/1000s ISO500

Snow Owl - Focussed 

NIKON D3S 600mm F/5 1/1250s ISO1250 

Red-throated Divers - Duck Love 

NIKON D500 600mm F/5.6 1/640s ISO400 

@terjekolaasphotos 

N o r w e g i a n 

photographer, Terje 

Kolaas has been a 

keen birder since 

his early childhood 

and started his 

photographic career 

with an old analog 

Nikon FE2. Since 

then, both Terje and Nikon has evolved, 

and from being a typical snap-shot 

photographer, he has now specialized 

creating clean, intimate and artistic 

images of birds that actually can 

decorate any living room wall. 

“A clean background leaves the bird’s 

personality undisturbed. Therefore I 

love to shoot in pure snow or clean 

desert sand. In Norway, I have access 

to snow 6 months a year, making it the 

perfect country for photography in my 

opinion”, Terje says. He runs his own 

company, guiding birdwatchers and 

photographers to the best birds and 

photo sites in Norway. 

Snow Owl - Lunch Tales 

NIKON D3S 600mm F/5 1/1000s ISO640

White Pelican - Gulping The Shot 

NIKON D4S 24mm F/6.3 1/2000s ISO320 

Waxwings - Chatter Boxes 

NIKON D3S 600mm F/5 1/1600s ISO800 

European Shags - Black in Blizzard 

NIKON D3S 420mm F/6.3 1/1250s ISO640

Rockhopper Penguins - Demanding Screams 

NIKON D4S 14mm F/2.8 1/250s ISO500 

Arctic Skua and Kittiwake - Rustle Over Fish 

NIKON D700 500mm F/6.3 1/1250s ISO200

S 

ezer 

Çekin always loved 

natural beauty of earth 

and the touch of history within 

humans. His vision is to stir 

the emotions of viewers. He is 

passionate about capturing the 

moments of human conditions, 

cultures, and humane interactions 

with the natural world. According 

to him, photography is an art of 

flawless observation. 

1. Cappadocia is a result of erosion of volcanic layers which are 

spread through the area with the eruption of mountains about 60 

million years ago. It is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage 

list. It’s an open air museum at Nevşehir Province in Turkey. (Left) 

2. Hierapolis is an ancient city and it is located above the incredible 

Pamukkale Travertines. Hierapolis and Pamukkale both earned a 

UNESCO World Heritage Site title. (Below) 

3. Konya Women’s Bazaar, is a historic bazaar which is host 

to ladies who sell their food or vegetables from their very own 

garden. (Right) 

Canon EOS 60D 21mm F/3.5 1/30s ISO400 

Canon EOS 60D 11mm F/14 1/100s ISO100

Canon EOS 60D 21mm F/3.5 1/30s ISO400

@funfoodandfrolic 

Tiffin Box Series 


HINA GUJRAL 



PHOTOGRAPHER @Instagram 

handle 





Open House Curry 


Candid Lollipops 

Canon EOS 550D 50mm F/4 1/60s ISO100 

Kesari Thaali 


The Traditional Ways 


Aisha - Cottoncandy 

Canon EOS 5D Mark III 70mm F/3.2 1/60s ISO800 

Mia - Spaghetti 


Pasta Glossary 

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 70mm F/13 1/4s ISO200

Lucy Schaeffer 

was a painter 

and printmaker 

before discovering 

she preferred 

photography for 

telling stories. Five 

years as a photo 

editor at Food & Wine 

magazine trained her eye 

to see the yummiest aspects 

of every dish and bring that out in every food 

shot. Lucy is just as comfortable shooting kids 

in muddy puddles as she is lighting a highly 

technical drink shot in the studio. She sees both 

as part of the same whole— showing life well 

lived. Her photography captures real moments 

full of boldness, whimsy and color. She lives with 

her husband and two daughters in Brooklyn, NY. 

Yuka - Shellfish 

Canon EOS 5D Mark III 59mm F/2.8 1/60s ISO1250

Thom Kerr and the Talk of the Town 

Jordan 


Thom Kerr is known for his bold 

experimentation and vivid use of 

color. His work acts as a bridge 

between the realms of fashion and fine art. 

DIMPLE from Chiiz gets chatty with him 

around his career and fashion. Here is an 

excerpt. 

Being an artist, where do you draw most of 

your inspiration from? 

Probably music and cinema. I’m a storyteller 

at heart. Sometimes, there is a message I want 

to communicate politically or spiritually so 

I’ll think of a visual way to tell the story or 

make a point. I also identify ideas in other 

artist’s work that I think, can be explored or 

reinvented. I’m a big fan of curating different 

elements together - it’s often how you land 

with something brand new. You develop 

your own formulas for pictures then break 

away from them again. 

When did you first decide to turn to 

photography? Were you facing difficulties in 

directing the photographers? 

I did a fine arts degree specializing in 

writing and directing. As I was finishing my 

final year I made a lot of friends who were 

designers, models and creatives. I started an 

artist collective called Rufio Creative where 

we would all collaborate together. I would 

conceptualise the shoots and build the sets 

but other photographers would capture 

the ideas. I started toying with the idea of 

taking the photos myself as I wanted to take 

the images further, but was hesitant to take 

the leap of faith. However, after a psychic 

told me I was meant to be a photographer 

it validated those desires and I bought a 

camera that week. I think I already had a 

point of view before I was taking pictures, 

so my photos stood out. It was lots of hard 

work, self belief and asking strangers how 

things worked to get to where I am now. 

To what level, do you retouch your photos? 

Anything that you would like to do in 

particular with your photos? 

I retouch most of my personal and editorial 

work. Some of my advertising is with 

retouching teams but my clients usually 

want my involvement in the direction of the 

final look. In terms of what I do, it’s a lot of 

trial and error - I like finding unusual ways 

to accomplish things in Post-production. 

What is the greatest lesson you’ve learnt 

so far, in regard to reaching success and 

maintain it? 

I think you have to remind yourself to be 

grateful for what you have and constantly 

remember that you are not defined by your 

work - even though the world wants to 

define you that way. I’ve had lots of fabulous 

and horrendous moments - so I feel pretty 

level headed about my approach to all my 

opportunities these days. I’m appreciative to 

have made it this far and I’m curious to see 

how far I will go. I would say that longevity 

in my career is about constant evolution and 

following what interests you and takes you 

out of your comfort zone. Working with 

people who have different ideas will always 

push you to new heights with your art. That 

translates into people staying interested in 

you. 

You’ve worked with wide range of models, 

any tips that you have for models who want 

to expand their portfolio? 

Study up on all the successful photographers, 

not just the models. Develop a stronger 

understanding of what you think will work 

for your look and seek out the creatives 

that can make that happen. Figure out your 

strengths and use them to your advantage 

- that’s something I consistently see in the 

most successful models. 

What advice would you have for aspiring 

fashion photographers? 

It’s a constant dance between art and 

commerce. Doing things for strategic 

reasons verses doing things for artistic 

purposes. Both voices are important - I think 

you have to have a balance and keep faith in 

what you’re about and what you represent. 

In the beginning, you need to think equally 

as much about what someone needs from 

you rather than it being all about what you 

want. Being a professional photographer is 

a service industry - so if you deliver what 

people want, more opportunities will be 

presented to you. 

Dimple Chaudhary 

dimple@chiiz.com 

A journalism graduate from Delhi 

University, Dimple loves to act in plays 

and is a part of Nirantar Theatre group. 

She believes that ambition is the first 

step to success, action is secondary. 

24 Vol 7

Runway Pit Stop 

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 50mm F/5.6 1/80s ISO100

Lighting Up 

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 50mm F/6.3 1/100s ISO100 

Avatar Redefined 

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 50mm F/8 1/100s ISO100 

Jenny 


Rohit Arora 

Mumbai, India 

Bridal Stories 

Canon 5D Mark II 91mm F/4 1/250s ISO400 

Rohit Arora 

Mumbai, India 

Hopes and Dreams 

Canon 5D Mark II 104mm F/4 1/250s ISO200

Rohit Arora 

Mumbai, India 

Banarasiya 

Canon 5D Mark II 149mm F/4 1/250s ISO200 

Rohit Arora 

Mumbai, India 

Roadside Glamour 

Canon 5D Mark II 50mm F/4 1/160s ISO100

Gear Review 

The Nikon D850 is Nikon’s latest high-resolution full-frame 

DSLR, boasting a 46MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. 

But, in a fairly radical departure for the series, it is also one 

of the company’s fastest-shooting DSLRs. This combination of 

properties should significantly widen the camera’s appeal to high-end 

enthusiasts as well as a broad range of professional photographers. 

Key Specifications: 

• 45.7MP BSI CMOS Sensor 7 

• 7 fps continuous shooting with AE/AF (9 with battery grip and 

EN-EL18b battery) 

• 153-point AF system linked to 180,000-pixel metering system 

• UHD 4K video capture at up to 30p from full sensor width 

• 1080p video at up to 120p, recorded as roughly 1/4 or 1/5th 

speed slow-mo 

• 4:2:2 8-bit UHD uncompressed output while recording to card 

• Battery Life rated at 1840 shots 

• 3.2” tilting touchscreen with 2.36M-dot (1024×768 pixel) LCD 

• Illuminated Controls 

• 19.4MP DX crop (or 8.6MP at 30fps for up to 3 sec) 

• SnapBridge full-time Bluetooth LE connection system with Wi- 

Fi 

• Advanced time-lapse options (including in-camera 4K video 

creation) 

High resolution 

The D850 has gained a more usable electronic front curtain shutter 

option (EFCS), which can now be used quiet shutter modes, as well 

as live view and Mirror-Up mode. To get the full benefit, though, 

you need to turn on exposure delay (which has had two sub-second 

delay settings added). However, exposure delay persists across all 

shooting modes. 

The D850 has no anti-aliasing filter, which should allow for slightly 

finer detail capture but with added risk of moiré, if any of your lenses 

are sharp enough to out-resolve a 45.7MP full-frame sensor. 

High Speed 

In addition to the increased speed, the D850 also gains the full 

AF capabilities of the company’s flagship sports camera: the D5. 

This includes all the hardware: AF module, metering sensor and 

dedicated AF processor, as well as the full range of AF modes and 

configuration options, which should translate to comparable focus 

performance combined with high resolution. 

Impressively, the D850 can shoot at nine frames per second if 

you add the optional MB-D18 battery grip and buy an EN-EL18b 

battery, as used in the D5. As well as increasing the camera’s burst 

rate, this combination also ups the battery life to a staggering 5140 

shots per charge. 

Video capabilities 

In terms of video, the D850 becomes the first Nikon DSLR to capture 

4K video from the full width of its sensor. The camera can shoot at 

30, 25 or 24p, at a bitrate of around 144 Mbps. It can simultaneously 

output uncompressed 4:2:2 8-bit UHD to an external recorder 

while recording to the card. Our initial impression is that the video 

is pixel-binned, rather than being resolved then downsampled 

(oversampling), but we’ll be checking on this as part of the review 

process. This risks lowering the level of detail capture and increases 

the risk of moiré, though it’s a better solution than line-skipping. 

There also seemed to be a fair amount of rolling shutter, but again 

these are only first impressions from a camera running non-final 

firmware. 

As you’d expect from a camera at this level, the D850 also includes 

the Power Aperture feature that allows the camera to open and 

close the lens iris smoothly when in live view mode. There’s also an 

‘Attenuator’ mode for the camera’s audio capture, that rolls-off any 

loud noises to avoid unpleasant clipping sounds. 

Reviewed by Editorial Department of Chiiz. 

Gear Support: Nikon Experience Zone, Capital, Esskay Enterprises, Delhi. 

30 Vol 7

Journey Reminances 

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 60mm F/4 1/100s ISO250 

Journey Reminances 

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 47mm F/4 1/100s ISO320 

The Terrible 

Two’s 

Zina & Zoya 

Zina and Zoya Singh 

eeing beauty in imperfections 

“Sthus, terrible and channeling 

our twinness through arts and 

creativity with our love for fashion, 

we came up with Terrible Twos. 

The ability to take our interests 

which varied culturally and 

personally, coming together to 

create a platform which accepts 

all that’s terrible. Terrible for us 

isn’t something negative. It’s a 

connotation which can be made 

beautiful with the right suffix.” 

Chiiz interviews the sisters, Zoya and 

Zina, on their evergrowing popularity 

and the message that is being portrayed 

through their fashion statements and the style 

they express. SHEETAL got the chance to catch 

them for a quick chat. You can check out their 

instagram page @touchandbe. 

Hi, First of all, you both are very beautiful 

and the way you portray the said terribleness 

in your images is somewhat another form 

of expressionism. Explain your ‘terrible’ in 

Terrible Twos? 

We have always believed that terrible isn’t a bad 

word. Having being called terribly naughty, 

terribly fun and terribly nice at times, we think 

with the right kind of connotation, terrible 

can be any oxymoron, just like the two of us. 

We are the yin and yang together. I hope this 

explains it. Being twins we have always played 

pranks on everyone around us and had fun 

with this nature’s gift. 

Adding the fashion element in your 

expressionism, there is a very wide gap 

between where you are and what you want to 

portray. People might see it as just a lifestyle or 

fashion thing but it’s much more than that. Can 

you please elaborate on this? 

Initially it started as something fun and 

spontaneous. Ephemeral even. Developing 

keen interest and passion combined, we started 

living our work through each creative aspect. 

Be it photography, editing, styling, writing, 

direction and stories- it all was a challenge 

and was not expected to be understood by 

all. Only those who want quality and reality 

in surrealism would have! Slowly, people are 

opening up though and through various ways 

and mediums we have achieved that target 

of relating to people and interaction. We can 

proudly say we know our followers and know 

what they like! 

There is this great love that reflects in your eyes 

for each other. Are there times when you guys 

are annoying to each other? 

We do love each other not just naturally but 

for unexplainable reasons as the bond we have 

cannot be. Sometimes we fight like it’s the end 

of the world but minutes later we will be fine. 

Since we work together too, it’s sometimes 

difficult to manage personal and professional 

lives, though we won’t have it any other way! 

A fashion advice that you would like to give to 

the masses. Something that you believe in and 

think that this is where it can all be right? 

Please stick to yourself and your own style, no 

matter how minimal, simple, exaggerated or 

kitsch it is! Don’t follow trends, they aren’t for 

everyone and be comfortable and real! 

Sheetal Mann 

sheetal@chiiz.com 

A silent tigress working up her way 

against the societal norms. One hell of 

an interior designer for your beautiful 

homes and thoughts, she is quite an 

introvert and serenity drips from her 

face. 

Vol 7 

31

Bonding Over Food 


Superdry Retro 


3 Women 

Canon EOS 5D Mark III 47mm F/4 1/500s ISO100 

Swinging Along Life 


Reflecting Souls 

Canon EOS 5D Mark III 50mm F/4 1/640s ISO400

The Differences 


Playtime Bonding 


Happy Hours 


In Talks with John Rawson 

Getting up 

close and 

personal 

and being 

as candid as 

somebody like 

him can be is 

surely not an easy task. Here is a short 

interview where KAMANA SINGH from 

Chiiz gets in talk with John Rawson. 

Being one already, what role do you think a 

hair stylist plays in getting the right picture 

that you look for? Do you sometimes find 

it a little difficult to choose even the right 

model for a shoot? 

It’s all about team work on shoots – we have, 

over the years, built fantastic relationships 

with hairdressers/stylists/make-up artists 

and models so when we receive a brief it’s 

easy for us to co-ordinate the right people 

for that specific brief. Every single element 

is equally important so if one thing is not in 

line the ‘everything’ would fail. 

With the rapid pace of advancement in 

technology, is it hard to keep up with the 

amount of energy and time you have to put 

into your work? Tell us some really significant 

change that you have experienced from the 

time you started working, something that 

you really miss about the 90s? 

Technology is amazing, however, it doesn’t 

make good pictures! We were sold a dream 

when the digital revolution happened and it 

really just meant far more work than when 

we shot on film. In many ways, it makes 

36 Vol 7 

people lazy and reliant on retouch. I love the 

new camera’s etc. but they are in constant 

flux and very expensive! i.e. the current 

system we use cost somewhere around 

£40,000 and that is hard for many to recoup. 

I think the 90’s was a very liberating decade 

and lots of what occurred was groundbreaking 

and will be looked back on with 

great fondness but when you revisit a time, 

which seems to be happening more and 

more from an inspiration point of view, it’s 

never the same. 

When I see your photographs, I see a form 

of poetry flowing through all of them. Is it 

something that you want to acknowledge to? 

Which is your favourite one? 

I don’t have a specific favourite image – 

other than the most current one I’m working 

on at the time. We constantly try and move 

forward so don’t like looking back too much! 

Poetry? Well we do try always to make it 

beautiful – even if it’s extreme and radical. 

I want it to have a flow and move where 

possible. 

From a hairdresser to a world renowned 

photographer, such a transition is an 

outcome of hard work, and absolutely not 

just some smart luck. Some advices to the 

budding artists out there. 

Funnily enough, it happened by mistake! 

I never thought I’d be able to make it as a 

photographer but worked hard and took 

many risks and it paid off!! Being “safe” and 

comfortable is not a state that’s creative – so 

gamble and see where it takes you. 

How much time do you generally spend on 

retouching a photograph when you are not 

satisfied with the outcome? Or you go for a 

totally different alternative? 

Retouching is a large part of an image but 

the concept and lighting must be right or the 

retouch can’t fix it! I have an amazing team 

that retouch for me and we spend as much 

time as it needs! 

What, according to you, makes a perfect 

photograph? 

I doubt there is a ‘perfect’ one and if it was 

it probably wouldn’t be very beautiful – 

perfection rarely is! A great team/models 

etc. is probably the closest you’ll get to it! 

The Rawson Partnership is a photographic 

consultancy which specialises in the 

fashion and hair & beauty industries. They 

are a committed team who prides itself in 

developing and understanding your brief. 

They organise every stage of the shoot 

process from concept to booking models and 

castings through full post production and 

high end retouch and print. You can check 

out their website: therawsonpartnership.net. 

Kamana Singh 

kamana@chiiz.com 

Kamana Singh is a 2nd year Literature 

Student at Delhi University. She is a 

self-proclaimed wanderer. You will find 

her mostly shuffling books in the library 

or binge watching some netflix series. 

Mostly writes to calm herself and never 

to share it with the world.

Black Territory 

Phase One A/S P65+ 120mm F/6.3 1/150s ISO100 

Haus Salon Team Collection 2017 

Phase One A/S P65+ 125mm F/10 1/150s ISO100 

Wrapped Around 


Killer Look 

Phase One A/S P65+ 80mm F/5.6 1/1250s ISO50

Golden Hour 


The Whole Collection 


Bare Lies XRay 


Waiting 

Canon EOS 1Dx 67mm F/5.6 1/100s ISO1000

Winning Collection NAHA2017 

Phase One A/S P65+ 80mm F/10 1/125s ISO50

Tarundeep Singh Makkar 

Ludhiana , India 

Royal Stance 




Can’t Keep Away 




Peace and Fashion 




Just a Moment 


Tarun Khiwal 

Mumbai, India

Designer - Sabyasaachi 

Models - Anuj Choudhry, Adhiraj Chakrabarti, Arshia Ahuja, Apurav 

Nautiyal, Diva Dhawan, Divya Menon, Kanika, Kushal, Namit Khanna, 

Natasha Ramchandran and Rouhallah Quazim , Archana Akil Kumar 

Hair & makeup - Mickey Contractor 

NIKON D810 85mm F/16 1/160s ISO400

Phase One P 25 ISO100 


Tarun Khiwal 

Tarun Khiwal is among India’s 

leading fashion photographers 

and a true maverick. Recognized 

and featured internationally, his 

experimental style and finesse 

transformed fashion photography 

in India, and gave it a global edge 

while also ushering in a new era of 

exploration. His journey with the 

art form began 25 years ago, and 

without any formal training, his 

undying passion and commitment 

have led him to become one of the 

world’s leading photographers. 


Designed by: Manish Arora 

Model Credits: 

1. Bhavna Sharma & Carol Maria Gracias 2. Michelle Innes 3. Michelle Innes 

Makeup: Ambika Pillai 

The strongest, most defining aspect of Tarun’s aesthetic is that he 

never conformed to the conventional ‘rules’, but made his own. His 

visual style is unmatched because it stems from his Indian roots, 

and yet transcends them to speak a contemporary language. Instead 

of following western trends and masters, he crafted his own rare 

style by drawing inspiration from his personal treasure of memories 

and experiences in his own country India; small anecdotes of his 

childhood years, or places he’d visited, or celebrations he’d seen, 

the culture and traditions that influenced him while growing up. 

Each image by Tarun Khiwal carries this signature backdrop, this 

unmistakable sense of heritage and pride in one’s own culture. He 

combined this sensibility with the technical and artistic sophistication 

of modern photography to deliver images that are distinctly his own 

and so unique that they have won him appreciation and accolades 

the world over. 

44 Vol 7





Designed by: Manish Arora 

Model Credits: 

1. Bhavna Sharma, Michelle Innes and Carol Maria Gracias 2. Bhavna Sharma 3. Michelle Innes 4. Bhavna Sharma & Michelle Innes(Right page) 

Makeup: Ambika Pillai 

Vol 7 

45

Old is Gold 

The film industry of India, 

that is Bollywood, has always 

been somewhat of a magical 

mysterious land for those of us 

who stand by the sidelines and watch the 

most ordinary people being turned into 

stars that ooze glamour and showbiz. 

The Bollywood that we see now hadn’t 

always been tolerant, especially towards 

James Burke the actresses. Today, an actress doing a 

bold photo shoot is not something out of 

the blue. It is more of a regular occurrence and the internet flooding 

with sensual pictures of the actresses is a testimony to that. 

An intimate photo shoot with India’s first glamour 

queen - Begum Para - James Burke - 1951 

The rebellious actress was infamous for smoking and carrying 

a glass of whisky in public events. She would laugh at her female 

counterparts who despite enjoying alcohol would conceal their 

drinks with cola. Her sensuous intimate photo shoot was yet another 

blow to the hypocrite industry of Bollywood who would objectify 

women and at the same time vilify them for it. 

With all the actresses posing to be the next sex symbol, none 

compares to the stunning beauty of Begum Para- India’s first oomph 

girl. Even today, the black and white, sepia tinted photographs serve 

as an ode to the bold and beautiful Begum Para and her irrepressible 

spirit. 

Now rewind to the era of 40s and 50s where actresses clad and 

covered from head to toe in six yards of sheer elegance, presented 

a demure image- both on and off screen. It was then that James 

Burke, a legendary photographer of the prestigious LIFE magazine, 

and Begum Para, the Bollywood actress, shocked everyone with her 

sensuous photo shoot which earned her the title of “Bollywood’s 

pinup girl”. 

The busty beauty dressed in a gorgeous plain white saree and a white 

blouse, was 24 when she posed in front of Burke’s lens in 1951. So 

sensuous were her photographs that she has been likened to actress 

Jane Russell and has been called the Indian version of “The Outlaw”. 

James Burke was one of the few photographers that got to capture 

what goes on behind the silver screen and also stunning profiles of 

actresses. Begum Para’s intimate photo shoot was one such story of 

the hypocrisy in Bollywood. In one of the photographs she is seen 

as lighting up a cigarette and smiling as if in open defiance of the 

existing norms of how the Bollywood actresses should behave. 

Priyashi Negi 

priyashi@chiiz.com 

Trekking to the top of the hills through tiny little paths and between 

pines is nothing short of paradise for Priyashi. Books and poetry are her 

refuge. She is a foodie at heart and seems to be blessed with a sweet 

tooth and a love for all things cheese (pun-intended). 

46 Vol 7

Happenstance Crossing 

As people cross the road entering Piccadilly Circus, an elaborate camera movement 

drags colour and texture across the scene. Fortuitously balancing static and stationary 

with photographic and painterly elements. 


Fine Art in the Streets 

my photographs are created on 

site and in-camera. It is crucial to 

“All 

me that they are not re-worked 

in any image software. Only adjustments 

to light, dark and cropping are made on 

computer afterwards. Eavch one is made 

using a technique that contradicts the 

proper functionality requirements for High 

Dynamic Range imagery.” 

Michael Lee is a British visual artist, living 

and working in London. Photography 

was always a passion and mainly served to 

inform Michael’s painting. Michael taught as 

a full time art teacher before travelling Asia 

and training in oil painting. He returned to 

the UK, working as an art and photography 

teacher while studying a Masters Degree in 

Fine Art at Middlesex University. NOOPUR 

SHARMA from Chiiz gets in talks with Lee. 

Below is an exceprt. 

In what genre would you like to put your 

photography? If it is street, then what is your 

concept of street photography? 

I would like my work to be considered 

fine art and/or abstract photography. In 

truth, it probably occupies a space between 

those genres. My street photography is 

about capturing the energy, vibrancy and 

essence of a place rather than the telling of 

a particular story. 

Your photographs are like a set of paintings 

that seem to be in motion within themselves. 

Is it something that you are trying to make 

a point with? 

Drawing upon and referencing painting 

is central to my practice. Exploring the 

painterly qualities of my photographic 

technique has always been a driving force 

for me. It is the fact that the photographs 

are generated through real events, my 

performance and the camera, as opposed to 

on a blank canvas that I find so exciting. 

What is the technique you use? How do you 

process them on site? 

I shoot in HDR mode where the camera 

automatically combines three consecutive 

exposures. Typically for HDR, one ought 

to keep the camera as still as possible to 

avoid peculiarities, however, I will look 

to perverse this by introducing elaborate 

camera movements and shooting moving 

subjects. 

Something that inspired you to pick up that 

Michael Lee 

brush and that camera? 

I have an innate desire to create. I find 

immense satisfaction and sense of 

accomplishment making something I can 

be proud of. Originally, I had only seen 

photography as a means to inform my 

painting, however these days it is the other 

way round. 

When a person starts with photography, it 

is generally the street photography. What 

should he look for in his pictures and why? 

Typically, a narrative. I am most interested 

in seeing a personalised aesthetic to illustrate 

the narrative. 

Since developing a unique technique 

for creating abstracted photographs, 

he now only paints with his lens, though 

painting greatly influences and inspires his 

photography. Michael has exhibited widely 

across London, the UK and Europe. He is 

represented by galleries in the UK and Italy. 

Noopur Sharma 

noopur@chiiz.com 

Noopur Sharma, is a content writer whose articles 

have appeared in Asian School of Media Studies 

newspaper and others. She has worked as a Public 

Relation Executive for Bang On Target PR and Media 

solutions, and is a blogger on social media as well. 

Vol 7 

49

West End Ghosts XXVI: 

Captured on London’s Oxford Street towards the end of the day, unusual outlines are 

generated from the considered abuse of the HDR function. A passer-by becomes 

ghosted into the composition as the late sunshine lights their profile. 


Prevailing Dusk I 

Captured near London’s Liverpool Street Station one pleasant evening, a bus 

passes by reflecting elements from the street. The camera leaves just remnants 

of the reflections and the bus, allowing space for the lights and colours of the city 

to permeate towards the front of the picture plane. 


Old Delhi II: 

Approaching an opening to an incredibly busy road in Old Delhi brimming with 

countless people, bicycles, tuk tuks and animals, all jostling about. From nowhere, 

a luminous motorbike speeds headlong into the fray. Unbelievably, the motorcyclist 

weaved his way through the melee without slowing down and disappeared from 

sight without disaster. 


Vinay Javkar 

Mumbai, India 

Lost in the scape 


Vinay Javkar 

Mumbai, India 

Urban Fashion 


Vinay Javkar 

Mumbai, India 

Werewolf Dreams 


Tips and Tricks 

Your Guide to Fashion Photography 

1. Preparation 

In my opinion, this is the most important part of the work. And 

the most important advice that I can give to you is never prone to 

prepare for shooting. It’s better to do more, and do not waste extra 

nerves on the shooting. Form your team - make-up artist, hair stylist, 

stylist for clothes. Prepare references and make a moodboard. So it 

will be easier to visualize the idea. And remember - every detail is 

important. So make a list of everything you need to forget nothing. 

I, as a photographer, always make myself a check-list - What camera 

should I take, what kind of lenses, flashes and ancillary things I need. 

The same list should be made by other team members. 

2. Locations 

In advance, always check the locations - better in a day or at least 

a couple of hours, so in case of unforeseen circumstances you have 

time to find a backup option. 

3. Experiment 

Sometimes, being already on the court, during the shooting, you 

realize that what you are shooting is not quite what you need. Do 

not be afraid to deviate a bit from the concept and experiment - 

remember that the final picture in your camera should suit you 

4. Be ready to take a picture any second 

The most masterpieces are sudden. Your finger on the shutter button 

should always be ready to take a picture. At that moment, nothing 

exists except for you, the camera and the model. Concentrate. 

5. Light 

Light Light, light, light and once again light. Light is our everything. 

From the right light, your frame will be steep or floppy. Remember 

this. The photography means- “I write with light” and you must be 

able to correctly write with this light. 

6. Model 

Do not trust the photo in the instagram! Often, models in life look 

very different, and when choosing a model, make sure to do a model 

test before shooting. To see how it works in the frame and whether it 

fits the concept of your shooting. 

NIKON D700 105mm F/14 1/125s ISO200 

7. Atmosphere 

Friendly, comfortable atmosphere is the key to successful shooting. 

Take care of the good mood for the whole team. Music, wine, jokes - 

everyone has their own individual recipe for success. 

8. Postproduction 

Correctly processed image - can “save” any frame, even if it was not 

very well shot. But do not overdo it with processing, in everything 

there must be a measure! 

9. Inspiration 

Read more magazines, see as much as possible fashion filming of 

famous photographers. Study them, arrange them, and remember: 

“Steal like an artist” 

10. Update your portfolio and social networks all the time. 

Activity in the network is very important! Do not forget to share 

backstages and the results of work with your subscribers. 

Tina Sokolovskaya 

Starting with night clubs and ending 

up with Playboy Ukraine’s magazine, 

this isn’t just luck, but sheer hard 

work and Tina Sokolovskaya surely 

has her way with it. This Ukraine 

based photographer now works 

with celebrities, famous artists, 

and singers all over the globe. A 

pro at fashion photography, Tina 

shares the ins and outs of Fashion 

Photography with Chiiz. 

56 Vol 7



NIKON D700 50mm F/5.6 1/1250s ISO200

Category: Fine PortraIt Editing 

Rating: 4.6/5 

Platform: iOS 

Cost: Free (offers in-app purchases) 

Version: 2.6.1 

Here are the thoughts that Marcus shares with us regarding the 

Darkr App. 

‘I have used analog cameras for over twenty years. I have even built a 

couple of large-format cameras in Teak-wood myself. I have always 

loved the true feeling when standing and looking at a huge negative. 

For many years, I have had this project to photograph young 

children with my large-format cameras. I also noticed that by using 

a large-format cameras that really slows down the session, the better 

images are made. For quite some time, I wanted to let other people 

be able to try how it’s to shoot using large-format cameras and to 

develop in a darkroom. So, I created an app called Darkr. It took 

almost a full year with several hours every night building this app. 

Darkr has been featured by Apple since day one and all over the 

world. Darkr is divided into two sections. Firstly the camera-section. 

Here you can choose to use a normal small camera, medium-format 

camera or a large-format camera. 

App of the Month 

Darkr - Analog Retro Film 

The darkroom is as close as a real darkroom can be. In a real 

darkroom, one works with different strips. These strips are made 

to find out how long the enlarger should put light on the paper. Just 

as a real darkroom, you can make parts of the image brighter or 

darker – which is called dodge and burn. 

You have probably seen where one holds a hand, blocking the light 

that hits the paper, making that area brighter. Instead of holding 

your hands over the iPhone, you draw the mask the hand would 

have created. The mask combined with the strip, makes the changes 

to the image. 

The goal is to understand that even the smallest change in local 

brightness or darkness will improve the image very much. One can 

add how many dodge or burn-layers as one wants. Darkr is only 

for black and white-photos, however one can tone the images using 

Sepia, Selenium or Cyanotype-tones. 

The cameras are only manual, so you have to set the shutter-speed 

as well as the ISO (in an iPhone one cannot change the aperture, but 

you can change the ISO instead). One also has to focus manually, 

but just to be sure you really nail the focus, you will see a loupe that 

magnifies the image three times. Naturally as one does when focus 

in a medium and large-format camera. 

You can also add different film-emulsions like various Ilford-film 

and Kodak-film. One can also add red, yellow and green-filter to 

improve the contrast in the image. 

The viewfinder is as real as it can be, that is, the large-format 

camera’s viewfinder is upside-down and mirrored and the mediumformat 

camera is mirrored. After you have snapped an image you 

can develop it in a darkroom. Naturally you can develop the images 

you have in your camera-roll. 

To make the darkroom a bit easier, you will be presented with a 

couple of tutorials. Both on how the darkroom actually works 

and the comparison between Darkr and a real darkroom. By 

understanding how a real darkroom works, it will make Darkr’s 

workflow more understandable. There are also a couple of tutorials 

of how I’m thinking when developing images. The app is made 

exclusively for iPhone and iPad and are updated on a regular base. 

For this issue, rather than reviewing an app, 

we present you the idea behind the app and 

its developer, who being just a regular guy at 

work, created this amazing application. Marcus 

Carlsson has been running his app-business for 

two years now and he’s totally alone in it. ‘I just 

love the whole piece’, says Marcus. Right now, the 

business is his side-job, but he aims to quit his 

day-time job and go full-time with app making. 

Marcus Carlsson 

58 Vol 7

DURGA 

Gender Bias and Discrimination Against Widows in India 

Durga Series-1 


|| Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu, Shakti rupena sansthita || 

The Omnipresent Goddess is the embodiment of Power. 

Sharmishtha Dutta 

Photographer 

From times immemorial, Indians 

have celebrated Goddess Durga as the 

embodiment of Stree Shakti (woman 

power). According to Hindu Mythology, 

when the celestial gods or devas could 

not control the menace of the demons or 

asuras, they convened with the powerful 

trinity of gods, Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh. 

Thus, did Durga the invincible, come into 

being. With eyes that drained the strength 

of the demons, her ten hands brandishing 

ten different weapons, she slaughtered the 

infamous Mahishasur demon and restored 

balance to the world. This is how she’s 

celebrated even today, in India and all over 

the world. 

But a woman, born of man! That is certainly a man’s 

perspective! Indians, the world over, have been celebrating 

Goddess Durga as the embodiment of ‘Stree Shakti’. It 

becomes crucial to see how a woman in the present world, 

finds her place in an increasingly patriarchal society of 

India. It is a place where her voice is deliberately muffled 

and she has to fight for an equal status - social, economic 

& even sexual– which the man so takes for granted. 

Perhaps, the biggest case of social injustice till day is 

one that is faced by widows. Their plight portrays a fine 

picture of neglect and social irresponsibility. Despite our 

motherland making exponential progress, the matriarch 

is target to stigma, superstitions and social dogma. 

Widowhood is a curse, still, in our country. She is forced 

to give up all worldly pleasures, wear only white and 

have her hair cut off. Little do we know of her abject 

conditions and a life of endless hardships; not to mention 

humiliation? 

The Government of India has taken steps to provide them 

a nominal pension. Several NGOs have set up shelters, 

providing them with a respectable life in their sunset 

years. 

But not much has changed over the years in terms of their 

social acceptability. It must be strange for a society, such 

as ours, that idolizes Ma Durga and yet turns a blind eye 

to a million destitute mothers and wives, treating them 

with so much indifference and hostility. It makes us all 

look a tad hypocritical, don’t you think? A society that 

propagates respect for women only in relation to her 

status with a man! 

It is time we realized that there resides a DURGA in every 

woman, whether she is the well-educated lady from the 

upper echelons of society, the quintessential middle class 

working-woman, the village simpleton or the old and 

abandoned widow in Vrindavan. 

60 Vol 7






Canon EOS 1000D 18mm F/11 1/0.6s ISO800 











Bringing Bappa Home 

celebrating ganesh Chaturthi 

Sachin Khot 

Mumbai, India 

One of the Top 30 in Chiiz Photography Contest 


The god of wisdom as they call him in the Hindu culture, Lord 

Ganesh helped Bal Gangadhar Tilak to bring people together 

in the pre-independence era not only to worship him but also 

discuss their strategies to take down the East India Company. After 

70 years of Independence, it is still celebrated with the same zeal and 

enthusiasm all over the country especially in Maharashtra. In case 

you didn’t’know Lord Ganesh is the Hindu god with the head of an 

elephant and body of a human. According to Hindu mythology, he 

is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The festival is of twelve 

days and huge pandals, with varied themes, are erected all over the 

country to welcome Lord Ganesha. With the various global issues in 

the picture, some pandals are using this festival to spread awareness 

about problems like pollution, women safety, deforestation etc by 

basing their themes on them. Many religious people also like to 

bring the idol home and offer their prayers for twelve days. The last 

day the entire Hindu population bids goodbye to their lord and the 

Idols are immersed in water bodies. But nothing is perfect and this 

festival also has its cons. With the increasing number of idols being 

immersed the water bodies are getting toxic and polluted with the 

plaster of paris. Also, some pandals are taking it as a competition 

and using loudspeakers to attract crowd causing nuisance and noise 

pollution. But the new age artists are using various biodegradable 

materials like paper, organic soil etc to make idols and reduce the 

adverse effects. In all the chaos this festival brings the entire country 

together, even if for twelve days, which is much needed with the 

communal tensions going on. 

64 Vol 7

Rajiv Malu 

Mumbai, India 

The WonderWomen 


Rajiv Malu 

Mumbai, India 

The Last Dip 


Ammar Netarwala 

Mumbai, India

Procession of The Lord 


Being Beautiful-Keeping it Natural 

Lynn Theisen 

@lynntheisen.com 

Natural Covers 

SONY SLT-A99V 105mm F/7.1 1/160s ISO100 

With the promotion of natural 

beauty by Kim Kardashian and 

other celebrities, the idea of a “no 

makeup” makeup look, skincare has become 

an important factor in daily life. Good skin 

makes a perfect base and requires less makeup, 

just a bit of enhancement, appealing to people 

as everyday life continues to become busier and busier. Having 

a natural glow, evenly toned skin is now a standard many work 

towards through the use of various skin routines. In America, the 

average women’s skincare costs 8 dollars a day. This is also inspired 

by the K-beauty trend. Many Koreans find their skin as one of 

their most valuable assets. They practice rigorous ten step care skin 

routines on a daily basis, have specific clinics for skin care and are 

mainly inspired by K-drama stars and Kpop stars. As the fame of 

these idols from Korea spread all over the world so did their daily 

routines, their beautiful skin pulling in many people all over the 

world. As skin care becomes more popular people are also becoming 

more aware of the consequences of the chemicals present in skincare 

products, with the help of the internet. Many exfoliators contain 

beads that are non degradable, causing a lot of harm to the earth. 

Some of the chemicals found in skincare products actually cause 

more harm to skin than cleanse them. Through this research and the 

growth of veganism comes an entirely new form of skincare. It is still 

attempting to achieve the same goals but naturally. Many companies 

are beginning to make skincare products from all natural materials, 

such as clay, avocado, tea and many other materials. People are 

trying to push away animal cruelty, the use of animal products 

and return to their roots. Everyone is working backwards, back to 

when everything humans used came straight from the Earth. Many 

natural oils achieve the same effect as chemicals and are able to cater 

to all types of skin. The diversity of natural products, their ability to 

help all skin types and their ability to achieve skin standards without 

guilt make it very appealing to consumers. 

Karishma Rana 

karishma@chiiz.com 

Karishma Rana is a 15 year old high school student with too many 

passions and too little time to decide what to settle on. She enjoys 

capturing moments around the world and has way too many photos of 

her dog. She is attempting to dip her toes into the world of photography 

and writing. 

68 Vol 7

Beyond The Leaves 


Natural Beauty 


Natural Series-1 


Natural Series-2 

SONY SLT-A99V 105mm F/7.1 1/160s ISO100

The Backstage Brilliance 

Ishaan Nair 

Ishaan Nair, filmmaker and photographer, has been working since his 

education in direction and cinematography from New York. In his search 

for himself, he discovered an innate talent for photography. Without any 

formal training he has shot covers and editorials for Harper’s Bazaar, 

L’Officiel, Marie Claire. His skills have led him to photograph some of the 

best-known faces of the thriving Indian film industry. With a stronghold 

in fashion, he has shot advertising campaigns, films and shows for the 

most celebrated designers. 

‘Kaash’, a film written and directed by him marks his directorial debut. After having it’s world 

premier at Tokyo International film festival, it is now slated to release this year. More recently 

he has directed commercials for Dove, Puma, Lakme, Taj Palaces, Apple Music, Jaipur 

Jewels and more. Website: ishaannair.net 

Bright lights, ravishing dresses, enchanting smiles of beautiful models and 

hardworking stylists. Fashion show, a place where the level of talent is quite 

high and is a place where beauty is showcased with pride. Fashion designers 

participate and their work is enhanced by charming models. But have you ever seen 

the backstage of a fashion show? Well, one will think that models just stand in line 

and wait till their turn comes to perform, but is that so? 

There is an army of people working in full potential to showcase their talent to the 

fans and guests. A backstage of a fashion show is a place where final decisions are 

taken models are munching and stylists are making changes. The fun part is, stylists 

are never satisfied with their setup, and they make last-minute adjustments and work 

under a lot of pressure to make the show a success. It is an organised madness where 

makeup artists are running behind the models and they even get their dresses ready 

seconds before their ramp-walk. 

The stylists face a lot of issues, sometimes the models get late due to traffic or because 

of their last show somewhere. They come running with makeup and it becomes 

challenging for the makeup artists to work at the last minute. But when all these 

challenges are overcome, the fashion show becomes successful. Well, fashion show 

is one thing and fashion week is something far more hectic with so many things to 

be taken care of. 

All the models are getting ready at the last minute makes it difficult deciding who 

will be walking first. There are times when the models go to other shows making 

the designers call their backups. The models get limited time for their walk and the 

time spent returning, changing and walking again. Ramp walk is also one thing 

that enhances the designer’s outfits. Models, managers, stylists, makeup artists and 

fashion elites make a fashion show successful but most of the hefty work is done 

backstage. 

Backstage is one place where there is no time to relax or even take a break. It is a place 

where fun can’t be missed. There are a lot of photographers too who get the best shots 

right before the models walk. The look on their faces some scared, some thrilled and 

some of them are just in a hurry to finish the work. The best part is that you will also 

find fans, a lot of them just to have a glimpse of their favourite artists. The fans also 

play a vital role in the fashion business because they are the ones who take their work 

to another level by buying the outfits the designers showcase in the fashion shows all 

around the world. 

Ankit Tyagi 

Facelift Stage 

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 50mm F/7.1 1/160s ISO160 

ankit@chiiz.com 

Ankit, a journalism student, with intense love towards photography. 

He writes for a digital marketing company and believes in the power 

of words. The dream is to explore and find different perceptions in 

life. He likes watching classic movies and follows Alfred Hitchcock. 

Vol 7 

71

Eyes Don’t Lie 

Canon EOS 5D Mark III 32mm F/6.3 1s ISO250 

Brilliance Behind The Stage 


Heels Reels 


Mexican Touche 


Bright Lenses 


Highway of Hell 


It’s Me Right Here 

Canon EOS 5D Mark III 32mm F/6.3 1s ISO250 

Graced All Over 


Lookout Indifferent 


High Art (1998) 

Movie Review 

Duration: 1hr 41mins 

IMDB Rating: 6.7/10 

Released: 1998 

Written and Directed: Lisa Cholodenko 

Making her debut through HIGH ART, Lisa Cholodenko, 

more or less, gives the audience what the trailer promises. 

The trailer commits Ambition, Seduction, Sacrifice and 

other career moves which the movie fulfils to a great extent. Lisa’s 

career hasn’t been much productive as she directed just four films 

in all, though, her debut movie won 7 awards and made it to 18 

nominations. Let’s have a look at its storyline and review the cast, 

crew and the message of the movie. 

Story: High Art is about an assistant editor Syd who is an ambitious 

woman. The movie is about Syd’s discovery of her sexuality: from 

living with her boyfriend to her falling in love with a lesbian 

photographer Lucy Berliner. Lucy Berliner stopped working 10 

years ago and lives with her German girlfriend Greta. Syd revives 

Lucy from her hibernating period and persuades her to work for 

FRAME, the company Syd works for. Lucy agrees to it. It is while 

working on the cover for FRAME do these two women discover 

their love for each other. High Art is not just about love, seduction 

and ambition, but also about drugs, addiction and lot more. 

Review: Featuring Radha Mitchell as Syd and Ally Sheddy as 

Lucy Berliner, High Art is a romantic drama portraying a lesbian’s 

sexuality, relationships, ambition, addiction and what not. Syd is a 

career driven enthusiastic woman who is trying to find appreciation 

in her job. She meets Lucy Berliner who is a retired photographer 

living upstairs. Syd seems to be bored of her life and her relationships 

and Lucy is already lost. 

Lucy’s life is a mess as well. She lives with her lover Greta who is 

a washed out German actress. Both of them are heroin addicts, 

especially Greta who rarely is in her senses. At one hand, Greta’s 

words reveal her love for Lucy, but, on the other hand, they reveal 

her lost state of mind as well: “I’m Greta. I live for Lucy. I mean I live 

here with Lucy.” Greta become jealous of Lucy’s friendly relationship 

with Syd and loses control. She even puts her life at risk. Likewise, 

Syd’s boyfriend James is critical of Lucy and is afraid of Syd getting 

laid with her. 

Lucy, on the other hand, starts getting attracted to Syd. On their 

weekend trip, they get intimate with each other and Syd confesses 

her love for Lucy. Lucy seizes their intimacy and Syd’s beauty 

in a photograph and offers the same to Syd for the cover she was 

doing for FRAME. Syd is afraid at first, to make her personal life 

public, but, later on submits Lucy’s work to her boss Dominique. 

She receives a lot of admiration at work. Lucy, on the other hand 

is tensed with her situation with Greta and then her addiction. She 

decides to move out. 

Lucy’s mother walks away from her when she tells her about her 

situation. She says, “I have a drug problem and a love issue. Or 

maybe, I have a love problem and a drug issue. I don’t know.” In her 

weak moment, she surrenders her inner-self to her mother, but, her 

mother walks away. Apparently, it seems she had a drug problem 

and a love issue, after all. 

High Art highlights lesbian intimacy and seduction along with drug 

addiction, through the intimacy does not have much of nudity. Rated 

6.7 by IMDb, the movie was provided with “R” certificate and below 

seventeen kids were allowed only under a parental supervision. The 

movie did well on the silver screen but could have been a little more 

relatable to the audience had it been that Syd’s character was a little 

more refined. 

The characters, overall, were fine and the story brought out a new 

concept in its time. Greta’s character was well-portrayed as she 

represented drug-addiction in the best way possible. Her addiction 

makes her forget things and lose track of time. All in all, Lisa’s Greta 

is what the younger generation needs to learn from. 

Meenal Singh 

meenal@chiiz.com 

Meenal Singh is an undergraduate student of Miranda House, University of 

Delhi. She aspires to be a lecturer in English Literature. Meenal wishes to 

fight for the equality of women worldwide through the power of her words. 

74 Vol 7

David Espinosa 

Puebla, Mexico 

That Stare Is Killing 

NIKON D800 28mm F/3.3 1/125s ISO320



Dreaming All Over 




One Last Breath 




To It And Beyond 

NIKON D800 48mm F/5.6 1/90s ISO640

Rosh x Suhail 


Rosh x Suhail 


Rosh x Suhail 


Rosh x Suhail 


Rosh x Suhail 


Rosh x Suhail 


Roshini Kumar 

Roshini Kumar is a 

professional 

photographer 

who’s equally passionate about 

styling, digital art and creative direction. Art, Fashion and 

Photography have always been her platform to express 

her opinions, share experiences, experiment and address 

social issues, specifically those regarding body positivity 

which is why all her work has been left purely natural and 

no skin retouch has been done. Bold colors and ideas 

are what defines her and her work. ”I like to create new 

things on the regular, break boundaries and experiment 

with my art.” 

This was a creative collaboration between Roshini 

Kumar & Suhail Nayyar with model Sony Kaur from TFM 

360 India. Styled by Manka Malik and makeup by Vimal 

Gudka.Creative direction/Concept and post - Roshini 

Kumar. 

Rosh x Suhail 


Vol 7 

79

Dwindling Lives 


Nicotine Soaked Lives : A Glance into 

The Tobacco Farming Industry in Turkey 

Meriç Aktar 

@mericaktar is a 32 years old hobbyist 

photographer who lives in Samandag, 

Hatay, Turkey. He began chasing light 

and capturing moments in 2012, since 

then, picking up the camera gave him 

an opportunity to capture a specific 

vision to share with others. Ultimately, 

a well captured image represents a 

moment in time that is expressed 

infinitely, and that’s enough of a reason 

for him to hang the camera around his 

shoulders every time he steps out of 

his home. As such, with a greater 

appreciation of the documenting 

people via photography, he has also 

developed a greater connection with 

people and life. 

For most of us the word “Tobacco” triggers 

one of these two probable reactions, a) A 

strong abhorrence (generally associated with 

the detrimental effect it has on our health). 

Or b) An even stronger urge, fuelled by years 

of addiction and/or decades worth of popular 

culture, to light the nearest cigarette. If it’s not 

one of these two things, it’s probably some 

botanical inquiry into the structure of the 

plant itself. 

Yes, Tobacco is all of those things and more. 

But for about a few hundred families living 

in Yayladagi, in the Hatay province of Turkey, 

tobacco isn’t death or grave addictions; it is 

life. Tobacco, for them, is neither some means 

to placate an oral fixation, nor is it the tiny font 

and the skull and crossbones that warn against 

its consumption. These tobacco farmers are 

in no way associated with the ongoing power 

struggles between “Big Tobacco” and the 

organizations against it, when quite ironically, 

they are intrinsic to the production of the very 

“thing” governments, business conglomerates, 

and activists tussle over. Tobacco for them is 

what puts bread on the table; what sends their 

kids to school ; and what puts them on the 

map. 

For the uninitiated, which is quite frankly 

most of us, here is a brief history of Turkish 

tobacco. Tobacco, of course, originated in the 

Americas. It was introduced to the Ottoman 

Empire (modern day Turkey, Republic of 

Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece) by Spanish 

traders. The Ottoman Turks devised their own 

way of cultivating, harvesting, curing, and 

later, using the tobacco - and thus a distinctly 

“Turkish” variety came into being. Turkish 

tobacco dominated the global markets for 

most of the 20th century. It peaked during 

the 1960s when the Turkish kind was the 

most sought-after variety. Turkish tobacco 

is highly aromatic and being specifically 

“sun-cured” adds to the flavour. Ideally, this 

type of tobacco is used exclusively for pipes 

and cigarette manufacturing. In fact, most 

of the early brands of cigarettes only made 

80 Vol 7

use of Turkish tobacco. The location of the 

Hatay province on Turkey’s Mediterranean 

coast is particularly suited to favour the 

growth of this crop. Interestingly, Hatay 

was historically a part of Syria; but with 

European interference (in the form of 

French colonialism and the failing League of 

Nations), the native Turks in Hatay initiated 

reforms to unite with Turkey as part of an 

elaborate anti-Hitler alliance in 1939. 

On a more health-conscious note, the Turkish 

fare of tobacco is significantly milder than 

other varieties and consequently, contains 

less nicotine and fewer carcinogens. Most 

cigarettes now are primarily blended, but 

all of them incorporate the use of Turkish 

tobacco in some way or another. 

Harvesting tobacco in Hatay has been honed 

for generations. The process is laborious at 

best and downright torturous at worst. The 

men and women painstakingly pick, cut and 

cure the crop to meet the standards their 

produce is known for. Tobacco harvesting, 

like tea, requires a lot of patience and a lot 

of attention to detail; and maybe that is why 

much of it isn’t automated or mechanicallyassisted, 

because machinery cannot possibly 

emulate the skill and dexterity of these 

farmers, at least not at this point in history. 

Incidentally, in Hatay, there are two ways to 

go about harvesting their prized crop. The 

first, aptly named “priming”, as it entails 

selectively picking individual leaves as they 

come into their prime. About five to six 

pickings are harvested during five to tenday 

intervals. The leaves are then carefully 

strung on specifically designed sticks or 

handled loosely in bulks and is then taken 

for curing. This method of harvesting 

results in a higher total yield than the other 

method, and thus it is primarily used in the 

production of flue- cured tobacco, shadegrown 

cigar wrappers and several other 

cigar-specific tobacco types. 

The other method of harvesting, stalkcutting, 

is done by, well, cutting the stalk at 

the base. The tobacco farmers skilfully split 

the stalks in half to hasten the process of 

drying and to facilitate their placement on 

wooden stands for curing. 

For those who aren’t well versed in the jargon 

of the tobacco industry, which again is 

admittedly, most of us, curing is the process 

of drying, chlorophyll decomposition and 

other natural chemical changes in the 

composition of the tobacco that produces 

the desired flavour. Curing is integral to 

tobacco production and is often the sole 

determinant when it comes to identifying 

the quality of the produce. 

Turkish tobacco is famously air- cured. The 

farmers in Yayladagi cure their produce 

for four to eight weeks before they are 

shipped to manufacturers. This type of 

curing incorporates the use of sunlight as 

the primary catalyst in the early stages. This 

results in a lighter colour and an overall 

milder tobacco. 

Sometimes it is difficult to come to terms 

with the fact that most of the work that is 

done around the world, no matter how 

glorified (or vilified), ultimately amounts to 

nothing in the grand scheme of things. And 

this can be exemplified by all the week’s and 

month’s worth of hard work that goes into 

something that eventually goes up in flames. 

All that remains of the tobacco farmer’s hard 

work is the cigarette butt discarded without 

a second thought and the occasional 

cough or wheeze by a passer-by. There is, 

however, an important takeaway from this: 

the tobacco farmer labours on tirelessly 

expecting not to be credited or even thought 

of when consuming something he or she 

helped make. Everyone that is a part of 

civilization has a role to play in it, it may 

not be significant, or large or both, but it 

is a role nonetheless. And for the people of 

Yayladagi, it is sustaining the dregs of the 

20th century’s last great addiction. 

Shreeja Chatterjee 

shreeja@chiiz.com 

Shreeja Chatterjee is currently an 

undergraduate student of English 

Literature. She sees herself as an intrepid 

Ad mogul, akin to Don Draper, in the near 

future. Decidedly a pop culture addict, she 

has to watch two movies a day to get her 

bearings. 

Laying DeathBed 

NIKON D610 85mm F/8 1/400s ISO-160 

Honest Efforts 

NIKON D610 85mm F/2.2 1/2000s ISO-100 

Not Just Cabbages 

NIKON D610 85mm F/2.2 1/1000s ISO100

Burden Rides Along 


Rare Smiles 


Working Hours 


Fun Takes Place 

NIKON D610 35mm F/4 1/320s ISO160

Working Women 


Abstract Hopes 


Puppy Love 


Blooming Smiles 

NIKON D610 85mm F/3.2 1/640s ISO320

Heavenly - Lauren Marsh 

Canon EOS 5D Mark II F/7.1 1/200s ISO100

Pink Dress - Maude Gorman 

Canon EOS 5D Mark II F/2.8 1/30s ISO100 

Implied Pink - Brittany Romano 


The Wedding Dress - Brittany Romano 


Underwater Angel - Morgan Berard 


Jorge E Gonzalez 

Jorge is an artist who specializes in capturing 

dramatic art portraits with the whole scene 

of beauty. His easy-going attitude and 

enthusiasm keeps the portrait experience fun 

and energized. His work blends colors and 

motion making a special recipe for classic 

portraiture with modern lifestyle imagery. His 

work has been published in various magazines 

and websites. He is an advocate of underwater 

marine conservation and ocean preservation.

Dream Ballerina - Maude Gorman 


Her Aura - Danielle Crawford 

Canon EOS 5D Mark II F/4 1/25s ISO400 

Underwater Rainbow - Kate Graves 

Canon EOS 5D Mark II F/4 1/40s ISO400

Imagery Series-1 

Phase One A/S IQ160 28mm F/12 1/200s ISO100 

Beyond The Normal Imagery 

Rodger Klein is an artist & photographer specializing in objective and non-objective underwater 

imagery. Mr. Klein has an Master of Fine Arts Degree. He is also a certified scuba instructor with 

over 3000 dives. He lives and works in Venice Beach, California. Contact: rhkuw.com. 

88 Vol 7


NIKON D800E 16mm F/9 1/250s ISO160 


Phase One A/S IQ160 28mm F/10 1/250s ISO100 


NIKON D800E 20mm F/14 1/250s ISO100


NIKON D800E 16mm F/11 1/200s ISO100

Folds of Body 


John Edwards 

The One Glance 


Current 

Mood Arjun Mark 

Arjun Mark is currently an advertising 

and fashion photographer working 

from Mumbai. However, he frequents 

other cities within the country and abroad 

on assignments. Almost 7 years since his 

professional debut, Arjun Mark is recognized 

as one of the most creative photographer’s of 

his generation. Arjun has been awarded and 

chosen as Luerzer’s Archive’s 200 Best Ad 

Photographers Worldwide, Volume 2012/13. 

His work embodies his love for the art form, 

people, places, aspects of the world around, 

the way each reflect their attitudes and the way 

light acts upon those physical characteristics 

to reflect the absolute integrity; the way each 

moment produces a change and the way 

photography can reflect and reveal us to 

ourselves 

His photographs have been featured in several 

prominent magazines including GQ, Vogue, 

L’uomo Vogue-Italy, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, 

L’Officiel, Grazia and Marie Claire among others. 

Arjun’s has shot several notable campaigns 

for brands like Reebok, ITC, Cadbury, Nike, ICC 

World cup 2011 worldwide campaign, Titan, 

Lee, Tanishq, Nirav Modi Jewellery, Farah Khan 

Fine Jewellery, IPL Campaigns, Wills Lifestyle, 

Ford and Amazon just to name a few. 

Arjun’s body of work includes portraits and 

commercial assignments with numerous 

distinguished personalities like Sachin 

Tendulkar, MS.Dhoni, Matthew Haydon, The 

Indian Cricket team, 

Rahul Khanna, Irfan 

Khan, Rishi Kapoor, 

Vivek Oberoi, Aditya Roy 

Kapur, Arunoday Singh, 

Alia Bhatt, Chitrangada 

Singh, Mandira Bedi, Amy 

Jackson, are a few of 

those captured through 

his lens. 

Arjun has also closely worked with fashion 

icons in the industry like Tarun Tahiliani, 

Narendra Kumar, Rohit Bal, Shivan & Narresh, 

Wendell Rodricks to name a few. 

Website: arjunmark.com 

High Art 

Canon EOS 5DS 47mm F/13 1/125s ISO100

Current Mood 

Canon EOS 5DS 24mm F/5.6 1/125s ISO100

Current Mood 


Crumbling Fears 

Canon EOS 5DS 24mm F/11 1/125s ISO100 

Intimate Feelings 

Canon EOS 5DS 24mm F/11 1/125s ISO100 

Fantasy Relived 


design is 

y life 

MILANO 

FIRENZE 

PARIS 

LONDON 

SHANGHAI 

SHENZHEN 

ISTITUTO 

MARANGONI 

.COM

Chiiz Volume 7 :Fashion Photography

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