The objective of my photographic style is to represent nature as I perceived it at the time. It is my means of reliving significant moments from my past. My photographs are about reality and effort is made to depict the mood and lighting as it existed at the moment.
The choice of material depends on the subject. Some subjects are digitally photographed and printed. Such subjects are generally travel or where color is an integral aspect. Other photographs are made on black and white film and printed on silver gelatin paper. The focus of those are in texture, contrast, and mood. In this exhibition, I will show only silver gelatin prints.
The black and white films are shot on a 4x5 large format view camera. The film used is mostly Kodak TMAX. The film sheets are then developed in my darkroom. With the help of an enlarger, each negative is projected on a photosensitive silver gelatin paper. The brightness and contrast of the image is adjusted by adjusting the exposure and color of light on the paper, respectively. The print is developed in chemicals and dried. It is then inspected and retouched, if necessary, by hand with a paint brush. Think Photoshop with natural light and pigments!
The final image is drymounted and matted using 100% cotton museum mat boards, and framed using 99% UV block glass/acrylic. All the mounting material used is archival. This print, as mounted, should not discolor for at least a few hundred years, if stored in a cool and dry place with limited lighting.
Dr. Debejyo Chakraborty developed his passion for photography using his father's Yashica Mat 124G, one that he grew up with. However, the superiority of a view camera in the control of light and geometry on a projected image wowed him into adopting the art of large format photography. He has been shooting black and white images on 4 inch by 5 inch sheet film. Debejyo takes pride in creating his photographs by owning the entire process. From taking the image to printing, matting and framing. He also makes custom wood frames in his wood workshop.
Large format photography got introduced to him by the then adjunct professor at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona, Rod Klukas. Later, the photographers from the Midwest Largeformat Asylum had deep encouragement and intellectual support in enabling Debejyo perfect the art form. Throughout his photographic journey that started in Graduate school, Dr. Narayan Kovvali has been friend, travel buddy, and critic that kept Debejyo motivated.
Debejyo is no novice in digital photography. He uses a digital camera in scenarios that are impractical or beyond the realm of largeformat photography, or when color information in images provide an essential dimension. The application of digital photography for him has been for experimental work, travel, wildlife, and other extreme condition photography where using a view camera is impractical.
Debejyo is an Engineer by training and has a Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. The training as an Engineer has enabled his end-to-end art making process. His technical passion for Engineering stays alive through his service at General Motors Research and Development, where he works as a Staff Researcher.
coming soon...