BHARATI PAWASKAR
Come rains and she walks with her camera in the backyard of her ancestral home in Pernem to capture the flora and fauna. She loves nature in its entirety. However, it’s the beauty of the birds that catch her attention the most. This 11-year-old admits getting inspired to take photos after seeing her elder brother capturing photos by his Sony camera - and this when she was in class I.
“I was too small and could not even imagine holding his heavy camera. But looking at my enthusiasm, he used to fix the camera on a tripod and ask me just to click. I used to jump with joy if I could get some nice picture. Seeing my interest in photography my father gifted me a Nicon Cool Pix. Small and light weighted, it came handy. I must say that, for me, it opens the doorway to the world around,” shares Tarini Vasudeo Deshprabhu for whom every small insect, creature, bird, animal, reptile or aquatic species, is a small wonder in itself. She not only admires their beauty but also captures them beautifully in her lens.
So far Tarini has clicked around 2000 photographs of different species on land, water and sky and out of these she will be displaying select few, in her upcoming exhibition ‘Thru the Eyes of a Girl’ that will open for public viewing from April 12 at Kala Academy art gallery in Panaji. Held in association with Lions Club of Mapusa and Goa Kala Academy, the photography exhibition will have minister of tourism and sports Manohar Ajgaonkar as the chief guest and photographer Assavri Kulkarni as guest of honour.
A student of Kendriya Vidyalaya INS Mandovi at Verem, Tarini is not only bright in academics but also extracurricular activities. It’s been six years that she’s being trained in Bharatnatyam by her Guru Priya Rane and has reached to level III in this Indian classical dance form. Her interest in drawing too has grown with every passing year and her versatile art teacher Chaitali Morajkar, who is a well-known artist herself, falls short of words in Tarini’s praise. While Tarini’s dance class is on Sundays, her drawing class is twice a week and in spite of keeping a busy schedule, this class VII student takes out time for her favourite hobby - photography.
Whenever she has vacations or whenever her family goes out for site seeing, Tarini carries her little camera with her. It’s like her inseparable companion. “And whenever I take good pics, it’s my brother that I share them with. He is my first critic,” quips Tarini who has, over the years, mastered to have a steady hand - a feat that every good photographer boasts of.
Though amateur, Tarini’s photographs impress the viewers for their subject, colour combination and texture. She has not learnt the technical aspects of photography yet, but wishes to learn it soon, so that she can take better pictures in the future. When asked, if she wishes to be a photographer, a shy Tarini declines, but adds in the same breath that she wants to take up photography as a dearly pursued hobby. “It relaxes me and actually transports me to a different world - that of nature, birds and animals. These wildlife makes up for a good companion whenever you feel alone or afraid in the midst of a jungle,” states Tarini who enjoys taking long strides in her backyard where a whole world of birds and insects welcome her with open arms.
Has she ever tried to paint what she photographed? “Except for a butterfly, I have not yet tried to paint what I photograph, but will be working on this aspect soon,” deliberates a shy Tarini whose parents - a doctor mother and an advocate father - are very much keen in encouraging her inborn talents. “We can proudly announce that our daughter is self-trained. She has not attended any photography class but we believe her to be a natural artist. In her best interests, we will be offering her technical training in photography as she matures, mentally and physically. As of now, she’s not even 12. We are waiting for her to grow little more to gift her with a better camera,” smiles Tarini’s mother Dr Pavitra Deshprabhu.
(Nature: Thru a Girl’s Eye - a three-day photography exhibition by Tarini Vasudeo Deshprabhu will be inaugurated on April 12, at 11 am at Kala Academy in Panaji)
