For Madan Mehta it was love at first click at age 11

New Delhi, May 27 (UNI) For renowned photographer Madan Mehta, it was love at first click at age 11, and ever since, neither the love nor the clicking has stopped.

Sixty years of photography has not deterred his passion to capture different shades of humanity. Faces, moments, scenes and architecture-each tell a story of their own and life itself, speaks through each of his pictures.

SMILE: The World Is A Camera, is the first exhibition of Mr Mehta, who over the years, has many achievements to his credit, including an invitation to photograph the King of Bhutan, whose picture adorns the country's currency.

His repertoire includes an indefinite number of black and white and colour photographs from the 1950s to present day. Be it the skylight beauty of the Gwalior Fort or the magnificient nose ring of a girl from Chamba, he is a master craftsman par exellence.

Travelling all over India and the world, he has captured emotions, stories and creative highs on his camera lens. He has the understanding and temperament of photographic genius who has the potential to turn the most mundane of things into masterpieces.

A perfect blend of people and places in his work reflect different shades of India. Bangles, anklets and toe rings are refined in traditional tone. Photographs of the majestic Dal lake and the chilly evening rain in Mussoorie makes one yearn for living the good times.

Neither time nor hard work pose as limitations in Mr Mehta's profession. He has worked with noted artists like M F Hussain, Manjeet Bawa and was the first to introduce colour printing in India.

He has not formally retired and his next project includes a coffee table book on photography.

UNI