Beauty by the dozen

Check out Shutterbug Prarthna Singh's photography exhibition, Twelve, to get an unbridled glimpse of today's woman

Beauty by the dozen

Check out Shutterbug Prarthna Singh's photography exhibition, Twelve, to get an unbridled glimpse of today's woman

Photography exhibition Twelve is a joint venture by city-based shutterbug Prarthna Singh and Indian-born London-based jewellery designer Mawi, where Prarthna has captured twelve women from the city through her lens, who along with sporting pieces by Mawi are also a reflection of the young, working urban woman.

"I was once on an assignment for a leading fashion magazine, where I was clicking Mawi's jewellery. I felt connected to it because, though it's beautiful jewellery, it's not dainty. It is edgy and almost armour-like. Just like the women in my portraits," informs Prarthnau00a0 about her collaboration with Mawi.

On the theme of her exhibition, the 27 year-old photographer adds, " I click a lot of women and though I do fashion photography, my style is very different. The women I have clicked are an extension of myself. Somehow, they are similar to me in their choice of lifestyle. They are all aged between 20 to 30 years, are independent, working, unconventional and are not living off their daddy's money."

Prarthna has framed women including stylists, designers, writers whom she has worked with, are known to her and are doing things, which she can relate to.

The venues selected for the photoshoots are secludedu00a0-- like someone's garden, workshop or even kitchen, places where as she puts it, "they are themselves; where they sit down to think." Her images are very much about living in the big city, where the woman herself comes first. So, even if a picture is shot on Carter Road, Bandra, it is the woman and her thoughts, which are in focus and not the sea behind. Prarthna has photographed more than 12 women, including herself, but has not included her own portrait in her first exhibition.

A lot of effort went behind the photographs, which included sudden changes of location, waiting for an entire day for the right light and convincing some of her subjects to be ready to shoot at five in the morning! "For pictures, which were shot in the homes of my subjects, I had to change the setting in their rooms. But they were kind enough to have me move the furniture around," she says.

Till August 15
At Le Mill, 17-25 Nandlal Jani Road, next to new railway bridge, Wadi Bunder. Mawi's jewellery also on sale, prices start from Rs 14,000.
CALL 23742415

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