From capturing stunning photographic images to creating flawless finished prints, photography has been my life for more than 35 years.

Over the years I have seen many changes in the profession, as well as in the equipment we use. Not so long ago, automation in photography was rare — photographers worked with cameras and flash guns that were not 'intelligent'. You had to set exposure and focus manually for each shot. Exposure meters were very important tools. Developing and printing was also an arduous manual task. I even used to make up the print and film developers by mixing raw chemicals following one of the many published formulae. It was a tough life! but great fun.

With the 21st Century we have entered an exciting new era of digital photography. Modern sophisticated digital cameras allow us to simply point and shoot to obtain a perfectly exposed photographic image. The "on board" computing power of such cameras make the photo shoot far easier but it is still essential for the modern photographer to have good technical skills. Most importantly, photography is an art form. Technology has changed but the art of capturing the photographs has not. The tools used to capture the image are secondary to the image itself. The technology is always subordinate to the art. The ultimate skill, in photographers from all generations, is to artistically capture the perfect photographic image.

I was born in Nairobi, Kenya. I loved drawing from an early age and with encouragement from my father, I started taking an interest in photography from the age of ten. Just two years later I had built (with a little help from my father) my own darkroom and realised that to produce a good photograph, one needs to be in control of the complete process — from capturing the image to finishing the print.

Having completed my schooling, I formally trained in photography under the expert instruction of German photographer, Tom Kraft. My first job was as the assistant to Massimo Bellini, one of the two Italian portrait photographers in Nairobi. With skilled guidance from Bellini, I gained professional experience in black & white portrait photography. From mastering the art of retouching negatives to developing and printing in the darkroom — even using Bellini’s own large format Linhof 4x5 camera to create my own photographic portraits. Having completed the day’s work at the Bellini studio, I attended evening classes in art to further my interest in portrait painting.

I seized every opportunity to learn more about photography and photographers. An article appearing in the American magazine, Modern Photography, detailed the top ten professional photographic labs around the world. To my surprise I saw a local company, Nairobi Photofinishers, was one of the labs on that elite list.

After serving Bellini for a year and a half I joined Nairobi Photofinishers as a printer. Musa Qureshi who managed the lab was a perfectionist — a second rate print simply did not meet with his approval. Here I was printing for some of the top international photographers who were working on their projects in Kenya at the time — including Mirella Ricciardi, who later published a book of her photographs, Des Bartlett, Peter Beard, and Norman Myers. From processing individual prints to printing the black and white images for four large scale wildlife photography exhibitions — my work at Nairobi Photofinishers was often immensely demanding but hugely enjoyable. However, after working with Nairobi Photofinishers for two years it was time to say goodbye to Kenya and settle in Britain.

In London I quickly secured a job as a photographer and printer at Europa Photographic, a prestigious West End studio run by Ron Marston. During my seven years service at Europa Photographic, I produced works for clients such as Dunlop, Courtaulds, Beechams and the BBC. On four occasions, I had the honour of being appointed an official Royal photographer, including one event at Buckingham Palace and a Royal banquet in the magnificent Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.

During a busy day in the print lab at Europa, I was astounded when I was handed five old glass negatives. These negatives were none other than those of the legendary German photographer Felix Mann, taken using his Ernamox camera in the 1930s. Mann was one of the pioneers of photojournalism and, whilst the negatives were extremely difficult to print, my knowledge of photographic developing techniques allowed me to produce a good quality image. Unknown by me, Mann had sent the same five glass negatives to four other major labs in London to compare the quality of the prints. I was both flattered and delighted that this pioneering photographer found my print work to be the highest standard — not least because a month later, Felix Mann returned to Europa Photographic with some 70 glass negatives and asked me to produce prints for a forthcoming exhibition of his photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, London.

I will always be grateful for the kindness shown to me by Ron Marston on my arrival in London from Kenya — and for the wonderful opportunity he gave me to work by his side at Europa Photographic. After leaving Europa Photographic, I became a freelance photographer. I was deeply touched to learn from his brother Les some time later, that shortly before Ron died he told Les that I was perhaps the best person to have worked in the studio since he started the business in 1947. I will always remember my time at Europa, and in particular my time with Ron, with great happiness and affection.

As a freelance photographer and printer, I was producing a wide variety of work for many different clients. For sixteen years, until her retirement in 1995, I was the exclusive printer to a well known society portrait photographer.

Since 1989 my love of art has extended to computer graphic design, producing works for catalogues, brochures and packaging. In addition, commissions for record label, Audiorec, has given me significant experience and exposure in the media industry, designing many CD sleeves and artiste promotional copy. In 1992 my business started trading as 'PhotoGraphics'. Digital photography and graphic design are now major parts of my business. With over 18 years experience working with Adobe Photoshop, I consider this to be my new 'darkroom'.

As well as utilising both the artistry and technology of digital imaging for my corporate clients, I still greatly enjoy creating personal photographic portraits. For past 10 years, I have developed a passion for wedding photography — capturing beautiful photographic images to help my clients relive their special day.

Copyright © 2012 Vallabh Kargathra/PhotoGraphics | All rights reserved.