About
I am a Bangalore based photographer/film maker and India is my canvas. I have been photographing the life and times of my country and parts of the sub continent for the last 3 decades. In these years I have been commissioned by publications as varied as new York Times to Newsweek of Japan – from over 20 countries. Assignments have included coffee addas of Kolkata to the profile of a female suicide bomber of LTTE (that took nearly 6 months to set up) for Marie Claire. I have done many corporate assignments for clients such as Accenture, Brigade Group, Boeing, Bosch, BP, HP, Homestudio.com, Indian Institute of Management, Mckinsey, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Mindtree, Project Management Institute. My work has spanned a variety genres, such as advertising, interior & architecture, corporate, portraiture, documentary and photo journalism.
Publishing :
I love to do long term projects. UNSUNG – about people who have made extraordinary contributions to society against personal odds began in 2004. I published the book in 2007. It helped raise over Rs.9 million for the causes of the heroes featured in the book. Over 6000 copies of UNSUNG have been sold. The second book will be published soon. The project is ongoing now for eight years. Do visit – http://www.unsung.in.
From 2007, I worked on a book project on the city I live – Bangalore. Its a collection of projections from my conscious and subconscious mind. Through my photographs, I explored how the city had changed in the last 25 years. It is also an impassioned plea to support the arts and creativity to drive the true growth of Bangalore. I self publish my books and this book – Bangalore/Bengaluru – In First Person Singular is on the stands since February 2012. Over 3000 copies of the book have been sold. http://www.maheshbhat.com/bangalore-book/
My expertise includes the entire process of making books, publishing and selling. I have sold over 10000 copies of the three books that I have published.
I am an assignment photographer with Verbatim Photo and represented by Global Photo Associates,(jwagman@gpaphoto.com) NYC. I have worked with AP, Polaris Images and Agence Vu.
Education:
I was a member of the core team that set up India’s first three year programme in photography& multimedia. I was the head of photography at ‘The One School Goa’ from 2013 till 2015 and visiting faculty in the academic year 2015-16. Currently I teach at Srishti Institute of Art, Design & Technology – Bangalore and pursue my professional practice as well.
I am one of the few people in India who have over 30 years of professional experience and considerable structured teaching experience.
Exhibitions:
- CLICK – Contemporary Photography in India at Vadhera Gallery – Delhi and London (2008)
- Goa International Photo Festival (2015)
- Dali International Photo Festival, China (2015)
- India Photo Festival at Hyderabad (2015)
- Presented UNSUNG at Delhi Photo Festival 2011
- ‘Re-Imagining the People of India” under the aegis of the inaugural Neel Dongre Grant (2013). This work has been exhibited in New Delhi, Hyderbad and France.
- Curated the show – Celebrating the Extraordinary Grandeur of Smallness @ Serendipity Arts Festival, 2017 – Goa
Films:
I have made several corporate and documentary films. Please take a look at them here
Environmental Work:
Over the last 10 years, I have worked to protect the 5000 acre catchment of Arkavathy river near Hesaraghatta in Bangalore. With my colleagues at Arkavathy & Kumudvathy River Rejuvenation Trust, I spear headed the Public Interest Litigation that helped save a 345 acre grassland by the Hesaraghatta lake in North Bangalore.
I am also interested in the ‘philosophy of day to day life’ – why are we the way we are? Our relationship with each other and the environment, growing conflict in the world – are some of the questions that I think about a lot. I am also interested in urbanism – the way we are shaping our cities and our lives.
Organic farming is my hobby.