Capturing time: The story of Lucknow lensman, Ravi Kapoor

This Independence Day, Unboxed travels across the nation to rediscover how we entertained ourselves, captured memories, and kept time. Today, we travel to Lucknow to meet lensman and camera collector, Ravi Kapoor.

In the heart of Lucknow, a city steeped in over centuries of history, resides a man whose life has been dedicated to capturing moments in time.

Ravi Kapoor is a renowned photographer and an avid camera collector who has spent decades honing his craft.

Kapoor’s shots of important Lucknow landmarks have been featured not just in newspapers and magazines but also in over a dozen specially commissioned coffee table books as well as exclusive wings of government buildings.

His studio, Chhavi Kushal, in the commercial neighbourhood of Aliganj in Lucknow, is also home to an impressive collection of nearly 1,000 cameras. It’s also where he conducts classes for young aspiring photographers.

In many ways, the story of Ravi Kapoor is not just about photography; it’s a testament to passion, adaptability, and the evolving art of visual storytelling.

It began, as most important things in life do, on an ordinary December day in 1978 when young Kapoor bought himself a camera. “It cost me Rs 74,” he recollects with a smile, “And I spent another Rs 12 for the case. I was the envy of my friends!” Armed with that Agfa Click III and a film reel that only had 12 frames, Kapoor set out on a journey of a lifetime.

For almost half a century now, Kapoor has been photographing the city that has captured the imagination of poets, writers, artisans, and filmmakers alike. The practice that Kapoor makes it sound almost like a form of meditation, has seen him transition from an Agfa Click III to various Nikon models and two Hasselblads before settling for the trusty Fuji GFX 100s which he uses today.

He describes his early analogue camera days: “Earlier, we had to process the reel and then print it. If you made a mistake, you wouldn’t know until the reel was processed.” This uncertainty added an element of suspense and skill to each shot, a challenge Kapoor embraced wholeheartedly.

His dedication to the craft led him to pursue a BA at Lucknow Christian College, where he contributed to the college paper. It was during this time that Kapoor’s talent began to shine. On August 10, 1980, his first photograph was published, marking the beginning of his professional career.

Kapoor’s love for Lucknow is evident in his work and words. “If I didn’t exist, Lucknow would still exist, but if Lucknow didn’t, I wouldn’t,” he muses, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between the artist and his muse. His favourite subjects, the Vidhan Sabha, Raj Bhavan, and several other landmarks stand as testaments to the city’s rich architectural heritage.

As his career progressed, Kapoor’s ambition grew. In 1998, he made a significant investment in three Hasselblad cameras, costing a staggering Rs 11 lakh. “I told my family it cost Rs 4 lakh because that was the amount I had to borrow from the bank,” he says. “But I’ve always stretched beyond my resources.”

This drive for excellence has paid off. Today, those in the know will always associate Lucknow photography with Kapoor.

The advent of digital photography in the late 1990s and early 2000s brought new challenges. “Zamane ne karwat badal li,” he says in poetically in Urdu, “Times changed.”

At 35, he found himself learning to use computers, a skill that didn’t come easily. “Someone came down to teach me every day. Whatever he taught me, I used to forget soon after the class,” he chuckles. Despite the steep learning curve, Kapoor embraced the new technology, adapting his craft to the digital age.

However, Kapoor’s approach to photography remains rooted in traditional values. “Post-production in my work is minimal because I was trained in the belief most of the work must be put in while shooting the picture itself,” he explains. This philosophy reflects his commitment to capturing authentic moments rather than relying on digital manipulation.

Alongside his professional work, Kapoor’s passion for collecting cameras has grown into an impressive archive of photographic history. His collection began with a Mamiya C330, that he received from his teacher in 1988 and has since expanded to include finds from flea markets in cities as far as San Francisco to the web of narrow lanes behind the Red Fort in Delhi.

Some of his cameras date back to 1880. Among the ones that occupy a place of pride are the Kodak Postcard Camera, a Fuji camera that carries the rare Made in Occupied Japan stamp, a Carl Zeiss, and Leica 1, the fitst commercially available Leica 35mm camera. However, the oldest machine in his collection dates back to 1880.

Kapoor’s enthusiasm for photography is infectious, and he welcomes the democratisation of the art form. Unlike what you’d expect from a veteran in the field, he doesn’t dismiss platforms like Instagram, formats such as Reels, and the digital photography revolution that has put a camera in everyone’s pockets.

“Why shouldn’t everybody be a photographer?” he asks. “It doesn’t matter if you shoot using a mobile phone or an expensive camera. If you can visualise an image, you can be a photographer.”

To him that is freedom: the freedom of cultured expression transcending time and place.

Despite his years of experience, Kapoor remains a student of his craft. “I learn a lot from my kids. They are my teachers,” he admits. Kapoor views the relationship between experienced photographers and newcomers as a mutual exchange. “We only share a skill – how to negotiate a possible situation and convert it into a photograph,” he explains.

Looking to the future, Kapoor acknowledges the rapid pace of technological change in photography. “The pace at which technology is changing, change is permanent,” he observes. Yet, he sees this as an opportunity rather than a threat. “Kids are the change,” he says, embracing the innovations brought by younger generations.

Ravi Kapoor’s journey through the evolving landscape of photography is an inspiring tale of passion, adaptability, and artistic vision. From his humble beginnings with a simple camera to his vast collection and digital expertise, Kapoor’s story reflects the transformative power of dedication to one’s craft.

As he continues to capture the essence of Lucknow and beyond, Ravi Kapoor stands as a bridge between the rich history of photography and its exciting future.