I skipped the copy, of course, but the pictures and layout made a strong impression on me, and I knew that they were good. With parents who ran their own ad agency from home, I grew up reading copy, suggesting ideas and watching as ads were created.

Through Ogilvy and Hopkins I learnt that the best ideas are simple, the best communication doesn't win awards and that a typeface larger than what I write this page in would be tough to read.

When my father needed a logo for a drug, I suggested a ships' lifesaver. My idea grew to become the logo for Fortum, a drug made by Glaxo. Watch out for it – it's a runaway success.

As time passed, I nurtured my talent. I drew, took part in dramatics and, above all, wrote. My biggest achievement in school was writing a spoof on a Shakespearean play with my classmates as characters. I got a standing ovation for it.

Through college I spent sleepless nights studying art history and later wrote passionately on Impressionism, Expressionism and everything in-between. I experimented with photography and grew to love it: the play of light and the half-light, the purity of black and white, the structure of colour. I became a photographer.

But photography isn't enough; I have to marry the visual image with writing. I find few things as compelling.

A great chap once said: we aren't what we do; we do what we are. And so here I am, returning to my roots, coming full circle. To imagery and writing.

For a more comprehensive look at my work, do contact me. I'd love to be a part of your effort.

Pinaki

pinaki@pinaki.info

Phone:

Bombay: +91 26201253   Muscat: +968 99824026   International roaming: +968 95630791

Address:

Bombay: c/o Nina Kedar, 54 Dharam Jyot, A B Nair Road, Bombay 400049, India
Muscat: Pinaki Chakravarty, Editor, Oman Today, Apex Press and Publishing, PO Box 2616, Ruwi 112, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman



photograph on this page by Himanshu Seth



© 2001–2008 p i n a k i