The Telegraph featured a glowing review of “Exploration,” the coffee table book by Deb Lahiri and Raj Sarkar. The book, which captures the extraordinary within the ordinary through street photography, has been hailed as a masterpiece by the legendary Raghu Rai, who penned the foreword.

The star-studded launch at Oxford Bookstore was graced by luminaries like maverick filmmaker Goutam Ghose, who praised the photographers for their unique perspective. Ghose remarked, “Even when I had no films inside the camera, I used to go through the viewfinder and look at the world. I think this is very important; how you choose your space is your perception. Space means the objects you like and don’t like. You will find great moments in this book.”

Ashoke Viswanathan, the moderator of the event, eloquently explained the essence of street photography, stating, “Street photography means you are taking the photograph without any external help. There is no use of any external element, there is no staging or arranging the character. It’s a moment frozen in time.”

During the discussion, Deb Lahiri elaborated on his storytelling approach, “I always try to tell a story with my photographs. Instantly, I try to freeze the moment in the story. Just like in films where there are main characters and also supporting characters who are acting in silence, I try to join the dots and tell a story.”

Raj Sarkar emphasized the importance of blending into the environment, sharing, “The first thing I do is try to understand the ambience. When I am one of them, only then will I be able to get a candid shot.”

The book features around 100 photographs, taking viewers on an evocative journey through Indian cities. The event also saw references to iconic filmmakers like Gordon Willis and was attended by notable guests including Sabyasachi Talukdar, Bhaskar Kundu, Manish Khattry, and Mohua Roy.

The Telegraph’s feature has further elevated the book’s reputation, making it a must-have for photography enthusiasts and art lovers alike.