H2O – Hold It in Your Hands
Photobooks and fine art prints
Rajib De: A Veteran Photojournalist of Kolkata
Rajib De is a veteran photojournalist based in Kolkata, with a career spanning decades dedicated to capturing the city’s life, culture, and people. A self-taught photographer, he initially pursued a career as a professional cricketer before a visit to a darkroom captivated him and inspired his passion for photography.
He began his professional career working for various publications, notably serving as a photojournalist for The Telegraph and The Statesman, where he also held the position of Photo-Editor. His work often focuses on telling the human stories within Kolkata’s urban landscape, capturing the city’s rhythms, resilience, and ever-changing character. He is known for his skill in black and white and panoramic photography, which he feels allows him to explore and expand on a subject.
De’s work has been featured in exhibitions both in India and abroad. He has published several photobooks, including “Invincible City” (co-authored with Sohini Sen) and “Kolkata, My Endless City,” which feature his photographs of Kolkata juxtaposing the old with the new. Another notable project, “A Tale of Two Cities,” highlights the philosophical connection between the ancient ruins of Hampi and the modern architecture of New Town, Kolkata.
He has been a chief photographer for exhibitions, including one titled “From Kolkata To Italy,” which featured his panoramic images of Kolkata alongside photos of Italian cities.
This video is an interview with Rajib De, where he discusses his inspirations and creative process.
Works Available on H2O:
📚 Invincible City
Description: Co-authored with Sohini Sen, this photobook captures the essence of Kolkata. The book is a collection of 75 black-and-white photographs from the 1990s, capturing a time before the widespread use of computers, the internet, and mobile phones.
Theme/Project Focus: The book’s central theme is the invincibility of Kolkata. It contrasts the city’s tired, old, and scarred facade with its resilience and enduring spirit. The photographs and text tell a story of the city’s struggle and its refusal to give up, celebrating the countless, nameless individuals who embody this spirit of perseverance
📚 Kolkata, My Endless City
Description: This photobook features a curated collection of 100 panoramic, black-and-white photographs. It is an “ode to the city and an archive for the future metropolitan.” The book includes commentary written by journalist Arup Ghosh.
Theme/Project Focus: The project is a “binary” photographic study of Kolkata’s transformation. It’s not a comparison of old vs. new, but rather a “mirror of today’s Kolkata.” The photographs are arranged in pairs to juxtapose elements of the city, such as dingy narrow lanes with modern bike lanes, or old-world festivals like Durga Puja with the city’s love for football. The book highlights how the city has grown and changed while still holding onto its core identity.
📚 “A Tale of Two Cities: A Photographic Study of Urban Memory”
Description: While also an exhibition, this project resulted in a book of the same name. It is a collection of Rajib De’s black-and-white panoramic photographs.
Theme/Project Focus: This project is a philosophical comparison between two vastly different cities: Hampi in Karnataka, a city of ancient ruins, and New Town, Kolkata, a city of modern architecture and ongoing construction. The photographs are displayed in pairs, highlighting a “philosophical” connection rather than a visual one. The project explores the concept of civilization in different eras—one “frozen in time” and the other a new “civilization waking into shape”—and prompts reflection on urban memory, the passage of time, and the contrast between ancient perfections and emerging forces of change.
Capturing Kolkata's Essence: Rajib De's Fine Art Prints
Explore Rajib De’s stunning fine art prints, showcasing the vibrant city of Kolkata and its rich cultural heritage. Through his lens, De captures the contrasts between old and new, traditional and modern, creating visually striking images that tell stories of the city’s past, present, and future.
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Links of Articles on Rajib De
- Book on many hues, facets of Calcutta – The Statesman: An article discussing the book “Invincible City” by Rajib De and Sohini Sen. https://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/book-on-many-hues-facets-of-calcutta-1503153061.html
- A timeless journey through lens and word – The Statesman: A feature on Rajib De and his book “Kolkata, My Endless City.” https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/8thday/a-timeless-journey-through-lens-and-word-1503357915.html
- Photography Exhibition In Kolkata Mr. Rajib De, a famous photographer clicks a mobile photo outside – IMAGO – Images: A link to a stock photo of Rajib De at a photography exhibition. https://www.imago-images.com/st/0151448800