Taking a photograph
is literally child’s play today. But an era ago, photography was the preserve
of a few and cameras were an art of work themselves! Fascinated with cameras
when he started with his work as a photographer at his Kolhapur studio in the
70s, Sanjeev Deorukhakar slowly began collecting vintage pieces that has grown
into an enviable collection of over 500 unique pieces. “Around 1968, I noticed
that we had many old cameras that were just lying discarded as new models came
in. Since I had some training in restoration and repairs, I repaired them to
the extent I could and started preserving them. Over the years, I have bought
some pieces, sourced some from scrap yards or studios and yet others have been
given to us by friends and people,” explains Sanjeev, who was later assisted by
his son Sarvesh, a fine arts graduate.
Over the years, almost every type of camera
from USA to Singapore has made its way into the collection. From view cameras
to box, SLR, TLR, ranger finders, folding and spy cameras, 8mm movie cameras
and large format wooden cameras – the collection is a veritable feast for
camera aficionados and a lesson in history. Visitors can now view these vintage
shutters on display at the Maquinez Palace. “We have the world’s first SLR
(1935) as well as the first autofocus Konica cameras,” explains Sarvesh. Many
such unique pieces catch the eye as one walks around the room. The enormous
British Hunter Penrose (1893) to capture group photographs, the Swedish
Hasselblad (1957) (the kind that NASA sent to capture pictures on the moon),
German Linhoff 1957 model, Polaroid instant and digital, US Graflex, smallest
35mm LumiereEljy model and even the Minolta 16 model made famous in James Bond
movies are included in the collection which has some of the most reputed world
brands from Kodak to Zeiss.
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Maintaining the largely mechanical
collection has been an easier task for the Deorukhakar’s as they are removed
from their air-tight boxes and rewound every six months. “Earlier, each brand
had their own style and shape of camera, particularly lenses and knobs. They
were sturdy and long lasting as compared to cameras today which are almost
similar and frail,” explains Sarvesh.
Elated at the response they are receiving
for their exhibition which is on display at the IFFI for the first time, the
Deorukhakars reveal that quite a few people have also handed over their old
cameras to them for their collection. Among the collection, not shown here, are
antique process equipment, films in varying sizes as well as photographs.
