Pallon Daruwala straddles the world of commercial and fine art photography with equal passion and facility. Educated at the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California, the Bangalore-based lensman became the first Indian member of International Association of Architectural Photographers (IAAP).

Architecture has always been a special area of interest to Pallon whose work has covered a wide spectrum of private and public spaces. Bitten by the travel bug from an early age, he has toured extensively and photographed some of the most exotic, intriguing and unexplored nooks, corners and people of the country.

A photographer for whom documenting old structures is less journalistic and more poetic, Pallon has brought to life through his art many living and dying structures in Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and Rajasthan, among others. The images of frescoed havelis in Shekhawati, ruins of Hampi, monasteries in Kutch, and weather-beaten edifices in Cannanore have brought him both fame and fulfillment.

Never wary of experimentation, Pallon has continually embraced cutting edge printing technology for his work. A stickler to meticulous detail and quality, he is among the few photographers who print their own photographs. Being on its technical panel of photographers, Pallon retains a special relationship with Epson, the makers of fine-art, archival photo printers.

In the last two and a half decades, Pallon has dealt with all areas of photography: landscape, still-life, fashion, portraiture, performance, interiors/exteriors, industrial, and design. His images are critically acclaimed for their high aesthetic character where lines, colours, light, shade and texture are highly nuanced, immaculately balanced and filled with deep feelings and emotions.

GIRIDHAR KHASNIS
(Art Writer, Art Critic, Curator, Consultant & Collector)

Pallon's work has been featured in international publications such as Travel & Leisure (New York), Wallpaper, DestinAsian (Indonesia), Business Traveler (Hong Kong) and Time, and in local publications such as the Taj Magazine, Jet Wings, and most design related magazines. His images have also been published in books including:

• “The Guide to Home Decorating Indian Style”, (Mapin)
• “Night Fever – Interior Design for Bars & Clubs”, (Frame Birkhauser)
• “Bon Appetit – Restaurant Guide” (Frame Birkhauser)
• “Indian Design” (Daab)
• “Night Fever II – Interior Design for Bars & Clubs”, (Frame Birkhauser)

Pallon’s clients include MICO-BOSCH, Walt Disney, The U.B. Group, British Telecom, Dynamatic Technologies, Biocon, 3M, Infosys Technologies, Wipro Infotech, Oracle, Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Strides Arcolab, Caterpillar, KPMG and Hitachi, Leela-Kempinski Hotels, Taj Group of Hotels, Park Hotels, Galle Face Hotel (Sri Lanka), Grand Regency Hotel (Kenya), Hardrock Café, Shiro, Olive Bar & Lounge, Atmosphere, Asian Paints, Prestige Group, Shapoorji-Pallonji and Sobha Developers.

Select Fine Art Exhibitons

1996:  “Landscapes”:  Taj West End, Bangalore
1996:  “Landscapes”:  Alliance Francaise de Bangalore
2002:  “Abstract Still Life”:  Cinnamon, Bangalore
2004: “Shekhawati”:  Leela Galleria / Renaissance Art Gallerie
2004: “Cannanore (Kannur)”:  Yamini, Bangalore
2005: “Cannanore (Kannur)”:  Yamini, Mumbai
2007: “Karnataka”:  Olive Beach, Bangalore
2008: Solo show at Taj West End Hotel / Right Lines Art Gallery
2009: “A Mill By the Sea”:  Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai
2009: “Kaleidoscope 2009”:  Kynkyny Art Gallery, Bangalore
2009: “Vertical Horizon”:  Gallery Time & Space, Bangalore / Visual Arts Gallery, Delhi
2009: “Annual Show-2009”:  Galerie Sara Arakkal, Bangalore
2010: “Vertical Horizon”:  Prakrit Arts, Chennai / Shrishti Art Gallery, Hyderabad
2010: “Architecture as Inspiration” (Group show):  Mahua Art Gallery, Bangalore
2011: “Vertical Horizon”:  Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai
2011: Launch of Limited Edition Folios:  Kynkyny Art Gallery, Bangalore
2011: “Outsider”:  PIX Magazine, Max Muller Bhavan, Delhi
2011: “In Secrecy”  (Group Show):  Art Heritage, Delhi

Architecture and Interiors

A photographer with a lifelong interest in design and aesthetics, Pallon works with space and light to bring out the inherent beauty of form and structure. His architecture and interiors related work has covered the spectrum from private to public spaces, from quirky boutiques, niche restaurants and intimate homes to huge malls, grand hotels, mega food courts and soaring skyscrapers. Pallon likes to do a blend of epic shots and tiny details, to highlight every aspect of a project, be it a work in progress, a finished space, a “before and after” exercise or a cataloguing effort. He has done extensive work in the hospitality sector, with end-to-end projects that include the photography of exteriors, landscaping, interiors and food. Pallon’s approach reflects the fact that every space is truly unique, and he works with clients to support their vision and to best capture and enhance the relevant building or space.

Industrial

Pallon has worked with several companies to capture and document their industrial and manufacturing activities. His industrial photography assignments have involved germfree labs, state of the art R&D facilities and cutting-edge pharma and biotech and centres on the one hand and boiling furnaces, automotive conveyor belts and fighter jets on the other. He uses his experience in the fields of architecture and product photography to focus on the macro as well as micro aspects of an industrial project, in order to showcase the grand schemes and the minutiae of every enterprise. Often, this involves a focus on the human element of a factory or plant, on the people behind the product, the faces behind the share prices. He works with clients to create images for their annual reports, advertising and marketing material, product catalogues and other publications. He enjoys the challenge of bringing out the less obvious facets of routine activities or laborious processes, and highlighting the sophistication and beauty of machines and technology.

http://www.pallonimages.com