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IMAGES THAT PROVOKE THOUGHT
 The
camera as a 'tool', came to be used about 160 years
ago and has evolved greatly from being used for the
purpose of mere recording of images of people, events
and places, to being a medium for artists to express
their creative urges.
In India, the names that come to mind include Raghu
Rai, T S Satyan, Jyothi Bhatt and the late Raghubir
Singh. Among the photographers of Andhra Pradesh,
Mr R Veeresh Babu is  an
extremely talented amateur photographer blessed with
an eye to create. He has been highly successful in achieving
through his camera what an artist achieves with a brush.
Veeresh Babu, who is a Postal Assistant in the office
of Chief Postmaster General, had from his childhood
a keen interest in painting and it was only in 1986
that his passion took off.
Recently, his third solo exhibition titled 'Images
of Hyderabad Clocks' was held at the ICCR
Art Gallery. The exhibition attracted huge crowds
of admirers and enthusiasts from all walks of life.
The images cast a magical aura around the disappearing
architectural grandeur of Hyderabad. Veeresh's fascination
for clocks can be seen in the images of clocks in Palaces,
Railway Stations, Hospitals, Police Stations, markets,
the Charminar, etc. He began to juxtapose these
clocks with his own personal feelings in his daily life,
which led to a whole new set of images. He has depicted
different emotions such as happiness, freedom, tension,
curiosity, confusion, hope, fate and so on.
 Talking
about his fascination for the artistic and historical
clocks in Hyderabad and their importance, he said, "Clocks
represent time. Time is life and life is movement. Various
monuments and historical sites in Hyderabad have clocks
embedded on them. Many of them have stopped working.
Clocks may stop, but the life around them never stops."
The Clocks at the entrance of King Kothi Palace,
St Joseph's Church, Nampally Railway Station, Ramgopalpet
Police Station and Falaknuma Palace are some of the
images captured elegantly.
 His
second solo exhibition 'Images of Jatara'
1999 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts,
Mumbai, proved his excellence in the field of Documentary
Photography. His other works are the images of annual
folk festival at the Aenole, Kurvi, Kothakonda and the
biennial folk festival at Medaram in Warangal District
(his native place). Reflecting on his exhibitions, he
said, "These works signify the singular importance
of the study of the social anthropology of the region,
such as religious melas which are fast disappearing
in India. The varied moods of people, their colourful
costumes and jewellery and the ceremonies performed,
have been catalogued with perfection". Veeresh
Babu has received many awards. His happiest moment was
when he received the Associateship of Royal Photographic
Society (ARPS), England.
The clock images are thought provoking and is sure
to be admired not only by art lovers and photography
enthusiasts, but also by the common people who have
an eye for beauty and who love their city and it's great
heritage.
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3:16:00 PM 
