Ash Gupta: Breaking The Boundaries of Fashion by Mary McGrath Canon shooter and fashion photographer Ash Gupta offers ten tips for aspiring photographers Article rating: 8.92

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“Ash is shooting Adrienne Curry on Monday. Would you like to come? “ The inquiry came from Rebecca at Ash's office.  The chance to eavesdrop on the winner of America's Next Top Model was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

With a definitive yes, I added the shoot to my calendar, and eagerly awaited the day. Arriving at Ash's studio, I climbed the stairs, and peered in on the buzz that was in process. In his office, a litany of tasks was posted on an erasable whiteboard. Posted there were to do lists, meetings, burn and archive projects, and upcoming shoots. Man, this man is busy.

In the studio, a hive of activity was taking place. All were busy either doing make-up, hair, arranging accessories, or coordinating clothes. And of course, there was Adrienne Curry.  Fly on the wall, I parked myself in a comfortable leather sofa, and watched this team of experts begin their photo magic. And to see Ash in action was a day I'll always remember.

For those of you who are not familiar with the work of Ashutosh Gupta or “Ash” to those who know him well, you're in for a surprise. I'm reminded of the work of Helmut Newton, Robert Mapplethorpe, and other notable photographers who push the boundaries of photography just enough to border on the risqué.

This artist from Luknow, India came to the US in 1989 largely to be with his childhood sweetheart and eventual wife, Shalini who was studying at Cornell University in New York. Collectively, they have three children, ages 22, 13, and 6.

Ash finished his Masters degree in Biochemistry in India, but was already shooting extensively while living there. But frustrations mounted for him, prompting him to seek other outlets for his artistic expression. Luckily, the United States provided  opportunities in the field of photography for him.

Although Ash eventually moved from New York to Los Angeles in 1992, his interest in photography largely began by accident. At 17, he had a mishap with his father's Rolloflex. Prying it open, all the springs exploded.  What a discovery for him! His first camera was a 35mm Voigtlander, but since then, he's graduated to a Mamiya RZ67 and the Canon EOS DS Mark III. Ash has been using Canon cameras for over 20 years.

But what is it about Ash's work that is so engaging? In his water series, the images are shot through a plate of glass with water coming from various angles. The models exude fashion, but with the addition of the water, a photo fraction is created.  Howard Schatz regularly employs the use of water in his images, but Ash uses water in a different way, resulting in an mosaic of distorted reality.

In speaking with Ash, I was taken on a kinetic journey. It's easy to ramble with him, as he connects and dissects varying elements in his photographic world.

And so our interview began...