TALES TREES COULD TELL Some of Ajai Menon's shots of those familiar trees that have become important landmarks of the city The trees that dot Kochi and its suburbs serve not as landmarks alone. They are historical bookmarks, part of the heritage of the city. The trees articulate Kochi's distinctive skyline, providing a seasonally changing foreground and frame to the landscape. They enhance and soften the scene by acting as a foil to the evolving architecture. Being all this and more, very often we tend to take these trees for granted. Ajai Menon, an amateur photographer, has cared to focus on some of these living mascots and the impact is stunning.
An art director with FCB-Ulka, Ajai's first love has always been photography. "Though my job does not directly involve taking pictures this is something close to my heart. Whenever I'm needed at a location for a shoot I try to make use of that chance. Even otherwise I carry my camera with me wherever I go."
For the past five years or so Ajai's photographs have appeared on calendars. "Most of them were on landscapes and in colour. Personally, I would like to concentrate on black and white pictures. I also would like to work more on specific themes, like this year's one of Trees. But then most of the clients seem to prefer colour photographs."
His latest set of twelve black and white photographs on the trees of Kochi is an emphatic statement on the need to preserve our trees. For him they represent the life of the city itself. From its cool shade life sprouts and craves to be caressed. It blooms by the touch of a gentle breeze. Some of them fall when they do not have roots to hold them up any longer and when they are pruned the new branches that grow lean towards light. There is at least a branch and some leaves for us to rest and a little shade for all of us. "The text and captions for this calendar is by Ajith, my friend and one-time colleague. What I have tried to convey is that these trees seem to care and protect all of us even while we are not bothered to care for them." Landmark trees
It took Ajai only three full days to can these images. The centuries old rain trees that give Fort Kochi its character, the almost barren one that still provides shade to a few gypsies at Manappatti Parambu, the `whistling trees' at the rundown, old railway station, the long branches that provide a green canopy to the Magistrate Court are all right there. "To see them in colours, as in real life, in photographs would have made it look so ordinary. Black and white gives it a certain mood, the frames acquire depth and I'm sure it would prompt the viewer to search for something beyond the picture."
Immediately after he finished high school Ajai joined a private school of fine arts in Tripunithura. "Drawing and painting was what I studied there. It was when I joined the advertisement industry that I really picked up the rudiments of photography. Working with stalwarts in the field like Anilkumar and Rajhan Paul helped me a lot. I used to get my doubts about photography cleared from them. That background in art also helped, especially when it came to light and shade or choosing the angles."
In the meantime Ajai also worked on his artistic skills. Though he did not find much time to paint, he has turned out some really innovative sculptures in a new medium, m-seal. He has created some cute Ganesha figurines and other objects using this material. "I would like to hold an exhibition of the sculptures I made out of this adhesive. This product is mouldable into any shape, can be drilled, filed, sanded or painted on. You can make lovely unshaped sculptures and then improve using your imagination. I think this is one medium, though a bit expensive can be easily tried out at home."
And now Ajai has begun planning for his next theme-based work, which he does not want to reveal now. "The monsoon is a perfect subject. But then you need to have luck on your side too to get some good shots."
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