Richard Toledo, Sundancer, Oglala by Summer HS winner Kalpesh Lathigra

Kalpesh Lathigra
Currently residing in London, U.K.

website: www.kalpeshlathigra.com

Work Statement
Alienated and forgotten communities are the subjects of much of my photographic practice. My photographs are a document to give a voice to those who have none. In my " Lost in the Wilderness" series, I photograph the historical landscapes and portraits of the Lakota Sioux Native Americans on Pine Ridge Reservation, a quiet reflection of a community trying to survive in another America. The influences of Mitch Epstein, Mark Rothko, Robert Frank and Alec Soth prevail.

Bio
Kalpesh Lathigra born in London, England , 1971, to Indian immigrants from east Africa. I studied at a PgDiploma in Photojournalism at London College of Printing. After leaving college I was awarded The Independent newspaper photography scholarship, I spent 5 years shooting for national newspapers in UK, in 2000, awarded World Press Photo prize and switched to magazines and started to pursue long term projects. In 2004/2005 was awarded W.Eugene Smith Fellowship and Churchill Fellowship for Brides of Krishna project. The project was exhibited as part of Another Asia, Noorderlict and Angkor Wat Photofestival, 2005/2006.
My interest in photography was a chance look at Cartier Bresson's book in India whilst studying a Law degree, which I subsequently quit to pursue photography.