Award-winning shutterbug, Sharad Haksar, on his accidental tryst with the camera and his 'Photography Oscars'

Sharad Haksar, the only Asian to win four medals at the International Photography awards 2004 - popularly billed as the 'Photography Oscars' - prefers to let his camera speak for himself. The 34-year-old's fascination with the medium began at "the age of three when I got my first camera," he reveals.

Thus the man, who wanted to be an architect, ended up being a photographer. "My ambition was to become an architect and design new cities as I had always been fascinated by buildings," Haksar says. "I even took up Science to fulfil my dream but a chance encounter, when I was in the 11th, with lensman, Iqbal Mohamed - who'd completed the photography course at Brook Institute, California - made me switch tracks. I showed him some of my pictures; he told me that I had an eye for photography and asked me to quit studies after my 12th and join him." Haksar followed his mentor's advice and has not looked back since. His Eye-Light Pictures, with an impressive array of clients and subjects, is ample proof of his prowess.

The Chennai-based shutterbug, who loves to look at life through his lens, does not restrict himself to product/fashion features. "Travel photography is closest to my heart," he confesses. "I would love to journey to different places and shoot but unfortunately I hardly get the time to indulge my passion." He admits wryly that he is a "a workaholic who eats, breathes and sleeps photography". His passion for creative work has driven him to launch an advertising agency, 1pointsize. Haksar is now looking forward to "work, work and more hard work as I still want to reach a higher level internationally."