Vision from the Inner Eye: The Photographic Art of A. L. Syed

This book is a tribute to Abid Mian Lal Mian Syed (known as A L Syed)–the man and his work. His exceptional technical skill and artistic eye, in a career spanning 70 years, produced hundreds of striking images that are a treasure of Indian photographic heritage.

He first gained a reputation as the most loved official state photographer for the royal families of Palanpur in Gujarat India in the 1920s. He accompanied the Nawab of Palanpur in his travels around the country and from 1940 to 1975 he lived with him in Bombay.

With his favourite Rolleicord camera ever near, A L Syed was alert at all times in expectation of finding an image to capture with his lens. He thus had an unlimited range of subjects, from wildlife to landscapes to architecture to day-to-day life. His work has a contemporary quality, as he looked at everything form a unique perspective. With compositions are like works of abstract art.

His most famous photograph, Traveller of the East, first brought him international acclaim when it won the Popular Photography award in 1935. For more than 50 years his work appeared in many national and international publications, including National Geographic, and won numerous contests, competitions and awards. He became well known amongst his peers and inspired many young photographers to attempt to achieve his height.

With 93 duotone photographs.