Sateesh Paknikar

Sateesh Paknikar has a Bachelor’s degree in Physics with a specialization in Motion picture physics from S. P. College Pune (1983). He has a Master’s degree in Physics from, University of Pune (1985). 
= Career =
Sateesh Paknikar started his photography career in the year 1983 after his graduation. He started working as an advertising and industrial photographer. He worked extensively as a feature photographer for various periodicals and magazines across India. While working for the magazines, he started exploring the world of music. He got engrossed in observing and capturing the intense expressions of singers on stage. It became his passion.
To present his photographs he organized his first-ever theme exhibition in Bal Gandharva auditorium in Pune in the year 1986 which was based on Indian Classical Music. Since 1986 he has individually organized a total of 10 theme exhibitions.
Along with the theme exhibitions he has published 22 theme calendars from years 2003 to 2021. Out of which there were three specialized theme calendars for the Nightingale of India – Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar for her circulation published in the years 2011, 2012, 2013.
Sateesh Paknikar has presented 12 solo theme-based photo exhibitions yearly at the world-famous and prestigious Music festival – Sawai Gandharv Bhimsen Music Festival of Pune. 
His work is honored by the Indian Post Services. Indian Post used photographs clicked by him of P. L. Deshpande the famous writer, Bhimsen Joshi the Indian Classical Singer, and Gangubai Hangal another Indian Classical Singer for commemorative stamps.
He has contributed to the photography industry and has inspired many budding photographers through his articles published in the Marathi newspaper Lokmat under the ‘Manthan’ column in the year 2012 and Saptahik Sakal under column ‘Digital eye’ in the year 2017. He has written about celebrities from various fields and their photographs clicked by himself for a column ‘Manthan’ in the newspaper Lokmat under the title ‘Prakash Chitranchi Ananda Yatra’. He has also published 4 coffee table books.
With his extensive work experience of 38 years, he continues to work as an advertising and industrial photographer.
= Awards =
* Symbiosis Photo competition: Merit Certificate at the hands of Shri. R.K. Laxman (1989)
* Trinetra Competition: Nataraj Utsav: Madhya Pradesh Government Merit Certificate (1991)
* CEAD (Communication Circle’s Exhibition of Advertising) Pune: Gold Prize for Photography (1993)
* CEAD (Communication Circle’s Exhibition of Advertising) Pune: Silver Prize for Photography (1996)
* Ganavardhan: Sangeet Chaya Prakashan.
* Swarazankar: Rasikagrani.
= Exhibitions =
* 1986: Pune: “ Swarachitranchya Kaathavaratee…” : Images of artists from the world of Indian Classical Music.
* 1989: Pune: “ Ya Gojirvanya Gharaat….” : Expressive photos featuring various activities of children from birth moment to the year 12-13.
* 1993: Pune: “ Shraddhnajalee” : A tribute to Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur & Pandit Kumar Gandharva.
* 1996: Mumbai: “Monsoon of Melodious Images” : Black & White images of the artists from the world of Indian Classical Music.
* 2001: Pune: “Swaradhiraj” : Salutation to the monarch of Classical music Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.
* 2002: Mumbai: “Stone Scapes” : Abstract formations formed at the base of a river due to erosion of rock – captured in black & White.
* 2004: Pune: “Musical Moments” : Black & White images of the artists from Indian Classical Music.
* 2011: Pune: “ Bhimsen” : Musical Reflections with Melodious Expressions of Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.
* 2013: Pune: “Viewfinder” : Display of commercial & Industrial photographs from the collection shot during 30 years of his photographic carrier. 
* 2014: Paris: “Cell-O-Graphy” : Photos clicked on cell phone converted to Artworks using editing software.
* 2018: Pune: “Singing Strings” : Expressive images of Maestros String instrumentalists from the world of Classical Music. 
== Calendars==
* ‘Musicalendar’ (2003) - Eminent musicians and their thoughts.
* ‘Anandyatri Pu. La.’ (2004) - Multi-faceted Marathi humorist Late Shri. Pu.La.Deshpande.
* ‘Diggaj’ (2005) - Great personalities (Stalwarts) from different walks of life.
* ‘Guru- Shishya Parampara’ (2006) - Eminent Gurus and illustrious shishyas taking forward the musical styles of their Gharanas.
* ‘Gandharva-Parva’ (2007) - Rare and restored photographs of renowned artists popular as ‘Gandharvas’.
* ‘Swaradhiraj’ (2008) - A port- folio of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi’s expressive face was captured live at the Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav for 25 years.
* ‘Bazm-E-ghazal’ (2009)- A portrait gallery that included a pictorial mehfil of famous Ghazal Singers.
* ‘Swara Mangesh’ (2010) - Musical journey of three generations of Mangeshkar family.
* 'Anandache Dohi’ (2011) - Featuring Pu.La.Deshpande and his wife Sunita Deshpande.
* ‘Tere Sur Aur Mere Geet' (2011) - Lata Mangeshkar & Music Composers
* ’Singing Strings- Stringing Maestros’ (2012) - The exponents of Indian string instruments.
* ‘Ek Mai Aur Ek Tu’ (2012) - Lata Mangeshkar & Her Co-singers.
* ‘Humsafar’ (2013) - Lata Mangeshkar & the Actresses for whom she gave her playback. 
* ‘SwaraNakshatra’ (2013) - A mehfil of legendary artists who shared Sawai Gandharva stage for many years.
* ‘Swara Nayak’ (2014) - Showcasing Legendary singers representing some well-known Gharanas from Indian Classical Music.
* ‘Taaltatva’ (2015) - Encompassing the tabla maestros and their contribution to Indian Classical Music. 
* ‘Swara Darshee’ (2016) - Vocalists from the world of Indian Classical Music born after the independence of India.
* ‘Swararangi Aasha’ (2017) - Various moods of the ever-versatile singer Aasha Bhosale.
* ‘Swara Maitra ’ (2018) - Celebrating six decades of Friendship of Pt. Shivkumar Sharma and Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia 
* 'Swara Sadahak' (2019) - The young generation of singers from the world of Indian Classical Music.
* 'Swara Nayika' (2020) - Legendary lady singers representing some well-known Gharanas from Indian Classical Music.
* ‘Swara Rasraj’ (2021) - Salutation to Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj!
Category:1961 births
Category:Photographers
Category:People from Pune