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Evolution of photography: Through the eyes of Bachu Patel
Bachu Patel, Chairman of Vanguard Group of Companies, is a passionate camera enthusiast who has spent decades collecting historic cameras. Here he is pictured holding a Deardorff Manual Large Format Film Camera, among the most iconic wooden field cameras ever made. First introduced in the 1920s, Deardorff cameras remained in production for much of the 20th century, with their reputation as the gold standard of large-format photography firmly established between the 1930s and 1960s. Prized by fine art photographers, studio professionals, and collectors alike, they remain highly respected to this day.
World Photography Day is celebrated every August 19 to honor the art, science, and history of photography. It marks the 1839 public release of the Daguerreotype, the world’s first practical photographic process.
The story of photography in Nairobi stretches back nearly a century, according to Bachu Patel, 80, son of Manibhai B. Patel—the founder of Vanguard Studios, established in 1938 along Government Road -now Kimathi Street.
“In those days, we used all kinds of films—from roll films to sheet films,” Patel recalls. “The biggest size was six by eight inches. Those cameras were huge—heavy wooden bodies, bellows you had to extend, and no automatic focus. You had to be very precise, and very patient.”
On the wall of his modest office—now serving as a small museum—hangs a faded black-and-white portrait. Patel gestures toward it proudly. “That one was taken with a 6x8 sheet film camera. Look at the detail—the stitching on the coat, the reflection in the eyes. You can’t get that on digital unless you’re spending a fortune.”
Back then, photography wasn’t just about pressing a shutter. It was a craft. Lighting had to be set by hand. Film was developed in darkrooms with carefully measured chemicals. Every mistake was costly. “You didn’t waste a shot,” Patel says. “Each frame counted. You took time to compose, to wait for the right moment.”
Over the decades, film slowly gave way to digital. “By the 2000s, you could already see the change. Young photographers didn’t need darkrooms anymore—just a memory card and a laptop.”
Yet for Patel, the soul of photography still lies in film. He continues to maintain his vintage cameras and occasionally loads them with a roll of black-and-white. l“People say film is dead,” he shrugs, a faint smile forming. “But as long as I’m alive, it won’t be.”
Photos and Text | Sila Kiplagat
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