Inside story behind stunning pictures

An interview with former colleague and ace travel photographer Ajay Sood. Visit www.travelure.in and see the world through his eyes. Here is the inside story of his journey as a travel photographer

1. What started you in photography?

A Kodak Brownie Flash II. I was all of 11 years at that time and the camera was my father’s. While I pursued the hobby for about 5 years, an expensive pastime like photography was a stretch for a family of modest means.

But, the spark had been kindled. 

I started shooting again in 1992 and my self-bought camera was a point & shoot. My wife Manisha’s appointment at Kodak as the Country GM for their digital products opened the doors of accessibility to new digital cameras. Ever since, during my travels, my camera was my constant companion. And that companionship continues.

2. What were you doing before? Why did you move 100% to become a professional photographer?

I was in the advertising and direct marketing industry before photography. I worked with O&M Direct, Lowe, Rediffusion, Wunderman, etc. After calling it a day in the corporate world, I was tossing around various ideas about what to do. Since travel and photography were my passions, I chose to marry the two and start professionally in travel photography.

3. How did you become a travel photographer? When did your pastime become a profession? 

Though I have dabbled in fashion and food photography, I always had a lure of travel (that's why my pseudonym - 'Travelure'). I have been fortunate for opportunities to travel extensively. Initially, the differing look-and-feel of these places inspired me but I discovered the stories of these places brought out the best of these sights. 

4. Who trained you? Who is your inspiration?

I have had no formal training in photography. Much of my learning came through my interactions with the late Kapil Syal, a dear friend. My years in Advertising had honed my aesthetics. My chats with him gave me insights into the technical aspects like exposure, lenses, light, and the lack of the obvious 3rd dimension in a still photo frame (and how a photographer needs to work extra hard to infuse that dimension in his shot). In a way, he is my mentor, and inspiration.

5. How many countries have you traveled to?

I have been to over 45 countries and counting. In 2019, I traveled to Nepal, Borneo, Turkey, and Spain. My most recent trip was to Spain. I visited Ibiza and Valencia on Turespana’s (Tourism Spain) invite.

6. Share some interesting memorable anecdotes during travel or taking pictures?

Here are a couple of travel anecdotes:

a. During my photo-trip to Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the ankle I had twisted earlier acted up again. The unbearable pain made me reach out to a group of locals practicing fan dance. Sign language was imperative due to the language barrier. I gestured I was in pain by rubbing my hands up and down my calf. For further clarity, I made groaning sounds and showed a spraying gesture.

Like all good Chinese folks, few of them smiled, nodded, and made understanding grunts. One of them took great pains to give me directions through his hand gestures. I hobbled away in the direction indicated and came to a building that looked like a shabby mall. After climbing four floors, I found myself in the lingerie section.

Staring me in the face were some sheer stockings. And that’s when it dawned upon me that my sign language communicated ‘Stockings’ and not ‘Pain Relieving Spray’ to the kind man. Despite all the pain, I smiled!

b. Our boat was being gently guided through seemingly placid waters of Ganges. It was just past sunrise. The water shimmered like a sequined stole and the horizon was throwing picture-perfect frames at me.

Seeing my camera gear, our boatman, a confident young man who had grown up on the ghats of Varanasi, became curious about my profession.

I mentioned I shoot and write about places to make them desirable. I also explained that this meant that I must know a lot about the cities I write about (Ha!).

A mischievous smile suddenly danced on his face and in a mocking way, asked if I knew how Varanasi got its name. Seeing me perplexed, he went on to explain that Varanasi was named after two of its 80 ghats. The first in the sequence is Varun Ghat, and the last is Assi (80) Ghat; Varun and Assi together led to the name, Varanasi.

After illuminating me about this little nugget, he burst into a victorious smile. I figured his day was made. I smiled along admiringly. And I remember the instance to this day!

7. What are some life lessons that photography has taught you?

a. There is nothing some persuasive conversation won’t achieve.

In countless locations where photography was not permitted, speaking to the authorities with an understanding of their dilemma has helped me persuade them to allow me to shoot.

b. There are enough good men all around, no matter where you go.

Let me recount my experience from Auschwitz. The museum-cum-memorial here has an exhibit of an architect’s model that gives the visitors an understanding of the scale of WW-II holocaust. I was struggling to shoot it and was perhaps partially blocking a Jewish group’s view. Noticing this, their guide yelled that I needed to wait until the group had finished.

As I helplessly turned around, 4-5 members of the group had already raised their hands to stop the guide from interfering with my work and with a hint of encouragement, gestured me to go on.

At that moment, the true meaning of homage dawned on me.

8. Whose pictures (which photographers) do you admire? Why?

Denmark-based photographer and cellist Nikolaj Lund.

He decided to reinvent the portraiture of classical musicians by taking the subjects out of their natural environment - the orchestra pit - and asking them to do strange poses in places like streets, oceans, and deserts. The results are beyond amazing!

9. Why did you choose ‘Travel’ as a subject? 

I got into travel photography because of a lack of any known names in the field in India. And as they say in advertising, was eager to get the ‘first-mover advantage’. 

10. What would be your advice to someone who wants to enter this as a full time professional?

1. Don’t ever shy away from homework! This homework must encompass weather, places to see, map locations, a rough itinerary keeping in mind the 'time of day' based on the direction of light, and that’s not an exhaustive list.  
2. Always be armed with two things - a smile and loads of humility. Remember, a destination is an entity and one needs to respect it. 
3. Learn to firmly assert yourself,  and to persuasively talk to people who may pose likely impediments to your shoot. After all, you are trying to bring out the best of a location.
4. Based on the 'homework' mentioned above, carry only necessary equipment and have a plan B for all exigencies.
5. A legitimate 'Press Card' helps.
6. Be conversant with the technical aspects of photography. More often than not, you'll be faced with a dynamic range challenge that is way beyond the ambit of even the most advanced digital cameras. 
7. Have passion - both for photography as well as travel, with dollops of innovation thrown in.