Journey with Light: A Photo Story
I was always fascinated with photography. When there were no smartphones, but low-resolution camera phones, I remember clicking the photograph of a bird by holding the camera phone and one side of a pair of binoculars in front of it, so that I could get a zoomed-in photograph. Well, scarcity is the mother of frugal solutions. My uncle once gifted me a point and shoot Canon camera when I completed my 10th standard (high school) education. I used it a lot for practicing as well as clicking photos in family events and trips.
The University I studied in, had Visual Communication (UG) and Mass Communication (PG) degrees. Later, there were courses like Bachelor of Vocation in Film-making as well. I had friends in VisCom. We would often hang out just talk about regular college things and share ideas and perspectives on topics. Eventually we also spoke about topics of our academic disciplines. Since I was interested in photography, I asked them theoretical aspects about photo composition. I’m sure you won’t believe me, but a senior of mine taught me how to use the manual mode of a DSLR camera in just 15 minutes and he did it so well that I can never get confused again.
It was during the Dhanteras of 2014 that we decided to get a DSLR camera. It was a cold winter November in Bengaluru. We got a Canon 60D, a kit lens and a 75-300mm telephoto zoom lens. Although it was a ‘family’ camera, I used it the most and eventually ended up making the add-on expenses in terms of lens repair, additional 50 mm lens, maintenance, external flash, bags and so on. My sister did get the tripods, though. They were Vanguard ones; quite sturdy.
I started practicing photography. Learning through practice is always effective. I was mostly self-taught, although I did attend an Intermediate Photography workshop (One-Day Masterclass) offered by Canon India.
As I kept clicking, my photographs got better. It's true. There are struggles for beginners when shooting manual. We all get upset when we think we have clicked the perfect photo but realise we forgot to set the right ISO the photo is either extremely bright or extremely dark. But it all gets better over time, with regular practice. Sometimes we are inspired by great photographers, sometimes by friends and sometimes even by ourselves. For if we don't push ourselves forward, who else will? Eventually we do get better; much better.
We click candids.
We watch birds, better this time.
We get creative.
We experiment.
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We cover events.
We travel
and find ourselves humbled after climbing 700 steps carved on a rock hill.
It does take a great deal of passion to pursue any creative hobby, work towards it and grow. There's another way that my University helped me. There were many events and fests during college days and these were great opportunities to practice photography. Clicking for these events and fest over 2-3 years helped me so much that I was able to get two paid freelance gigs in 2016, one for concert photography and the other for an engagement ceremony. I could also post-process (adjust light elements of) the photographs quicker as I had practiced it all along. I'm glad I did because clients expect quick deliveries for genuine need-based reasons but post-processing 200-300 photos in a few hours is no joke.
Eventually, I concluded that freelance photography was not something for me at that moment and I shut shop. I also deleted the Facebook Page with the photo samples and forms to register for a non-wedding event photography or porfolio photography request. I also deleted the email address I had created for this purpose after delivering all photographs, bonus video clips and settling accounts.
However, a photographer never gives up photography. I continued to click as a hobby and share the photographs on my Instagram account.
This is something I penned down years ago:
"Photography is a journey of understanding light through stories of life and existence."
But back then, I only percieved photography only through the eyes of a photographer. Now when I look at a photograph, I say:
"Photographs are stories people wish to share with the world."