“My foray into photography has been backed by a lot of significant aspects. Though I could converse without inhibitions, I was always a silent observer. I would even go far as to call it my super power. Through this, I started noting the different emotions a human goes through, while trying to make sense of mine as well. As a girl child, I was always conditioned to think that a girl had to fit into a cookie cutter image of the society and the definition of beauty was ingrained into my mind. Little did I realize that this would pave the foundation for my lifelong love with photography! During a trip to Shimla and Kullu, I was taking pictures with a small Sony camera and started observing how well the eyes emote the emotions of a person. This set me on a frenzy to imagine a portrait of each and every person. This was the time I wanted to really experiment with my skills so I asked for a camera at home. My dad is the kind of person who insists that we do the best with what we have so that was the tailored reply to my request too. But I had always had believed in patience and within a short period, I got my first camera, which I call my baby. I know not how others care for their camera but to me, my camera is the most prized possession.
So my tryst with my camera began and I started to shoot and experiment a lot. For example, when I am shooting a model, I make sure that I speak to them and build a rapport with them before beginning to shoot. This would give me a fair idea of who they are as a person and I would be able to imagine and enhance the portrait to that extent. I began to observe light patterns and started reading a lot about the different aspects of light and its various functionalities like light painting etc. Throughout all this, my friends were my biggest cheerleaders and they encouraged me to enroll for a competition. This was my first time trying to put my art for a competition so I sat for entire night to submit that entry level photo. I got shortlisted for the finale but just I was about to leave the place thinking I was never going to make it, my name was called. As I walked up the auditorium steps, I saw that the entire place was filled with boys. It was a surreal moment and it restored my faith in myself against all the self-doubts put inside me by outsiders.
Encouraged, I put up my work in a lot of competitions and it helped me engage myself. After my graduation, I never had an interest in chasing a job. But to give into my passion full time would take a lot of convincing. In that regard, I started discussing my ideas with my friends and family. I even enrolled in a course where I learnt a lot. It was a testing period and I was put through great ordeals with respect to how I wanted to take up this journey. Around this time, I met a model, Shweta Gai, who trusted my work and started advising me to take it up my passion with all my heart. I was even called to judge a few events and that brought a lot of exposure. Slowly, I started my journey upward and Gayathri, an actress, entered my life and taught me how I could take my work to movie directors, etc.
People have told me that my pictures make them look so beautiful! According to me, humans are the most beautiful creations of god. Society may have its own definitions of beauty but through my lens, everyone looks beautiful and they deserve to feel beautiful!”
#Passion #Journey #Confidence #Camera #Society #PeopleofChennai #Photography #Sony #Travel #Travelphotography #Photo #BreakingBarriers #MotivationalDiaries #Photojournalism #Photoessay #Journey #Beauty #Photos #Success #Choice #Support #Madras #HumansofMadras