Photography has transcended mere clicking of pictures or making memories. For some people it’s a calling, while for others it’s a passion. We talk to three photographers who are adding a different dimension to their work with their creativity, talent and extraordinary flair to create masterful pieces of art.
AKSHAY RAO
Genre: Fashion, Portraits and Weddings
USP: Trademark simple, stylish and minimal style.
“I was always into art since childhood and used to sketch a lot even as a kid,” recollects Akshay about his initiation into clicking pictures and adds, “When I got into college, my uncle gifted me a camera and I quickly shifted from sketching to photography. After college I had an option to either get a job or take up photography as a profession; I chose the latter.” Touted as one of the most promising young photographers in town, Akshay’s elegiac works are simple, effective and always narrate a story. Akshay, confesses that he choose photography as a career as he gets to create something new each time he shoots. He says that his only criterion is to get different output each time he shoots.
A photograph by Akshay Rao
Learning and re-learning is a constant part of his job and the youngster shares instances which helped him improve his craft. He says, “I had casually modelled for a friend once and was very nervous in front of the camera. I couldn’t give any good shots but my friend made me feel very comfortable and confident after which the shoot went on pretty well.
That was the moment I understood how important it is to make your subjects feel comfortable and my photos immediately started getting better.” With pre-wedding shoots getting more lavish by the day is there a lot of pressure to do something out of the box every time? Not really, he says adding, “Yes, pre-wedding shoots are getting very ostentatious but my goal when I shoot a couple is to get some real emotions out of them. I don’t try to make couples do what they’re not comfortable doing.” With future plans including starting his own studio, Akshay is currently content with his creative pursuits.
Hari, Shankar
HARISH ARITAKULA and SHANKAR VADLA
Genre: Weddings, travel and fashion photography
USP: Using existing landscapes to advantage and creating vibrant pictures.
Frequently named among the top wedding photographers in south India, Harishankar Photography has perfected the art of producing perfect pictures which seamlessly traverse into great memories. While for Harish, it all started as a hobby when working with Amazon, his childhood friend Shankar who worked as an associate director for a few Tollywood movies was always keen on pursuing photography as a full time profession. Harish recounts, “It started out as a hobby as I used to travel a lot and was doing a lot of landscape photography along with fashion portfolios for my colleagues who were part-time models. Shankar and I made a short pre-wedding video for my cousin’s sangeet. After seeing that video another couple approached us; that is how it all started. I soon quit my 9-5 job!”
A photograph by HariShankar
Harish is evocative about why believes photography is his calling and explains , “Photography has made me travel a lot more, explore different parts of the world and know cultures in detail. I love how capturing emotions makes them keepsakes that last a life time. The recognition and feedback I get from my clients drives me.” One of the first photographers in the country to use 360 degree videos, Shankar accepts that the challenge lies in maintaining quality. He explains, “Sometimes it does get hectic especially when we have multiple shoots scheduled in multiple cities on the same day or within the same week. We strive for perfection and always push our team to pay great attention to detail, and that results in many sleepless nights.”
How does one stay ahead of the curve? Harish smiles as he says, “Satisfied customers are what made us who we are today. To get the best possible shots, we never compromise. We once had to shoot at minus 2 degrees in London, we have done shoots on the Desert safari and at minus 35 degrees in Finland. The most important thing for the success of all of these shoots is the trust our customers place on us and their patience.” With a growing team, (They started out as two people and now have 14 in-house and more than 25 freelancer photographers) and willingness to go that extra mile for a great shot, the youngsters are in for the long haul.
NAMRATA RUPANI
Genre: Portraits, Weddings, Landscapes and Architecture
USP: Creating unconventional images with the perfect understanding of subject and context.
A doctor, a TEDx motivational speaker and a photographer par excellence, Namrata juggles her many hats with elan. She stumbled upon photography 11 years back shooting the glaciers in St Moritz in Europe and it was love at first sight. She says, “I was taking a break from clinical practice and had time at hand – I figured that was a time better than any other to explore this interest. I’ve shot extensively since then – every Sunday morning I would drive out to the outskirts to catch a sunset or a sunrise or spend afternoons at Golconda fort. Also, whenever I got a few days off I would try and head to the jungles. I have taken numerous trips to Ranthambhore and Kabini, had some amazing luck with sightings and some great images to go back to.”
Namrata says that photography has changed her outlook towards life, “It helps me understand that everyone looks at life very differently. There is no right or wrong, it’s just different perspectives. It also is a way of expressing myself and I feel I am my best version of myself when I am shooting.”
A photograph by Namrata Rupani
Being a woman photographer, she admits security is the biggest challenge she faces. She explains, “More than me I think it’s my family that is concerned. The fact that I drive out to outskirts of the city before dawn to secluded areas or drive back late at night after a wedding or event shoots is a concern for them. For me the biggest challenge right now would be the fact that photography can be physically very demanding. The weight of the camera gear and the long days at shoots do tend to take a toll unless you take care of yourself. Other than that I love everything about it.”
Namrata regularly conducts photography workshops through her company Capture Life which caters to all photography requirements – from shoots, to printing and framing, coffee table albums (designing and printing), wall photo collages, customized photo wall papers and wall designing (with photographs).
Couple shoots are the biggest wedding trend, to hit the country inrecent years with their importance preceding even weddings at times. Namrata is fascinated by the concept and says, “Couple shoots are basically reminders of the existence of love – and how even though it’s a ‘tale as old as time’ – every story is unique and so beautiful. . Wedding shoots are getting more elaborate, but the core emotions remain same. I strive to think out of the box with my angles. For example, we recently did a couple shoot in an old heritage building in Old City and shot them amidst the chaos using varied equipment, including drones.”