Sreekumar Krishnan

Photographer & Founder at Living Lens

Ph: 9880008265 / Instagram: sreelivinglens 

www.facebook.com/sreekumar.krishnan / www.facebook.com/thelivinglenspage / www.thelivinglens.org

1) Would you tell us more about you and your interest in Photography?

I can’t still figure this one about me for I have taken on facets which I didn’t even gun for. I have been open and learn along the way every day. I studied to become a doctor and went on to do Hotel Management, and then to Marketing with UTV, and more marketing with Infovision, Surfgold, iMint, and finally settled into advertising as head for McCann//MRM, Bangalore where the freedom to experiment and see new ideas executed became my fertile creative ground. 20 good long years its been!I never thought I would get into professional photography. I started of watching my father in his dark room and having seen thousands of images in black and white being shot. It was a silent learning then. Each positive I held and it took me to a story of the moment that very moment. Very surreal on how the Image truly impacts the conscious mind. My first image probably was shot when I was 6 of my parents on the steps. 40 years later I would still get them to pose similarly and again when you look back it is surreal albeit digitally.My clients did see my images on the social media, and thus I landed my first assignment with the then Hero Honda, followed by GE Healthcare etc. Google was my biggest assignment with over 200 images for them. I didn’t even know how to handle the strobes then, but Youtube helped and equipped with that went into a big brand shoot and it worked just fine. One thing led to another, it was a natural progression. What followed were candid shoot-outs, street photography, fashion photography, travel, kids, babies, weddings and what not.I started sharing knowledge through photo workshops. Photography was more than just shooting with a camera, a subject, object, seer etc. It was more spiritual to me. I would be able to zone into a meditative state with the camera.Once I finished my shot, I believed it was done with. I rarely look back at the scenes or even desire to publish or take it to a larger audience. The process of the moment unfolding, the sense of the moment, the smile it brings, the memory you get lost in, the possible stories, the stark truths, the goodness one feels as a human being is what binds me to the shutter.  Making images matter is my belief. There will be tons of images and millions of photographers, what does one do with this finally is a question? Does the image have any impact to  oneself, to others, to society? If I can be instrumental in getting a person to reconnect to themselves once again, then I am happy.

2) Can you please tell us about the types of Photography you indulge with?

I dabble in everythiing, with no head or tail of the genre I am digging for. Give me  a phone, a point and shoot, a dslr or a mirrorless ( the best of it all) and I am happy shooting from family candids, babies and kids, wildlife, birds, nature, landscapes, temple architecture, street moments, fashion, weddings, events and advertising.  I still havent found my space.

3) What is the inspiration that keeps you going?

The ability to have influenced a change in someone which they have lost in time. The ability to juxtapose art and spirituality in the photograph. My inspiration is the Divine itself. And I seek the unseen seen in the unknown known. All that I am or do and my inspiration is because of my guru, master and friend Maitreya Rudrabhayananda ji. I want to express what I learned over the past 20 years in meditation and spirituality through my images.

4) How do you feel when your work is exhibited and viewed by tons of people?

It feels nice naturally, that many people can see the real photograph rather than just a digital image.

5) Can you tell us something about Photography and its inception?

Photography really began when the first human being started clicking memories with his eyes.My funny take to the inception of it all probably is – ‘Inventions happen because of a lack, fear, or a demand. The fear of losing memories led to photography lol!’The desire to freeze something from mid-air into a 2D sheet was unbelievable actually. But it happened with the invention of the camera!

6) To you, what is Photography?

A divine connection, a shared moment which can alter states of mind from individual to society itself. Take Raghu Rai’s picture of the corpse of a child of the Bhopal tragedy. The shot of the naked girl running after the Napalm blast in Vietnam, the pictures of D Day, 1944. Anything which allows us to become better humans is Photography. Everything else is the gratification of the self. Just a lot of “Look I caught a tiger shot”.  Or here is the shot of the deserts of Kucch but I am nowhere connected to it. Photography has to have a soul connection, otherwise, it will remain a fleeting dead pixel in the end.

7) Please share us some of your achievements in Photography Profession?

1. My first recognition was a World HSBC Calendar selection

2. Then came, National Geographic selecting Shot of the Day for “the mystical birds of Bharatpur”

3. Followed by street photography recognition by Canon Rotary, Pondicherry photo festival.

4. Quiet flows the dirty Yamuna was published showcasing a priest in front of the frothy Yamuna

5. Sunflower smiles – a shot of a sunflower field worker near Mysore, got to be displayed at the Louvre, France as part of an International Photo competition

6. Portrait of a labourer was featured as top 10 portraits in the world by the Imaginarium.

7. Bullock cart racing in Palakkad was exhibited by Photostop

8. Chennakeshava temple was exhibited at the World Trade Center by Photostop in Bangalore

9. Shooting the Masterchefs as exclusive photographer in Bangalore when they visited for World on a Plate

10. Shooting as exclusive photographer for Mrs. India Karnataka

11. Shooting as exclusive photographer Nobility for Ability which had the royals of Jaipur, Patiala, Celebrities, a Polo match and a Rohit Bal fashion show. The images get to be featured in Vogue India soon.

8) Can you tell us something about your Photography community?

From my photography workshops, I mentor additionally through a closed FB and WhatsApp group. From the students, they get hired to work with me on various projects time to time.

9) Can you tell us about the general response you receive in exhibitions?

I do believe it is good 

10) What do you think about the scope of Photography in the modern Digital world?

It is very limited because of the shelf life. Hardly seconds now in the digital world. People will take images from the phone and it will all be lost in digital space. When you shoot so much the lazier one becomes to even extract and enjoy the images once again. Whereas a print always will evoke a conversation no matter where or when.

11) How do you feel about your association with Honeycomb creative support?

An amazing team which has helped me deliver the best prints with the correct rendition of color to my clients. I do not have to worry – because I can blindly trust them.

12) Can you share us your future plans and dreams?

The Living Lens is the brand and for me this I want to create like the Magnum from India.

Sreeroop KT 

Nature Photographer

1) Would you tell us more about you and your interest in Photography?

I have been working in IT industry for past 12 years and now opened my own startup firm in Bangalore. I started photography 8 years back and had experimented in different genres of photography during the course of time. I love photographing nature subjects whether they are birds, animals, reptiles, landscapes, or underwater subjects. I enjoy photographing with macro, wide angle and long telephoto lenses.

2) Can you please tell us about the types of Photography you indulge with?

I love nature and love sharing all aspects of it. Each of them has their own unique thing that makes them special. Out of them, I am more inclined to Nature photography (landscape, wildlife, bird’s photography), macro photography and Architectural photography.

3) What is the inspiration that keeps you going?

Nature is a gift for me. To be close to wildlife makes me feel instantly at peace. The joy of watching birds and animals in their natural habitat and observing their behaviour arouse a lot of interest in nature. So I like spending a lot of time in the wilderness of nature.

4) How do you feel when your work is exhibited and viewed by tons of people?

I feel special and blessed to be able to travel and capture some of the moments and showcase it to people who can get inspired to visit these places and appreciate the beauty of nature. This makes me happy as I am able to contribute back to nature in a small way as people will be more aware of the conservation of wildlife and nature.

5) Can you tell us something about Photography and its inception?

Photography is an art; to keep the memory last forever we often switch to photography. Even a 20 years old photo takes us back to the same time. Photography has been a medium of limitless possibilities since it was originally invented and its evolution has been one of the most revolutionary additions to the advancement of human artistic expression. It all started with a box and evolved into a compact one, film to digital, Black & white to colour, the transition has been profound.

6) To you, what is Photography?

Photography is like a meditation which gives me instant connect with my soul and makes me relax. Capturing the moment and giving a true reflection of what I saw through my viewfinder is something I try to master. You have to find your photograph in the chaos of the natural world.

7) Please share us some of your achievements in Photography Profession?

Won 1st price in Nature category in All India photography contest organized by Photostop.
Won Picture of the Month contest in India’s No.1 imaging magazine Smart Photography.
Won Artist of the year award from www.megashot.net
Published images in various international photography websites.
Exhibited photos in Art galleries and contributed to charity works.

8) Can you tell us something about your Photography community?

I’ve closed group of friends with whom I travel and do photography. I am also part of TGIS group where we exhibit photos in Art galleries and contribute to charity.

9) Can you tell us about the general response you receive in exhibitions?

Even though the crowd is less for art exhibitions in India compared to foreign countries, the response from them is quite overwhelming.

10) What do you think about the scope of Photography in the modern Digital world?

With new technological advancements in camera and accessories, it makes easy for photographers to express their vision and creativity. Add to that social media, online and print publications are appreciating the works of new photographers and encouraging new people into this art form.

11) How do you feel about your association with Honeycomb creative support?

I have been associated with Honeycomb Creative Support for a long time now. Printing and publishing my works, exhibiting the quality prints in Art galleries and successful participation in their photo contests have all been a great experience for me. I would recommend Honeycomb for anyone looking for a quality and lasting print, especially on canvas.

12) Can you share us your future plans and dreams?

Working in Mother Nature on a regular basis and seeing amazing creatures functioning in their natural habitat is definitely something that needs to be conserved, but with the growing human population, many areas and its inhabiting species face extinction. By sharing my wildlife images with as many people as possible around the world, I hope to spread the conservation message.

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Sanjay Marathe

Sanjay Marathe Fine Art Photography
www.sanjayfineart.com / FB – www.facebook.com/SanjayFineArt/
Email – sanjayfineart@gmail.com / M: +91 9324292289

1) Would you tell us more about you and your interest in Photography?

THE EARLY YEARS –

I have worked through the transition from the black and white film era to digital photography.

I was born in 1966 in Mumbai, and at age 2, moved to Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh with my parents, when my father, a textile engineer with Voltas, got a transfer. We returned to Mumbai after 10 years. In the 8th Std., I had started exploring and liking the magic of photography using my father’s 35mm Yashica Lynx 5000 rangefinder camera. After getting a Commerce degree from Mumbai University, and briefly attending Govt. Law College, I turned to my passion for photography and started work as a Commercial Photographer. I moved to Daharan, Saudi Arabia for about nine months, and worked on assignments for Saudi Aramco. I returned to Mumbai again in 1990 and have since worked for many reputed national and international clients. EXPLORING ART –After working for over 25 years in commercial photography, I worked on exploring photography as an Art. I have exhibited regularly at Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata in India and at the Art Expo New York 2017 in the USA. My Artworks have been appreciated and bought by art lovers in India, USA, The Nederlands and Australia.

2) Can you please tell us about the types of Photography you indulge with?

In commercial photography, I shoot Interiors, Industrial, Corporate and Outdoors. For my Art, my subject range includes nature, wildlife, landscapes, festivals, historical architecture, cityscapes, cloudscapes, people and abstracts. My interest in history has driven me to document numerous old cities and lesser-known monuments in various parts of India and also in the USA.

3) What is the inspiration that keeps you going?

I draw inspiration from a lot of things like – good Art by accomplished visual as well as performing artists and the changing light of different seasons. The urge to create good Art and to do better is the driving force that keeps me going.

4) How do you feel when your work is exhibited and viewed by tons of people?

Showing at an Art exhibition is a great opportunity for learning from the visitors. Nothing is more energizing for an Artist than to meet Art lovers and Collectors face to face at the show. I look forward to such occasions to meet people and enjoy the pleasure and satisfaction they derive from my Art. Their eyes and smiles show me when my Art is being appreciated.

5) To you, what is Photography?

Photography, for me, is a great way of expression. Just as a painter uses paint and brush on paper or canvas, I use light and camera to capture the desired subject in a way that I perceive it.

6) Please share us some of your achievements in Photography Profession?

1. Launched photography portal – In 2000, when the internet was still new in India, I started and managed for over ten years, a pioneer portal of photography – ‘indianphotography.com’ to showcase the work of Indian photographers online. At the time, I had first introduced the concept of an online portfolio for visual artists, and designed websites for many leading photographers from Mumbai, Pune and Delhi.

2. Calendar for John Deere – I was assigned by US Agency Hellman Associates to shoot images for John Deere international calendar.

3. Teaching – I have taught photography as visiting faculty at three colleges in Mumbai – SNDT, Nirmala Niketan and St. Andrews college.

4. Workshops – Conducted two workshops on wildlife photography for Bombay Natural History Society, at the BNHS nature reserve in Mumbai.

5. Managing Committee – Served on the Managing Committee of AIPA (All India Photographers Association) and PGI (Photographers Guild of India) for 3 years.

Art Shows (Upcoming):

• Convention Foyer, India Habitat Centre, Delhi – 21 – 25 Feb. 2018

• Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai – Solo – 26 Dec. 2018 – 1 Jan. 2019

• Academy of Fine Art, Kolkata – 2018

Art Shows (Past):

• Three group exhibitions by AIPA (All India Photographers Association) and PGI (Photographers Guild of India) in Mumbai

• India Art Festival – 2013 – Nehru Centre, Mumbai

• Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai – Solo show – ‘Fleeting Moments’ Dec. 2013

• Trident Art Walk, Mumbai – Solo show – 1 – 12 Apr. 2015

• Art Around Town – Art Show in Chappaqua, New York – June 2015

• Taj Bengal, Kolkata – 23 – 29 Nov. 2015

• Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai – 8 – 14 Jan. 2016

• The Leela Mumbai Art Gallery – 5 – 11 Aug. 2016

• Convention Foyer, India Habitat Centre, Delhi – 16 – 20 Nov. 2016

• Art Expo New York – 21 – 24 April 2017

7) Can you tell us something about your Photography community?

My community is my FB fanpage – https://www.facebook.com/SanjayFineArt/. I have just launched my new website and blog –www.sanjayfineart.com where I plan to share my images, write about it and to interact with viewers and other photographers.

8) Can you tell us about the general response you receive in exhibitions?

“Peaceful, Tranquil, Serene..” is the usual feedback I have received so far from visitors to my shows. I have been fortunate to get very generous comments in my visitor diary, which gave me the confidence to display again. Regular sales have provided a validation for what I have produced and displayed.

9) What do you think about the scope of Photography in the modern Digital world?

Photography is certainly a major contributor in the modern digital world. The mushrooming of social media and other online portals, and the advent of inexpensive digital cameras and mobile phones, has led to more and more people taking photos and sharing them through various avenues. Thus it is impossible to think of a world without photography.

10) How do you feel about your association with Honeycomb creative support?

As a visual artist, I regularly explore labs in India as well as abroad, for innovative ways to print my Artwork. Honeycomb has always provided very good expertise and support for printing my Art.

11) Can you share us your future plans and dreams?

I have an upcoming exhibition at the India Habitat Centre’s convention center foyer in Delhi. The dates are 21 – 25 Feb. 2018 and the subject is ‘Skyscapes’.

It is my endeavor to be known as a dependable source for top quality Art for homes, offices, hospitals and hotels. I dream of a day when ‘Photography as Art’ will be universally accepted in India as it is in USA and Europe.

 Faseeha Tabassum

Landscape Photographer

1) Would you tell us more about you and your interest in Photography?

Born and bought up in Bengaluru. Marketing lead by profession in one of the leading cutting tools manufacturing corporate.
I love traveling, which makes me meet new people and visit unexplored places. This got me into photography. Every action/interaction has a story hidden within and I chose to express those thoughts through my photographs.

2) Can you please tell us about the types of Photography you indulge with?

Every frame is special with a message if not a thought.
I find nature really fascinating and hence prefer landscapes. I also prefer people portraits. A facial expression says a lot of things without speaking.

3) What is the inspiration that keeps you going?

Photography is the story I fail to put into words, and sometimes I feel photography is more real than reality.

4) How do you feel when your work is exhibited and viewed by tons of people?

Feel privileged and sometimes it’s the message I try to convey from my clicks and feel quite happy when people get that, feel a sense of achievement within.
Also, all appreciations/constructive critics motivate me to keep doing better and reach the next milestone.

5) Can you tell us something about Photography and its inception?

I love to travel, a lot. Everything I look at or interact with has a message/story to tell, sometimes I couldn’t find the right words to convey the same, whereas when I looked back at the pictures they conveyed the message better than I could in any form, hence from then on it was always my pictures that does the narration.

6) To you, what is Photography?

Photography to me is a way of feeling that catches a moment, which is passing by and freezes in time forever.

7) Please share us some of your achievements in Photography Profession?

I’ve exhibited my photographs in exhibitions, online forums and also take few sessions on travel & photography in universities.
In May 2017 I was awarded the National Geography Traveller, India

8) Can you tell us something about your Photography community?

I have been very fortunate to be part of few photography groups with whom I interact and acquire knowledge and feedbacks. At times I take part in photographer’s meet to share and gain knowledge and experience different things related to photography.

9) Can you tell us about the general response you receive in exhibitions?

So far people have been courteous to me and appreciate the struggle that went into clicking any frame. I meet many likeminded people from whom always have something to learn from. Sometimes I also feel really good when my photographs are exhibited in various exhibitions for a cause.
So far it has been an amazing experience to participate in exhibitions.

10) What do you think about the scope of Photography in the modern Digital world?

I feel photography is timeless. The digital world definitely adds value to photography, but photography will always be a way of feeling, love and passion. Its core values still remain the same irrespective of time and age.

11) How do you feel about your association with Honeycomb creative support?

Honeycomb to me is more than just a business partner. Honeycomb team has been very helpful in post-processing.
Love the quality of prints and the colors which shows on the paper are very impressive.

12) Can you share us your future plans and dreams?

Travel more, click more. I feel I’ve just completed a chapter in photography, still a long way to go. Also, I feel my photographs are doing their bit for any cause organized by amazing groups/institutes, I feel humbled to participate in any such event and this motivates me even further to keep pushing harder.

Technology is evolving every day. You wake up tomorrow and you will find another tech innovation or improvisation. From Newspapers to News Apps, Television to YouTube, Letters to Mails, Availability of Payment Gateway Options, and the list is endless. Such innovations have changed the way people live their daily lives. Especially, Smart phones have become one of the most important aspects of one’s lifestyle. The 4Ps of Marketing, namely Product, Price, Place, and Promotion is losing its meaning day by day. Even Philip Kotler has come up with Marketing 4.0.

What is Digital Marketing?

Fundamentally, Digital Marketing is the marketing of products and services on Internet platforms including Mobile Phones, Display Advertisements and more using Digital Technologies.

Following is the list of Common digital marketing services:

• Search Engine Optimisation
• Email Marketing
• Pay-Per-Click Advertisement
• Social Media Marketing
• Video Marketing
• App Store optimisation
• Website Design and Development

Obviously, these services have further divided parts as you dig deep into them. For example, Search Engine Optimization comprises of On-Page SEO Activities and Off-Page SEO Activities. Pay-Per-Click Advertisements can be done in different ways, like Re-marketing and Display Banner Ads, and on different platforms like YouTube and Websites. Similarly, Social Media Marketing covers many Social Networking Sites which are built on different algorithms, like Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, just to name a few.

Why Choose Digital Marketing Over Traditional Marketing?

The continuous evolution of technologies has totally changed the way your target market lives their daily lives. Hence, by choosing to market your business on Internet Platforms, you are much more likely to be in front of your audience than marketing via Traditional Approach.

There are about 1.23 Billion active users on Facebook, 600 Million Accounts on Instagram, 974 Million Accounts on Twitter. There are about 40,000 Search Queries on Google Search Engine every second. These stats only continue to grow and it shows the growth potential of your Business.

Digital Marketing won’t just help you in acquiring and retaining customers, it will also save you a lot of expenditure which you may incur while advertising via Newspapers, Television Commercials, Hoardings, etc. That’s why so many Businesses are choosing Digital Marketing Company to outsource the marketing needs of their business to experts who are experienced in the field.

Courtesy: https://yourstory.com

Anirban Basak

Commercial Photographer

Phone No – +91 97399 29469 / Website – www.anirbanbasak.com

1) Would you tell us more about you and your interest in Photography?

I do not consider myself just a photographer. Photography is my profession. But I am an artist. And as an artist, I create. Apart from photography I also practice other forms of auditory and fine arts.

Growing up watching a photographer work is a great deal of inspiration and exposure. My father Goutam Basak, a noted commercial photographer in Bangalore, has been a constant in my life. From an early age I have been exposed to a lot of photography, set preparation and darkroom work. It was only natural that I took up photography as my primary profession.

2) Can you please tell us about the types of Photography you indulge with?

I photograph what I love and enjoy. Studying architecture has been one of my most passionate pastimes when growing up. Photographing architecture presents its own set of challenges understanding perspective being the most important of them all. These challenges push me to try and do something different with every property I shoot. Apart from architecture, I also do product photography and food photography. These genres of photography form the base for my professional practice.

When I find time out of my commercial practice of photography, I travel. I love to explore new places, cultures and people. To travel is almost every photographer’s dream! I am a storyteller, and telling stories of the landscapes and the people that dwell amidst it is something that I love to do with my camera.

3) What is the inspiration that keeps you going?

My muses are all around me. I see. I observe everything around keenly. Sometimes a crack in a wall or even a straight line can be inspiring. These are things that most people don’t see and hence I feel compelled to tell them about it. I tell them stories, stories that I create out of that detail. Like a poet adds a word to another and goes on to create a poem, I add one element to another and make a frame. This urge to tell stories, that I see or rather devise in my head, is what keeps me inspired to keep at it.

4) How do you feel when your work is exhibited and viewed by tons of people?

It is every artist’s dream to be able to reach out to an audience. Art has facilitated the exchange of ideas for ages. And to meet this purpose an artist presents his/her idea in a commonly understandable form, in my case visually. I always look forward to presenting my work to an audience and to be able to tell them what I want them to know or feel through my visuals. And this sure is immensely exhilarating!

5) Can you tell us something about Photography and its inception?

I would like to skip this question as I feel it is generic.

6) To you, what is Photography?

To photograph, one must see. And then isolate what is seen to be able to present it to the world. This simple series of acts, i.e. of observation, isolation, imagination, skillful execution and then presentation is what is photography to me.

7) Please share us some of your achievements in Photography Profession?

I consider myself too young to have really achieved anything. In my professional practice of photography, the feeling of being able to make my client content with my work and to help them sell their product better with my pictures is an achievement of sorts.

My non-commercial work on landscapes and abstracts have been exhibited thrice at group
exhibitions ‘Gurudakshina‘ under the banner of Drishti School of Photography and once at a solo
exhibition ‘A Visual Dialogue‘, all at Bangalore.

8) Can you tell us something about your Photography community?

My photographic community starts at my own home, with my father. We exchange a great deal of information and ideas on photography regularly. As a trainer at Drishti School of Photography, a photography school my father founded, I am constantly in contact with established photographers and also numerous people who wish to be photographers. This is a community where we share knowledge, skills and experiences among each other. And it is here that we celebrate photography as a form of the visual arts as well as a great story telling tool!

9) Can you tell us about the general response you receive in exhibitions?

In today’s world of the digital visual media, I feel it is difficult to get audience at a physical gallery.
Apart from photographic connoisseurs and fellow photographers, it is only a handful of people who walk into an exhibition space to view printed and framed works on the wall. I am associated with a couple of art galleries in Bangalore that do display photographs apart from other fine arts and I find the response to be very thin and dismal.

I have not exhibited any of my work in a gallery since 2013 and I feel l have not been missing out on much. My personal website went online with a selection of my works on display on 2016 and I’ve found that I get a continuous and regular flow of visitors to my online gallery.

You can find my online gallery at www.anirbanbasak.com.

10) What do you think about the scope of Photography in the modern Digital world?

Digital imaging has opened up more new avenues in photography than anything else ever has before. Just as one might say that the availability of digital capture device (digital SLRs and mobile phones) as well as editing tools on just about any digital device has provided photographers with so much power to do more than back in the film days, it also has been instrumental in getting photography to the masses. Almost every person with a phone has a working camera in their hands. And all these people who could never afford to buy a film camera, film and lenses and then spend on processing and printing can now suddenly go about capturing anything to their heart’s content!

In the professional scenario, I feel not much has changed. Although new techniques and ideas only just need new and different tools, and a sharp and inquisitive mind will find the most genius of ways to utilize them, the basic creative workflow of a photographer still remains the same. We select a subject, choose a background, create or place ourselves in a setting, create or wait for the desired light, at the decisive moment we capture an image, process it in some sort of a ‘lightroom’ as against a dark room and then distribute or share it with an audience online at online galleries. So, you see, the most important bit of the process, i.e. visualization, is absolutely independent of the form of media. And hence I feel the digital revolution only greatly assists a creative photographer in making a more effective picture.

11) How do you feel about your association with Honeycomb creative support?

I have known of Honeycomb/Photostop for a very long time. We have had workshops and talks from them at Drishti School of Photography and we look forward to a continued association in the future as well!

12) Can you share us your future plans and dreams?

As an artist who practices different forms of art, I am constantly searching for ways to associate and combine multiple forms together. And this is something I feel will bring back people to galleries as it’ll demand a combination of senses to experience and imbibe it all. Only a physical space would be able to provide that, until a more disruptive and advanced technology comes along to provide the same at the comfort and confines of one’s home.

Gopinathan K

Retired Chief News Photographer, THE HINDU, Bangalore.

Ph : Mob : +91 9845073926   email : gopihindu@gmail.com

1) Would you tell us more about you and your interest in Photography?

I am Gopinathan K, I started learning the art of photography in 1974 with late C. Rajgopal, (renowned photographer) and still learning Photography. Deviated to Photojournalism in 1982 with The City Tab, 1985 with The Indian Express, 1994 with The Hindu. Retired as Chief News Photographer, The Hindu in 2014.

2) Can you please tell us about the types of Photography you indulge with?

In photojournalism, we’re expected to be an all-rounders. Covered News, Sports, Fashion, Art, Culture, Crime, Politics, Investigative, Human Interest, Humor, Street, Nature & Wild etc.

3) What is the inspiration that keeps you going?

Every day a new day in News, New experience, New challenges, New exposure. Exposing the truth to the readers who trusted us kept me on my toes and made me to take any kind of risk, challenges and kept going.

4) How do you feel when your work is exhibited and viewed by tons of people?

News man is not work for personal happiness, he works for the masses. Reaching the masses gives him/me lots of happiness.

5) Can you tell us something about Photography and its inception?

I met a classmate while I was studying Diploma in Printing Technology, he happened to be a photographer, through him I met the great photographer C. Rajagopal and I got the basic foundation for photography. When I took news photography I saw a stereo type system of taking news photo’s. I wanted to be different and that’s the starting point to create an identify for myself. To retain that identify, I had to work hard. Hard work, dedication, passion showed me the path to climb up new heights.

6) To you, what is Photography?

Lights, Shades and images. Telling a true story through images.

7) Please share us some of your achievements in Photography Profession?

If awards are considered achievements, Karnataka Union Working Journalism awards for eight years, All India Press photography award, Better photography award, Dasara award for Sports Photography,
Madyama Academy state award, TS Satyan Award for photojournalism, BBMP’s Kempegowda award, Youth Photography Award are few to mention.
Reaching people’s (reader’s) heart and soul is the real achievement I believe.

8) Can you tell us something about your Photography community?

It’s grown-up very big. Now, in almost every house there’s a photographer. It’s branched out and fine tuned to many sections. Lots of youths from other profession taking up photography as their profession.

9) Can you tell us about the general response you receive in exhibitions?

Wow it’s great. They admire, enjoy. Viewer’s want to take selfie with me, wants autograph, they shoot lots of questions.

10) What do you think about the scope of Photography in the modern Digital world?

It’s Huge, growing every day.

11) How do you feel about your association with Honeycomb creative support?

The team is doing a very good work and service, they don’t compromise with quality. In photographer’s circle they made a name and got a place. I am happy and proud to associate with Honeycomb.

12) Can you share us your future plans and dreams?

My photojournalism profession gave me a platform to show my skill, got name, fame, seasoned me and educated me. Now it’s time to share my knowledge, experience with budding photographers.

Jineesh Mallishery

Wildlife Photographer,

http://www.jineeshwildlifepixels.com/

1) Would you tell us more about you and your interest in Photography?

I was born and brought up in Bangalore. I studied at Military School(Bangalore) and from day one of my schooling I was taught survival instincts as I was always into adventure & Sports due to this led me to develop this as hobby and soon the hobby changed into passion. As a Wildlife Photographer I don’t really have one specific photographic skill, I love to capture all kind of photography styles. I continuously experiment with different styles in various scenarios, but my favourite is wildlife in Action. I love to capture those beautiful actions in wild as a wildlife photographer. My aim is to capture unique, powerful and striking images.

2) Can you please tell us about the types of Photography you indulge with?

I basically indulge in Wildlife Photography, Landscape, Macro, Travel & Family portraits.

3 ) What is the inspiration that keeps you going?

Being amongst nature motivates me to be there most of the time along with my viewfinder.

4) How do you feel when your work is exhibited and viewed by tons of people?

During the exhibition when I see people glued to my picture I feel excited and when they talk about my work I feel it’s a great achievement and being valued.

5) Can you tell us something about Photography and its inception?

For me Photography is not about camera, it’s the love to capture if I was not able to afford a DSLR I would have still been clicking with mobiles or any other gadget,   but yes photography is changing  to a next level of technology.

6) To you, what is Photography?

For me Photography is to capture what I see and an exceptional medium of self-expression, I love Photography for the simple reason is When I photograph the things i love, I get excited and inspired. When I am excited and inspired by something, I try spending more time doing it. The more time i spend doing something, the better I become at it.

7) Please share us some of your achievements in Photography Profession?

• Awarded as the best picture for 2012 by Pixoto , http://www.pixoto.com/imagesphotography/animals/birds/roller-63555469

• Special Mention Raju Harkare Memorial National Level Wildlife photography Competition & Exhibition 2012, Srushti paryavaran mandal, Nagpur

• 2 of my Images published at Natgeo Daily favourite  photos, chosen by National Geographic editors

• Photostop Contest qualified my images under Top 50 and exhibited

• Myimage(Kestral Fight) was purchased by a Senior Contemporary Painter during Nicefoto Season Six exhibition at India Habitat Center during 21-24th Oct 2016.

• My work has been published in few national  publications.

• Showcased my work at prestigious Coffee Table Book of Kanha 2017

8) Can you tell us something about your Photography community?

My Photography community started with a small  friend circle and now its like knowing many photographers from national & International photographers through Wildlife Action Photography ( WAP ), a prominent wildlife group on Facebook with more than 1,10,000 members,

9) Can you tell us about the general response you receive in exhibitions?

Exhibition is way beyond what u see in Computer, the print of your photographs is the next level, and exhibitions is the right place to showcase your image.The response was beyond expectation.

10) What do you think about the scope of Photography in the modern Digital world?

For me Photography is more of a profession than a career, it has now turned out to be one of the most sought after professions in India. Photography as a whole has lot of scope especially with the Digital World, keep clicking and you’ll find a better day soon.

11) How do you feel about your association with Honeycomb creative support?

Honeycomb is a great place to be, very friendly and helpful guys with lots of energy , its a pleasure to be associated with Honeycomb team.

12) Can you share us your future plans and dreams?

Many more exhibitions to come with , we would be doing Pan India Exhibition, coming soon at Hyderabad on 14th 15th & 16th Dec 2017, with 100 pics on Mara Wildlife.

Balan Vinod

An Eminent Nature Photographer

balanvinod.com

1) Would you tell us more about you and your interest in Photography?

Photography is the latter part, the love for nature was the first part. This was more because of the place where I was born and brought up. In the midst of nature, in the Nilgiri mountains. From listening to jackals at night to feeling a fine breeze and walking to school through the woods, made me feel that I am an integral part of nature.  Photography came into my life in late 1990’s, when I felt the need to document what I saw. It all began, when I felt the need to capture the sheer beauty of nature. Sometimes I see the complexity of nature, and have felt the need to document it. And this,  over a period of two or three years drew me into this art form.

2) Can you please tell us about the types of Photography you indulge with?

Primarily nature. That’s a very broad spectrum, I could do images on insects on one day, and landscapes on another day. I leave it free for my mind to decide, but I shoot within the spectrum of nature. Occasionally I do indulge in people and event photography.

3) What is the inspiration that keeps you going?

Travelling through nature, is the journey I have embarked on, and photography my companion. During this journey, I see the fascinating beauty of nature, the complex science involved, and the art work of the creator. Everything is so magical out there. I see and learn, and learn to see, and this keeps me going.

4) How do you feel when your work is exhibited and viewed by tons of people?

It is indeed a great feeling, when an image taken by you is viewed by many others. I always want my images to convey the art and speak for the life form. The beauty and how I see the things around me. This need not be seen in the same manner by the viewer. If the message gets across, its fine.

5) Can you tell us something about Photography and its inception?

I would not really look at photography from when the gadget or a tool came in to being. As these gadgets keep evolving all the time. For me it’s all about visually expressing what I see. Hence that takes us back to art and painting.

6) To you, what is Photography?

A form of visual expression and art. Sometimes, I want to tell a story, sometimes I just capture the moment, and often I tend to use my camera as a paint brush on canvas. I just want to show people the wonder of nature, its magic and mysteries and the craftsmanship of the creator. My images are the points in time, when I stopped for a moment during my journey through nature.

7) Please share us some of your achievements in Photography Profession?

Photography is still a hobby, a serious hobby for me and not yet a profession. If you ask me about my material achievements, then, my images have been highly commended in the Moscow International photo awards, International photo awards and may be recognitions from couple of other photo competitions. I would consider myself very lucky, to be out there with nature, again and again, being able to see nature changing constantly, its beauty, its mystery. In a fast-changing world which is so tech savvy, my ability to connect with nature, in today’s world, is by far my biggest achievement.

8) Can you tell us something about your Photography community?

I do work with more than one independent community or group of photographers. Some in Bangalore and one Internationally. Some of them are what’s app groups, and some online forums where photographs are discussed. These communities also keep changing all the time. I always see photographers changing their area of interest. That said, this is a ever changing space. Everyone I connect with, gives me a new learning.

9) Can you tell us about the general response you receive in exhibitions?

My images have been displayed at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad on couple of occasions. This was a part of the Vismaya exhibition. The images have received a good response, in terms of comments from the viewers and appreciations.

10) What do you think about the scope of Photography in the modern Digital world?

Tools will change, but the art will remain for ever. It has remained so since humans started painting of what they saw, as memories.

11) How do you feel about your association with Honeycomb creative support?

I have always felt that photographer is an artist, and am particular about the output that I get as a print. Light and colour are key components that need to come out as the photographer conceived it. Honeycomb, had always provided me with this output.

12) Can you share us your future plans and dreams?

The journey continues, and will keep taking pictures of nature. They may be of the same subjects, or new.

Pramod Shankar

An exclusive photographer, author, trainer, performer and public speaker. 

www.pramodshankar.com / shootitifitrhymes.blogspot.com

1) Would you tell us more about you and your interest in Photography?

It started at a young age. One of my uncles was a photographer and it he helped deepen my interest. I worked as a darkroom technician and a wedding photographer, and later moved on to B&W pictures.

2) Can you please tell us about the types of Photography you indulge with?

I do mostly B&W photos, as still lives and abstract compositions. I still shoot with a 50-year-old film SLR.

3) What is the inspiration that keeps you going?

The sheer vibrancy and diversity of the world around us. The abundance of textures and shadows, and what they tell us.

4) How do you feel when your work is exhibited and viewed by tons of people?

Very happy to be seen, appreciated and related to.

5) Can you tell us something about Photography and its inception?

It came from man’s need to document sights as memories. Chemistry was quite important in the early days, and the pioneers did a lot of experimentation. It’s vital that modern photographers understand the roots.

6) To you, what is Photography?

Like any art form, it’s self-expression; it’s an exploration and reinterpretation too.

7) Please share us some of your achievements in Photography Profession?

3 solo shows, 2 group shows, a few photographs in private collections.

8) Can you tell us something about your Photography community?

It’s a very small community that I preserve. I have my own group of mentors and peers who help evaluate and enrich my work.

9) Can you tell us about the general response you receive in exhibitions?

They generate a bit of interest and promote my image. It does not sell much.

10) What do you think about the scope of Photography in the modern Digital world?

It opens up many possibilities and makes photography more accessible and democratic. It also could bring down the preciousness of a frame, and thus, perhaps, reduce the insistence on quality. Image editing can have a negative effect too, by reducing the way photographers invest in each picture.

11) How do you feel about your association with Honeycomb creative support?

Excellent team, great results, very reliable. They understand photography and a photographer’s needs, and spare no effort in providing the perfect solution.

12) Can you share us your future plans and dreams?

I plan to shoot more B&W abstracts as well as travel candids. Maybe a book soon!