Your Passion Should Be Your Stress Buster

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1. Tell us about your background and journey.

Hi, I am Waseem Ali, born in Himachal Pradesh and brought up in Chandigarh. I am just on the verge to complete my master’s in pharmacy from Panjab University. Various areas of my interest are photography, graphic designing and gaining more interest in Esports nowadays.

Basically, I love doing manipulations in the tech arena. Although my field of study and my areas of interest is like the north pole and south pole but trust me with God’s help, I think I am able to do good in both.

2. How and when did you realize your passion for photography?

It’s a fact that your passion should be your stress buster. No matter in whichever field you go or what work you do there will be stress in that thing and to vanish that you have your bucket of things that can help.

So, if I talk about the realization, I had a Lumia 630 phone in the year 2015 I guess and on my trip to Agra, I captured Taj Mahal and gave my angle of view to those shots. I showed that to my friends and they were also amazed to see those shots.

Although I didn’t get much attention on Instagram due to lack of followers in that year since lack of word about Instagram back that time every time, I saw that picture it gave a positive vibe and feel of potential that I may have. Then I started basic clicking and editing and improved with time. Next time in the year 2017 on my trip to Shimla I clicked some shots which were also featured on various pages on Instagram. That gave me a boost and since then I am clicking.

3. What are some tips you would like to share with amateur photographers?

Any passion you have is all about learning and similar is the case for photography. Photography is not about the camera it's about the eye for the perspective you have. Even I don’t own any big professional camera or something and also, I believe more in Mobile Photography.

So, while clicking anything first I try to extract the eye-catching area from the bigger part and then give the novel angle. That’s all just shoot and edit.
According to me editing your image can enhance the beauty of the picture to about 100% and maybe this figure is not the same for all because this value varies from person to person.

When you know how you can click the good picture, then choose your niche, it is really important to see whether you’re doing good in landscape or you’re good at clicking portraits. Once decided just master yourself with new skills. At last, try different activities, for e.g. I once clicked images with Jio Phone (1500rs) mobile which I think have 2 MP camera and no one believed that it is clicked from this phone.

4. What are the important skills one should have to be a successful photographer?

The foremost basic thing for many photographers is the camera but I believe it is patience. Wait for the right time and right moment and you have your shot. I agree that candid thing works many times but the percentage is very low for me. It's all about setting the right frame.

For quoting this I once made a bhangra video with a mobile phone and taken it at various frames which came out very well and gained a good audience.

5. What are various opportunities available for aspiring photographers?

It’s not always important to earn with your passion maybe you can do it for mental peace. But there as lot many doors open for photographers.

There are so many Live events occurring every day where you get special entry to click stars and once you establish your name you can get good money and fame.
Portfolios shoots is another area, where you can shoot portfolio for aspiring models and established models and can earn well.
You can click for media like various newspapers.
Even one can contribute to the university media handling team as a starting so that one can get experience about what the audience wants.
Similarly, there are so many options available one can pick any according to the niche and also you can have your colourful Instagram feed and impress your social media followers.

6. Which is your favourite book and why?

Although I not a bookish person but amongst the books which I have read my personal favourite is “The White Tiger” by Aravind Adiga. I liked the bunch of suspense which caught my attention regarding and this book shows how a boy from darkness comes to his dreams.

Book is written so accurately and precisely that you will surely imagine yourself as an actual viewer of the scene. Must Read!!

Interview by - Sonam