Once you start this practice of seeing and observing, you will see the beauty in the simplest of things. You will discover beauty in the most unexpected areas of life. Eventually, you will learn to show the ordinary as Extraordinary.
1. Tell us about your background and journey?
My childhood was filled with art journals, music instruments, stamp and feather collections and newspaper cuttings of Dennis and Garfield neatly coloured and hidden under my bedding and of course, school books that I hated.
Being particularly drawn towards drawing and painting I guess is what made me adopt and continue with the medium of photography later when I was introduced to it. Born and brought up in Delhi I come from a pretty conventional background.
I got married soon after I completed my graduation.
I used to paint quite often but gradually got busy looking after my family, raising my kids and was never able to realise my true calling until my kids grew up and didn’t need me to be around all the time looking after them.
I had this urge of doing something for myself. Something I could call my own, something done from my heart and feed my soul. I wanted to do something that was an extension of myself, my life, something I could resonate with.
2. How and when did you realise your passion for photography?
Photography just happened to me. I would call it a happy accident.
The only regret I have is that it happened quite later in life. It was introduced to me by my husband. And I think it actually introduced me to a brand new world of purity, creative vision and exploration.
It all began in 2014 and has kept growing stronger ever since. I got my first DSLR, and I was excited to see my work displayed on the LCD behind. It gave me instant gratification. I treated it as a toy I could play around and experiment every day.
Very soon I realised how important it had become and I got surgically attached to it. I have always enjoyed the company of my camera and I feel it the strongest medium for me to communicate and connect with people I meet, places I visit.
It is through the viewfinder that I find solace. By looking at people, observing them, clicking them I have a feeling of oneness and empathy. I can see a fragment of myself in whatever or whoever I click. Photography brings joy to me. It brings a lot of hope. Joy to see everything and hope to see it differently.
Every time I click I feel a sense of happiness and contentment. And that's what is needed to lead a normal healthy life. Right? It makes me feel ‘ALIVE’ and ‘COMPLETE’.
Photography brings newness in my life. It brings surprises as every time I step out of my house I enjoy the little things I see while I head for my destination. It makes my journey (even if its a small errand) worthwhile. It has allowed me to understand the true meaning of a brand new day, new sunshine. It teaches me to not get used to anything or take things for granted.
On the contrary, I see strangeness, mystery, unfamiliarity even in the simplest of things like watching the sunset. Photography has taught me so many new things along with the process to ‘UNLEARN’ things. I would describe Photography as magical and full of suspense.
Whenever I set out to photograph I do not know what I would finally witness or capture. As a photographer, I feel the need to unbox everything and freeze it for life. So I lug my camera everywhere I go because I do not want to miss out on anything that will unfold in front of my eyes worth remembering.
Photography is not just the thrill and excitement to click but also to get back and work on the pictures, edit them. I love the process of editing as it allows me to be in that moment again and deeply connects me with it, taking me back to the people I would want to be with and revisit places I would never want to leave.
I have learnt how precious and ephemeral everything is. I spend sleepless nights thinking about frames and compositions which further adds up to the insatiable desire to click.
Seeing through the viewfinder for me is the best way to meditate as it calms my soul and I become one with everything around as though the pictures are being taken by themselves rather than by me. Thats the precious moment I fully enjoy as my mind is free of thoughts and I submit to the influence of whatever is happening around me.
Everything happens automatically. Everything seems effortless. It's like having an affair with Photography and going out on a dating experience with my camera. That's the kind of intimate relationships I have with Photography.
3. What are some tips you would like to share with amateur photographers?
‘Look around’. (Never take your surroundings for granted). ‘Keep it simple’. (Do not try to clutter the frame). That's my mantra.
Before being a photographer you have to be a keen observer.
We do not necessarily have to travel miles to get a perfect shot. We need to look around. Have a keen eye. Start looking at things closely and differently. And you will find everything turning into something new, something you had never seen.
Photography is all about being at the right place, at the right time.
Sometimes you can engineer it yourself and sometimes it will just happen. And that's one of the moments when all the elements just come together in an exquisite display of light and colour.
Once you start this practise of seeing and observing, you will see the beauty in the simplest of things. You will discover beauty in the most unexpected areas of life. Eventually, you will learn to show the ordinary as Extraordinary.
I would urge you all to look at the works of other photographers and painters. Read about them, watch movies/ documentaries. Attend webinars/ workshops. There is a plethora of knowledge that can be gained and integrated as we all move along this creative path.
4. What are the important skills one should have to be a successful photographer?
A good photographer is intuitive and clicks from his heart. One who can create pictures from the heart are the ones that will have a voice of their own, have a dialogue with the audience, touch their soul in some way.
Patience and perseverance also play a vital role in a photographer’s life. Photography is about capturing fleeting moments that we encounter each day. It is the ability to capture these beautiful and ephemeral moments and freezing them for others to see.
It is essential to be a keen observer and have a proactive approach. The most important thing is to train your eye. Trying to find something that you resonate within the incredible chaos and continuously pushing ourselves to create unique shots.
Since light is the key ingredient of photography it is important to learn to see the ever-changing light around us. We must remember that photography is not just about capturing, it is also about interpreting, about showing people what it is that as a photographer we felt at the time we clicked a particular image.
It is always good to seek opinions from people from different backgrounds for your photographs. We also need to ’Stop’ once in a while and look back to see what we have already done. We cannot just mindlessly go on shooting. Using our past experiences and learning from them can be helpful in moving forward.
I promise that you will be amazed to see something you never expected. We just need to push ourselves from the comfort zone and when you think you cannot do it anymore. It only gets more interesting.
5. What are various opportunities available for aspiring photographers?
I strongly believe in the right usage of social media. Getting noticed is something very essential. We as artists can use social media platforms to display our body of work.
Collaborating with like minded people and building up a strong network is always a plus. Building up a body of work to be included in your portfolio, approaching galleries, sending portfolios for reviews/ submissions is a method that has always been adopted by artists all over.
These days many photographers and other artists are signing up with art portals and selling their work online thus generating a decent amount of side income. Taking part in exhibits and contests is also a very good exercise as you will get honest feedback on your work from the masters/ experts.
6. Which is your favourite book and why?
Well, the list can be quite long but when it comes to photography I guess the following are my Go-To books.
Letters to A Young Poet by Rainer Marvin Rilke and The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker.
Both these books have had a deep impact on me not only professionally but on a very personal level as well. I think they should be read by each one of us as the content of these books can be applied to every field and also in our lives on a practical level.
Rob Walker has brilliantly created this book called ‘The art of noticing’ which is not just meant to be read and understood. Its a book full of experiments that are doable and will change your perspective. It shows a brand new and a very different approach towards how to look at things.
It has helped me widen my horizon and change my approach towards life, towards people, towards whatever I lay my eyes on. It teaches how to pay attention to what we pay attention to.
‘Letters to a young poet’ on the other hand questions your mind, your thoughts, things you do. It directs you to dig deeper into the details, helps you introspect.
Every time I read this book I learn something new. A deep meaning lies beneath each word written by Rilke.
This book has taught me to push my boundaries as it says we must attach ourselves to what is difficult. This is Photography has helped me set goals, progress towards them and be ready to take the plunge. Life changes once we build up the courage to leave our safe zones.
Mona Singh
Photographer | Lifestyle | Portraiture | Architecture
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