Feathered Photographic Fervour
Finally, a platform for all photographers to exhibit their talent and GET NOTICED!
Growing up within the ambit of a joint family, I was introduced to photography by my elder uncle, who had a Rolleiflex box camera and an improvised darkroom from where he used to churn out pictures to my utter amazement. My father used to shoot birds (with a gun, not a camera), and the sight of the dead birds always saddened me deeply as a child. Perhaps those days became a major influence for my love for birds, which later on became the primary subject of my photography. I started photography at the age of 14 with a simple Agfa Click 3 camera, shooting whatever I felt like. Then I moved to a Hot Shot 35 Jr, followed by a series of different cameras. I am essentially a self-taught photographer. With no one to guide me, I had to learn the rules, techniques and nuances of photography from books and periodicals, observing shots taken by great photographers and practising what I learned from those pages. Now I mainly use the Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 camera bodies with a Nikkor 300mm F/4.0 lens with a 1.4x teleconverter for my bird photography. I do shoot a lot of other subjects too, but I prefer to shoot natural subjects over man-made things. I also use a Tamron 90mm F/2.8 Macro lens and a Nikon 18-105mm F/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED lens as and when required. I have tried experimenting with various kinds of photography, including landscapes, macro, still life, etc.; however, my passion remains bird photography. I enjoy clicking common birds that are usually seen in our backyard, but rarely given a second glance. I hope to create an interest in ornithology, especially in the younger generation, through my photos, and to make them aware of these birds and their beauty. Hopefully, my work will inspire some people to take more active steps to take care of these birds. It would be a source of great joy for me if my photos contributed towards making people sensitive towards nature, just as my journey as a photographer has changed me.