‘I’ve to be patient, hardworking’

> Sidharth Ajith Menath > Age: 23 > Indian > Photographer

Sidharth Ajith Menath stands half way between India and the UAE. Born to Indian expat parents, and raised and schooled in Sharjah, the 23-year-old freelance photographer, but straddles the two identities with ease.

“I feel, I half belong to India and my other half is still in the UAE. We take life for granted when you grow up here. But it is when I went to India for university studies, I started to sorely miss everything about the UAE,” says Sidharth who is currently jet-setting between the UAE and India, in pursuit of a professional dream.

The only son of Ajith-Bindu couple, both from Kerala, Sidharth went to Delhi Private school and finished his higher secondary from Sharjah Indian School.

“Life was different then. I had a great set of friends and we were into gaming, snookers, bowling and movies.”

A creative soul with versatile talents, Sidharth played guitar, keyboard, drums and other percussion instruments.

But when it was time to take a call on his academic future, the young man decided to join the ‘engineering bandwagon.’

“It was a tough decision to leave the UAE. But in less than a year into my engineering course in Kerala, I realised I was not cut out for it.”

It was at a time when Sidharth was struggling to make friends in India and battle the rigours of a professional course, he found his calling for photography.

“It was quite accidental. I was bored and had lot of free time. I started to venture out with my dad’s old Nikon camera, and I got hooked.” Soon, the young man was combing Youtube tutorials to learn more about the art of taking pictures.

“Then there was no looking back. I knew photography is my life and passion. In fact, there is nothing else that I want to do in life.”

Armed with a new camera that his supportive father gifted, Sidharth launched himself on social media. “It (social media) is a boon. For beginners like me, there is no better platform to showcase my work and talent,” he said.

His Instagram handle ‘Sidthenomad’ has more than 1,000 followers, and Sidharth says most of his work assignments are being commissioned through his profile.

“I know I have to hang in there. Success does not come overnight. I have to be patient and hardworking. And I am ready to wait for my big day,” says Sidharth.