I am a photographer from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. My rendezvous with the camera began at a very young age, when my father bought an imported camera, and I was occassionally allowed to play with it. The very idea of giving fleeting moments permanence, gave me a strange kind of high and jubilation. Growing up in a city that is world famous for its spirituality, vibrance, diversity and colour; I constantly found myself being pulled towards people and places in its multi ethnicity and diversity. All this inspired me to venture into the field of photography. My journey as a photographer is very new and ongoing. India as a country is a mini world in itself. It is a heavenly abode for the photographers who wish to capture diversity in its grassroot essence. This inspired me to venture into potrait and street photography. I also love to play with lights and shadows.
Being an ardent observer and admirer of naturalness, the different aspects of life intrigues me. More than perfections I find myself being drawn towards flaws. To me natural flaws are way more appealing than artificial perfections. But what attracts me most are people, in their varied experiences and expressions. There are billions of people walking on the earth at any given time; yet it is impossible to find two faces, experiences and expressions similar. To me every face and every life story appears like a small world onto itself. I am constantly propelled to give this impermanent, little world of people, some permanence. This very idea pulls me deeper and deeper into the the complex, mystifying world of humans. I love and aspire to personally relate to each person; before capturing their face through my lens.
What appeals to me is not only the periphery or the external appearances, but the very roots that are the foundation of the manifested forms. In every ruin, I penetrate to explore the beautiful structure that once stood. In every wrinkle, I crave to see the youth that was once there. In every cloudy eyes, I strive to capture the sparkle that once thrived. In every bend, broken form I long to reach to the strength that once existed and is burdened by the journey of the life. This desire to capture the hidden along with the apparent, the invisible along with the visible, propells and inspires me to know and relate to each and every frame and face at deeper and intimate levels. The more I venture into the world of people; the more it pulls me towards its core. The one conclusion that I can derive from my journey as a photographer till date is that inspite of varied differences in every face, form and life story, there is an innate oneness and sameness in every human being that asserts itself in the deeper recesses of our beings. This beautiful similarity is that which makes us human and humane. I consider myself as an ever learning and ever aspiring student of the life itself. Deeply inspired by this journey called life, I look forward to give more meaning, aliveness and permanence to it; through my lens.
