By Saurav Patnaik
VP, Marketing and Business Development, Kenscio Digital Marketing Pvt Ltd
I’ve often had a strong desire to capture the austerity of objects and make them look exceptionally beautiful. I’m not saying that I did not try this with my girlfriend! Jokes apart, like the famous adage goes, “Beauty lies in the eyes of the lens-holder”. Yes, without the wonder thought, you’d know I suitably reworked the phrase to reach a guilt-free argument to support an uncontrollable desire to own an overtly expensive camera at a time when I’d only begun taking a few family pictures.
But of course there are no miracles that drew me to photography. Quite a few of my early engineering days were devoted to my budding modelling career, which at that point seemed the most apt avenue for a good-looking (ahem!), well-built and intelligent young man such as me! However, it only took a few snide comments from relatives and my father’s keen interest in reducing my modelling hopes to ashes for me to realize that while the creator had engineered my countenance considerably well, I’d still need a degree to see me through the vagaries of life and beyond. Photography took a backseat then, but I was to return to it in full spirit and renewed enthusiasm in time. So, I bought this over-sized, over-priced camera at a time when everyone was buying slim, sleek, rectangular, double-digit megapixel wonders capable of capturing great family moments and occasional visits to zoos and parks. I also chanced upon a great photography book, made an effort to read it and now it rests solemnly on a shelf in my study.
From then till now, I’ve clicked almost anything I could capture -- from people to nature to inanimate objects. I have taken pictures of pictures, of streams and the snow, of beaches and candid moments.
Recently, my company organized an off-site business meet at this Reserve Forest Camp at Dubare in Karnataka. While the rest basked in the bounties of nature with group-building, team exercises and discussions thrown in, I honed my photographic skills. I took pride in spending those moonlit nights by the stream, clicking empty boats and abandoned fishing equipment left by the riverside. I even caught a few elephants in the wilderness on one of the safari rides. Those were great moments of solitude -- just the camera, tripod and my zest to get that perfect picture.
My resolve to wake up early every Sunday and drive down to the Lodhi Gardens to create a piece of art went in vain. The guilt keeps haunting me, but only until brunch. Only, I make it a point to carry my camera everywhere I go. I’ve learnt quite a few cool things just off the cuff and will strive to go on now, especially since I have this new lens on the list of items that must burn my pocket.
Feedback: saurav@kenscio.com
