WallMag E-Magazine Issue 1 by Team WallMag

WALLMAG

WHERE PHOTOS MEET

In Search of

STORIES

TRUE PHOTOGRAPHY E-MAGAZINE Issue 1

February www.wallmag.io

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial Team

Director's Desk

27 Photographer

03-57

Features

7 Learning Articles

58-72

Photo Gallery

73-83

Past Sponsors

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

FROM THE

EDITOR’S DESK Before Starting any further, we’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our entire team ( Rutika Pawar- Content Quality Analyst,

Riya Saha- Graphic Designer,

Devanshi Mittal-

Graphic Designer) for their constant support and encouragement in the working of the magazine.

We have dedicated this edition of the magazine to creators, innovators, and change-makers in the field of visual arts. We have various articles and groundbreaking stories of young and passionate artists from all over the world.

The magazine will give its readers an insight into the life of young and passionate photographers and cinematographers from everywhere around the world which will inspire young and

creative

minds

try

things

their

way

and

make

impact on society, not just by words but also by their work.

In the end, we’d like to thank everyone associated for their motivated and enthusiastic attitude towards their work to make sure that this edition of the magazine is also up to the

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

mark. Without them, the issue would have remained what we dreamt of it to be.

“YOU DON'T TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH, YOU MAKE IT.” -ANSEL ADAMS

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

FROM THE

DIRECTOR’S DESK With

the

horizons,

field it

influencing

has our

creativity stepped

lives

and

art

expanding

take

individuals.

The

huge

new

role

photographers,

who are the light of our society, have influenced the whole society to create art with light. On the horizon of visual arts, this edition of the magazine deals with articles and stories of photographers of the entire world. Our magazine has always been more than just a photo magazine. It is a vessel of inspiration for many amateur photographers. It is heaven for all creative minds to gain inspiration and showcase them on a bigger platform. It is a platform for readers and photographers to polish their skills for the future. Wallmag has always been a platform to

showcase

fresh

talent

the

magazine is a benchmark for all photo lovers and creators.

I’d like to congratulate everyone associated with the magazine for their

unwavering

support

and

dedication to making this edition

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

success.

Kudos

the

entire

team! I wish everyone good fortune and success in all future endeavors.

-Ajeet Meena Executive Director

creative

field.

Our

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

PHOTOGRAPHER FEATURES

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

KAPIL SHARMA A WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER AND PHOTOGRAPHY MENTOR

KAPIL SHARMA IS A WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER AND PHOTOGRAPHY MENTOR WHO CONDUCTS PHOTOGRAPHY LEARNING TOURS TO DIFFERENT WILDLIFE DESTINATIONS IN THE COUNTRY. HE HAS WON 1ST PRIZE IN VANGUARD NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST, HONORABLE MENTION IN EYEWIN INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST, AND OTHER CONTESTS. HIS WORK HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, AND HE HAS ALSO WORKED WITH CANON AS AN INFLUENCER FOR THEIR MIRROR-LESS CAMERA (EOS RP).

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

WHAT GOT YOU STARTED IN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY? I'll thank my Uncle for that. He is currently a retired physics professor who was fascinated by wildlife. He is a hobbyist wildlife photographer. During my childhood days, every summer vacation, I used to hang around with him in my village or city outskirts. He took me to places like Ranthambore, Tadoba, etc. I never saw a tiger in my first two years of safari experience but, wildlife and photography always fascinated me. This made me start it as a hobby when eventually turned to passion and now a profession.

DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR STYLE OF # HOW PHOTOGRAPHY? After spending a considerable amount of time in the wildlife photography field, I realized that to stand out from others, one needs to be unique! Playing with different outdoor lighting and compositions always fascinated me. Gradually, I decided to move from usual portraits to chase the light in my photography. I love to include elements of nature such as flowers, rain, dramatic clouds, fog/mist, in my images. I love Golden hours and a huge fan of bokeh. So, I would call myself a Creative wildlife photographer.

WHO IS YOUR INSPIRATION IN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AND WHY? Nature and animals are my inspiration. They have taught me a lot of things. Eventually, if you study animal behavior, you get to learn a lot from them. Also, when it comes to photography, Varun Aditya is my inspiration. His way of looking at the scene is totally different. I simply love his perspectives! He has given the wildlife world, a totally new perspective.

HOW DO YOU PLAN A SHOOT? One of the most important aspects before visiting any location for the shoot is to do the homework about that place. Find out the best time in the year to visit that place, the current wildlife activity/sightings in that area, the best zones/areas in that region, the best guides who know the location in and out, etc. I always book all my permits and guides well in advance so that I

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE MAKES YOUR WILDLIFE IMAGES SUCCESSFUL?

IS THERE ONE BIRD YOU'LL HAPPILY PHOTOGRAPH AGAIN AND AGAIN?

don't face any inconvenience at the last moment. I don't keep a specific routine for myself on the field, I try to shoot whatever I get from a different perspective. The key for me is to shoot in golden hours, chase the light, and position myself properly! Nail it, and you'll get your shot.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

Unique compositions and storytelling. I don't refer my pictures as good or bad. I refer to them as Successful or Unsuccessful. If my image can convey a story to my audience, it is a successful image for me.

Lesser kestrel, especially the male, is one bird that I can photograph my entire life. Lesser kestrel is a rare passage migrant to India but comes almost every year.

"BE YOURSELF, TRUST YOURSELF, AND YOUR PASSION WILL NEVER LET YOU SIT IDLE." - KAPIL SHARMA

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY, THE GEAR OR THE TECHNIQUE? In my opinion, both are equally important. You need better gear to make a good picture. Better gear helps during challenging wildlife conditions such as low light, distractions, fast action, etc. But on the other hand, if you have the suitable gear and you don't know how to use it, it makes no sense of having it. A camera is just a tool for taking images, it boils down to the skills after all. Invest your time and money in learning photography and explore your camera to the fullest. Push the limitations, break the boundaries. But all set and done, having suitable gear does play a vital role in a great picture.

YOU TELL US ABOUT THE MOST # CAN MEMORABLE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPERIENCE AND WHAT MADE IT SO SPECIAL?

It was the day I saw and photographed the rarest creature on this planet that was a semi melanistic black panther of Tadoba. It was a dream-come-true moment. I wanted to see a black panther from 2012, and it took me almost 8 years to witness one in the wild. Also, the image that I shot is still the best image of that individual from Tadoba to date among all the photographers who've captured it so far that's really special to me.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY A

# WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER REGULARLY?

Earning and making a living in this field is very tough. There is no market for it in our country. I don't earn from wildlife photography, I earn from conducting photography learning tours and mentoring people. Nowadays, there's a lot of competition in this too. Every other person will start his own tourism company. You have to be really good and unique to be in the market. Apart from this, people tend to hold a lot of grudges with each other in this field. If you are on a safari and when you see a tiger, you'll understand how competitive photographers are to get their own shot. They won't even give u space to position your jeep so that you can photograph it too. But you as a photographer need to be down to earth and helpful always!

'PATIENCE IS THE KEY TO WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY.' HOW FAR DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT? HOW MUCH YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO TAKE A SHOT? Absolutely it is! I don't really remember how many times I must have waited in one place for hours to get a shot that I want. As I mentioned

in Bharatpur, I skipped my breakfast & lunch and waited at one place for 8 hours in the mud to get a captivating eye-level shot of the Cormorants fishing.

WHAT YOU WOULD BE LOOKING FOR AS A JURY IN WALLMAG WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2020 IN SUBMISSIONS? I would love to see different kinds of creativity that participants can convey through their photographs. I will be looking for new perspectives and mesmerizing compositions. I would be delighted to look at images that convey a story, creates an impact on the viewer's mind and photographs that are extremely difficult to capture, such as the action shots.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

about the black panther, it took me almost 8 years to capture it. Once

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

MOHAMMED ANEEZ A CREATIVE STORYTELLER AND MINIMALIST PHOTOGRAPHER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY. WHAT DREW YOU INTO THIS WORLD? I was interested in photography from a very young age. I always used to play around with mobile cameras and something just got clicked. Instagram wasn't a big back then, so I took inspiration from several photographers whom I saw on Facebook and also from my older cousin, who worked along the same line.

ANEEZ MOHAMMED IS AN INFLUENCER FROM INDIA, VISUAL COMMUNICATION GRADUATE, AND A PASSIONATE PHOTOGRAPHER WITH RATHER UNUSUAL PERSPECTIVES. PHOTOGRAPHY SPIKED HIS INTEREST FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE AND THAT'S HOW HE ENDED UP DANGLING OVER THE RAILS FOR THE GRAM. MINIMALISM IS HIS FORTE AND HE BELIEVES IN THE FACT THAT LESS IS ALWAYS MORE. HE HAS WORKED HARD WITH CONTENT CREATION AND INSTAGRAM HAS TRULY PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN HELPING HIM TO INTERACT, LEARN, INSPIRE PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE AND EVENTUALLY DEVELOP AS AN ARTIST & CREATOR.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR PROJECTS? DO YOU PICTURE BEFOREHAND IN YOUR MIND THE IMAGES YOU TAKE? Before creating content for my feed or as a part of my projects, I always picture what I want my work to look like, what kind of emotions to entice in my audience, and try to foresee the art that I want to create before I head into it.

DO YOU GET YOUR CREATIVE # WHERE INSPIRATION FROM? I believe that inspiration is always all around us, depends on what the people are hyping about that particular period, taking a subject to which the audience can relate to, always has a positive impact on my work. I try to stick to my forte which mainly consists of minimalism and flat lay. I occasionally check out the works of other artists and images shared on Pinterest to get better clarity of what exactly I'm going for.

WHAT WORKS MORE EFFECTIVELY FOR YOUR IMAGINATION OR INSPIRATION? Inspiration helps but Imagination is what makes it go from a 1 to a 100 because at the end of the day, creativity is based on how far, wide, and crazy you can imagine to put yourself in and that truly helps in creating the best content.

WHAT’S ONE QUALITY THAT YOU POSSESS AS A PHOTOGRAPHER THAT SETS YOU APART? FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

I am someone who started minimal photography when it wasn't popular in India, it is something that I relate to and can create good content out of. I primarily use my phone for most of my photos. I try to create the best photos by just using my phone and basic editing apps, I think that has helped me to stand out a little bit but that's a question more for the audience than it is for me.

"INSPIRATION HELPS BUT IMAGINATION IS WHAT MAKES IT GO FROM A 1 TO A 100." - MOHAMMED ANEEZ

DOES YOUR WORKFLOW LOOK # WHAT LIKE, FROM THE START OF A PROJECT TO A PRINT?

Well, being a part of the Instagram world, haven't gotten a lot of my works printed, but my workflow would look something like this:

1. If I'm inspired by something, I quickly jot it down in my notes. 2. Try to source all the things that I need for the shoot. 3. Try setting them in different styles, if I'm going for a flat lay and if I'm working on a portrait then I try to play with the lighting and background. 4. Editing and re-editing till I am fully satisfied with the end product.

Something I've learned from my journey is that the style, idea, and inspiration is always under improvisation, so what I'm going for and the result might be completely different but as long as I'm satisfied with the work, it goes up on the gram.

WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD IMAGE AND AN ICONIC IMAGE? Say, if I were to take about 50 shots, there's a good chance that only 3 of them would make it to my feed. I select photos that I find impressive or 'good' in this case, but an iconic photo for me would be when the photographer is recognized for a particular shot he took. It would be a moment When a photo becomes viral not because of who was behind the lens but what was captured in front of it.

WHAT TOOLS YOU FOR EDITING? WHAT ELEMENT MAKES AN IMAGE SO CREATIVE THAT IT CAN BE DIFFERENTIATED FROM ORDINARY ONES? The

basic

tools

use

for

editing

phone

are

VSCO

and

Snapsneed but if I want to do something specific with a certain picture, I try to work it out in Photoshop or play around a little in Lightroom until I find something I'm satisfied with. The thought that

goes behind each shot plays an important role in how the pictures turn out but then again that is dependent on so many other things, but I'd go with, being original or trying out your style in photography is what makes a picture stand out.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? If I can do it, I truly believe that you can too, I know that sounds cliche. People usually think that they need several types of equipment to

make

their

photography

better

but

that's

not

the

truth.

Use

whatever you have, no matter how little it is, play around with it, find your style and that's how you grow because I am someone who grew on the platform with just my mobile phone. So, for that very reason, I believe you can too.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

GURSIMRAN BASRA PASSIONATE TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER

GURSIMRAN BASRA IS A PASSIONATE TRAVELER HAVING A FULL-TIME JOB. HE IS NATIVE TO CHANDIGARH AND PUTTING UP IN NOIDA FOR 5 YEARS. HE LOVES TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT CULTURES, FOOD, PLACES, AND PEOPLE. HE BELIEVES THAT EVERY PLACE HAS GOT ITS UNIQUE CHARM AND CAPTURING MOMENTS EVENTUALLY BECOME MEMORIES ONE DAY.

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR STYLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? I would say that anything which depicts Life, has got emotions and taste of a place uniquely narrates a photograph. My style is into everyday moments, portraits, and destinations.

IF YOU COULD WITNESS THE PERFECT STREET SCENE AT THE RIGHT, DECISIVE MOMENT, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE? I would love to witness as many Everyday Moments possible that belongs to daily life and happenings.

WHAT MAKES STREET PHOTOGRAPHY FASCINATING FOR YOU? Street photographs have unique emotions in it. A person can connect to it very instantly and can feel their presence at the place seen in a photograph. Street photographs are so natural and dynamic that they tend to narrate a story.

HOW DID YOU TRAIN YOURSELF TO OBSERVE SUCH BEAUTY IN THE DAILY MUNDANE STUFF?

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

By exploring more and more and getting familiar with the local scenes as much possible.

CAN YOU SHARE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN LIFE REGARDING PHOTOGRAPHY? My work has been at cnn.com and featured on Apple, Discovery Channel India, Natgeotraveller India, Natgeo India, etc.

"STREET PHOTOGRAPHS ARE SO NATURAL AND DYNAMIC THAT THEY TEND TO NARRATE A STORY." - GURSIMRAN BASRA

YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE # IN IMPORTANCE OF PORTRAITS IN TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY?

Portraits have the importance of their own in Travel Photography. They tell a lot about the surroundings and what impact they lay on an individual's soul. In other words, portraits can tell a thousand stories through silent emotions.

ADVICE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE # WHAT TO BUDDING TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHERS? Explore as much as possible in your capacity and circumstances with the device you are comfortable in.

LET'S GET TECHNICAL, WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY GEARS DO YOU PREFER? I have been consistently using a Mobile Phone for years now.

WHAT'S TYPICALLY IN YOUR CAMERA BAG? IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC CAMERA YOU PREFER FOR SHOOTING PEOPLE? A power bank to keep my Mobile Phone going as it is my primary and only device of shooting.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Connect and feel the surroundings as that might help one to get familiar with the local scene.

09 FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

SASI KUMAR AMAZING MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY USING MOBILE PHONE

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

DID YOU FIRST GET INTO # HOW PHOTOGRAPHY? Initially, I took normal pictures like others. Later, I thought it was not unique and started focusing on the macro theme. For trying macros, I started collecting gears for my smartphone and learned them in depth. I have also created some own techniques and ideas that helped me a lot in taking perfect pictures. In today's world, everyone takes pictures I just thought of being more creative and innovative from other photographers which helped me a lot in getting

SASI KUMAR IS A FINAL YEAR B.E COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENT AT KINGSTON ENGINEERING COLLEGE, VELLORE. TAKING PHOTOGRAPHY AS A PASSION, HE BROKE DOWN THE BARRIERS THAT ONLY HIGH-END DSLR WILL PRODUCE GOOD PHOTOGRAPHS AND ACHIEVING IT WITH THE USE OF A SMARTPHONE. PHOTOGRAPHY HAS VARIOUS FIELDS BUT HE THOUGHT OF BEING A BIT UNIQUE AND STARTED FOCUSING ON MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY. DURING THIS JOURNEY, HE HAS BEEN FEATURED ON VARIOUS PLATFORMS SUCH AS PETAPIXEL, BOREDPANDA, NATGEOLATAM, FIRSTPRINT, CHIIZMAGAZINE, ETC AND ALSO WON MANY COMPETITIONS.

more reach.

WE COME ACROSS SINGLE SUBJECTS IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT IT? Yes, that's right. I maintain the same concept of macro throughout my feed on Instagram. I do capture all types of photography with my smartphone yet I post only macro pictures as I want to showcase the beauty of the tiny things in nature to this world and I found that people do change their perspective towards the insects, now they have started to love insects instead of hating them.

IN MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY, IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT TO GET YOUR SUBJECT COMPLETELY IN FOCUS AS YOU GET CLOSER. IS THERE A SPECIFIC TECHNIQUE THAT YOU USE TO GET AS MUCH OF THE SUBJECT IN FOCUS AS POSSIBLE? Yes, getting proper focus is the main thing in macro photography and for achieving this it requires much practice. For getting proper focus you must understand the lenses properly that how they work, whats the focus distance, etc. I usually get support with any static object for getting more stability while clicking macros.

WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT DO YOU

TO SHOOT THE PHOTOGRAPH? IS IT # USE THE SAME FOR ALL PHOTOGRAPHS?

WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY? FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

I used to explore a lot of things on Instagram. In that way, I discovered many great pictures, captured by various Photographers all around the world. During my 2nd year of engineering, I got very much interested in photography and decided to capture the photographs with my smartphone camera. Initially, I clicked all types of photographs, later I got very much attracted by macro and started developing passion towards it.

"PATIENCE IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY." - SASI KUMAR

I use a macro lens externally with the smartphone for magnifying the tiny subjects and various magnification lenses for different sized subjects.

WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF SPECIALTY WITHIN MACRO? WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE WITHIN THAT SPECIALTY? Macro can be done with any tiny subject, but I especially focus on insects which requires a lot of practice and patience. Clicking insects requires a lot of patience since the insect won't be steady for a long time. One should be prepared to handle all kinds of circumstances during photography like bad weather, harsh wind, etc. By the time I find a subject, I should calculate which lens will be suitable for this subject and also the frame, composition which matters a lot.

DO YOU USUALLY MAKE ANY FURTHER EDITS/POST-PROCESSING ONTO YOUR PHOTOS? IF SO, WHAT SOFTWARE DO YOU USE? Since I take the pictures in a planned manner, I don't need much post-processing. I just use Lightroom and Snapseed for some color correction and detailing.

CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESS? My photography process is a planned one. Firstly, I plan a location like a field or any specific place and then visit those places in the morning before sunrise. Later, I search around for some specific subject, if I find any subject then I observe them for some time as what

they

do,

how

they

are

doing,

are

they

looking

for

some

predator, etc. I also plan for the composition & framing at the same time then and the next step is to approach them for photographs.

IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK # HOW COMPOSITION IS IN MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY? After spotting the insects, I always observe the activities of those insects whether they are in rest, stalking, or a hurry. Then I slowly move towards them calmly so that they do not move away. I pan my smartphone steadily and slowly towards the insect. Patience is the

key in macrophotography. For a crisp and detailed shot which requires more stability, for that I get to support my hands towards the ground or any static object which acts as a tripod for me.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Patience is the key to success in macro photography. It’s not easy like human portraits, humans will understand our commands but these tiny creatures can't be handled. It’s a time-consuming art. When we use a macro lens, we have to go much closer to the insect, so the trick is to pan

slowly

towards

the

insect

without

any

hurry.

lot

experimentation with the camera and include your creativity in your picture.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

RIDDHESH PATEL A MINIMALIST PHOTOGRAPHER

RIDDHESH PATEL IS AN ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEER WORKING IN A MULTI NATIONAL COMPANY AND SIDE BY SIDE FOLLOWING HIS HOBBY AS A MINIMALIST PHOTOGRAPHER.

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY. WHAT DREW YOU INTO THIS WORLD? I began taking pictures in my college days when smartphones were introduced. I always loved geometry and shapes. I used to always hunt for shapes and symmetry in my frames. So there's a short story behind it how I started Minimalism photography. I was standing near a plain wall that had two bright red doors on it. I opened my camera, took a picture of it, and captured them. That image gave me peace and for some reason, I liked it a lot even though it was pretty much basic and simple. Later I started capturing such images that have more negative space. Decluttering unwanted things while keeping my frame neat and clean. After that, I started applying my crafts and creative mind to create minimal pictures.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR PROJECTS? DO YOU PICTURE BEFOREHAND IN YOUR MIND THE IMAGES YOU TAKE? Specifically for projects, I sketch a blueprint in my mind about how to showcase my object. What colors, props, etc to be used so that it meets the brand's requirements. Sometimes I have to prepare a rough schematic diagram on paper if I want to do a Stop Motion video. And to be honest, many a time I just think then start working on my project and get the ideas on the spot. It's like a trial and error process.

DEVELOPING A MINIMALIST APPROACH TO PHOTOGRAPHY IS SOMETHING YOU’RE KNOWN FOR. WHY THIS STYLE AND WHAT INFLUENCES LIE BEHIND YOUR UNIQUE VISUALS? I liked the amount of peace and visual delight I get when I remove the unwanted things from my frame. Keeping it simple and basic is my aim. I think with less you can create more and express more what you want to convey. It's often said simple things are the most complex. This is what exactly I try to convey my artworks to the audience by challenging this fact.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

PHOTO-EDITING PROGRAM DO # WHAT YOU USE? I mostly edit my photos on the Instagram app and the PicsArt app. There are no high-end software applications that I use in

I have been provided with Instagram's suggested user badge. My photography image was selected in a competition and got displayed on Mumbai Metro. I have worked and been working with many national & international brands, been collaborating and providing them with my minimal images & art concept.

"DO NOT TAKE A PAUSE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHICH IDEA STRIKES YOU AND THAT CAN BE A BREAKTHROUGH." - RIDDHESH PATEL

the process.

08 FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN LIFE REGARDING PHOTOGRAPHY?

CAN YOU GIVE US AN INSIGHT INTO THE DYNAMICS BEHIND YOUR PHOTOS? DO YOU TAKE THEM ALL YOURSELF? OR DO YOU GET HELP FROM OTHERS TO CREATE THESE ARTISTIC SHOOTS?

98 percentage of images are taken by me (2 percent are such images where I am myself in the frame for which my friends assist me) and talking about minimal flat lay images for my project works I take all the images by myself.

WHAT’S THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT

FACED WHEN CAPTURING # YOU’VE COMPOSITIONS? AND HOW DID YOU GET PAST IT?

Usually, when I am on run for minimal Photowalk on the streets I stumble with some obstacles like too many people around in my frame, some tree or overhead wires, etc coming in my view when I am about to take photos of facades of the building. Many a time it is unavoidable and I cannot do much about it. So I select a timeframe and less crowded and only such locations and LOS is good.

DO YOU THINK YOUR WORK WILL # HOW CHANGE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS? I have just one thing kept in mind. That's to be consistent and keep following what I am doing. I am learning new ways and some more techniques which might help to master my art in the future. Also, I have been seeing that minimalism trend has taken speed in recent years at least in India (other countries wee bit ahead of us in this art form) So hoping more people will understand and try to apply this art form in the future.

CAN YOU THROW SOME LIGHT ON YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESS, FROM START TO END? IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC CAMERA OR LENS YOU PREFER TO USE? Firstly, I would like to say that I do not use how to operate DSLR, I have zero knowledge about the lens, ISO, shutter speed, etc. and such technical terms. I am doing my projects and minimal

normal inbuilt camera mode and not on pro mode. I do not even have a tripod, stands, and lightings. I make sure that whatever photos I shoot are in the presence of natural light and by using the inbuilt grid feature available in every mobile camera.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Patience is the first key. Followed by dedication and consistency. If you

love

photography

matter

which

genre

is.

personal

experience is to keep doing and experimenting with new things. Do not take a pause. You never know which idea strikes you and that can be a breakthrough. The most important thing. Do it for yourself. Not to satisfy others, not to be in a race with others, not for the sake of followers, not for the numbers. Compete with yourself and try to improvise on yourself.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

photography completely on a mobile camera and that too on a

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

RAGHAV RAI RALHAN A SPLENDID TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER

RAGHAV RAI RALHAN IS A BUSINESSMAN FROM DELHI, WHO TURNED INTO A PHOTOGRAPHER. HE LOVES TO TRAVEL AND EXPLORE NEW PLACES, CULTURES AND MEET NEW PEOPLE.

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

HOW DID YOU BREAK INTO TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY? Well as a Creative mind, I'm always looking for something new. When I did my first photography tour, I realized how amazing experience it is to go to new places and document everything with your camera. Being sure enough of my skills, I captured some great images on that tour and one of which got published in a magazine as well. So After that, I was pretty sure that Travel Photography is going to help me out satisfy my hunger for new things.

CAN YOU SHARE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN LIFE REGARDING PHOTOGRAPHY AND MOTIVATION BEHIND IT? I have won several photography awards & an Honorable mention at theInternational Photography Awards 2018, got published in Chiiz Magazine Volume 16 with a full-page feature & Chiiz Magazine Volume 28, been featured on many accounts of Instagram including some big brands like Sony Alpha India, Sony Alpha Turkey, Oneplus India, Condé Nast Traveller India. I have also worked with esteemed brands like Panasonic Lumix Cameras, GoAirlines, Uber India, Hotstar, and many more. Each and everytime my works get recognized It is a motivation itself.

HOW HAS PHOTOGRAPHY ENABLED YOU # TO CONNECT WITH LOCAL CULTURES? I personally believe that the camera works as a universal language. Even if you don't know the local language, you can just walk up to the locals with a camera in your hand and a smile on your face and that's enough. They will welcome you in their lives, share their daily routine with you and you can learn a lot about their culture just with the help of your camera. While this works most of the times I'll still recommend learning a few locals words before going somewhere new.

WHAT VALUE DO PORTRAITS HAVE IN

# TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY?

Portraits for me are as important as other pictures. A single portrait can speak volumes for the culture, heritage and local

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LENS FOR TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY? FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

14 My 24-70 f2.8 SONY G Master lens. The focal length is so versatile that I can click Landscapes and portraits with a single lens. Also the quality is outstanding and it's weather sealed which makes it perfect for travelling.

"EVERY VIEWER READ A PHOTOGRAPH DIFFERENTLY. WHICH I PERSONALLY FIND VERY INTERESTING." - RAGHAV RAI RALHAN

life of the place. Also you get to connect with the locals and they also get excited to get themselves clicked which is nothing but amazing for any photographer.

# DO YOU AGREE WITH THE ADAGE ‘A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS’?

Absolutely. In my opinion videos often tell stories in a less interesting way than a picture does because in a video you have a narration, you are learning what is been spoken, so all the viewers know the same story. But a picture can have so many stories because the photographer tried to give a certain message through his/her photograph but that doesn't mean that a viewer can't have their own version of it. Every viewer read a photograph differently. Which I personally find very interesting.

HOW HAS INSTAGRAM CHANGED TRAVEL # PHOTOGRAPHY? I think Instagram is the perfect tool to search images. Many people (including myself), search for the pictures of the place they are visiting beforehand and that really helps you out to scout out locations to shoot. It is also helpful for showcasing your travel work rather I will say Instagram is the best platform right now. Many brands specially the travel industry is focusing more to advertise on Instagram. they can reach a much wider audience as compared to a traditional Travel magazine which in return results in more and more people Travelling. So, yes Instagram is actually boosting Travel Industry including the travel photographers.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR # HOW PHOTOGRAPHIC VISION? WHAT KIND OF FEEL DO YOU TRY AND CREATE IN YOUR PHOTOS? I usually try to find new and different perspectives, but some time the things look best in their simplest form so I click them like that only. I mostly try to show my version of things what I see. So you can say I try to keep them as close to the real thing that I saw but with a little touch of my vision in it.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS LOOKING TO GET INTO TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY? Start small in the beginning, try travelling to places which are budget friendly and a bit familiar to you. Even if you have visited that place before if you go there again with a camera, I'm sure your perspective will change. The Most important thing is to Plan Ahead, not just for your

Travel Photography, it is very important for you to secure yourself and people that depend on you financially as you won't start earning from this right away. So make sure you can survive in that period when you will travel and try to make a name for yourself.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Photography is a form of Art, so feel free to express yourself in the way you want. There are rules in photography but don't mind breaking them every now and then to create something new. If you are new to this, take full advantage of platforms like Instagram and YouTube. Use Instagram to showcase your work and observe other's works as well. Use YouTube to learn anything that you want to know about photography.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

travels but for your future as well. If you want to get into something like

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

VISHNU RAVEENDRAN CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHER AND FOUNDER OF VAVVAL CLICK

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN LIFE REGARDING PHOTOGRAPHY? I got many appreciations for doing concept shoots about current situations of the world, got sixth position in the world's most dedicated photographers list and also got chances to interact with many reknowned photographers & celebrities.

HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR STYLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? Mostly, I do concept shoots about situations and incidents happening in our society. So, I try to visualize those incidents

VISHNU RAVEENDRAN IS A PHOTOGRAPHER FROM THRISSUR DISTRICT, KERALA WHO GOES BEYOND LIMITS TO CAPTURE HIS VISION. HE HOLDS 6TH POSITION IN THE WORLD'S MOST DEDICATED PHOTOGRAPHERS LIST, DOES FASHION, WEDDING, BABY SHOOTS, CONCEPT SHOOTS AND WORKS AS A FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER. HE IS AN INFLUENCER & AN INNOVATOR ONE SHOULD FOLLOW.

as a picture and that depicts my style of photography.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER? I have been a photographer for the last 5 years.

WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT PHOTOGRAPHING? I prefer to do daily wage work in the construction field, when I am not photographing.

16 FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

WHAT PHOTO-EDITING PROGRAM DO YOU USE? I use Lightroom cc mobile version for editing my photographs.

"BE DEDICATED WITH YOUR ALL WORKS AND U WILL WIN." - VISHNU RAVEENDRAN

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON RAW

# IMAGES VS IMAGES THAT HAVE BEEN WORKED ON (PHOTOSHOP)?

I use photoshop less because I always prefer smartphone for editing photographs.

DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A # WHAT PHOTOGRAPHER? As a photographer I like to enjoy the life of an artist.

TELL US THROUGH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

# PROCESS. HOW DO YOU COMPLETE YOUR WORK FROM START TO FINISH?

According to me, color grading is the only one thing as a process, other things are done with a flow if we have a dedicated mindset towards work.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Be dedicated with your all works and u will win.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

SANTSHREE SINHA A FINE ART TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER

SANTSHREE SINHA IS A FINE ART TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER WHO LOVES TO CREATE VISUALLY INSPIRING PHOTOGRAPHS, WHILE TRAVELING TO DIFFERENT PLACES. HE BELIEVES IN LEARNING NEW THINGS AND ENHANCE HIMSELF EVERY SINGLE DAY.

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE THE STORY

# ABOUT THE START OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY?

It all started with my father's first camera mobile phone, 6-7 years back. As every photographer starts, I too started clicking flowers and sunsets from my backyard. As I started gaining interest in it, I soon switched to a small digital camera from where my journey began pragmatically. I never wanted to end being an average guy and photography seemed the perfect gateway for me. I started creating images, met many amazing people through my journey from whom I learned a lot of things which grew me as a photographer and as an artist as a whole.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE WORK YOU DO? I would describe my work as 'Visual Poetries'. I love to look for the magical moments and create stunning out of ordinary and hence, showcase visually inspiring photographs which is usually more than what meets the eye!

YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR # CAN ACHIEVEMENTS IN LIFE REGARDING PHOTOGRAPHY?

I believe that inspiration is always all around us, depends on what the people are hyping about that particular period, taking a subject to which the audience can relate to, always has a positive impact on my work. I try to stick to my forte which mainly consists of minimalism and flat lay. I occasionally check out the works of other artists and images shared on Pinterest to get better clarity of what exactly I'm going for.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES

# YOU’VE FACED TO GET THE PHOTO YOU WANT?

I have been beaten up for a photo during Holi in MaturaVrindavan, because I was wearing my slippers while standing inside the temple! It was rough. I got my shot though! Other common challenges include the passing away of moments when you are trying to frame a particular thing and it won't

WHAT VALUE DO PORTRAITS HAVE IN TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY? FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

Portraits of the local people of the respective place concerned are so valuable! They carry the essence of the place, the culture, the feeling, everything in a single frame. Portraits are, and will always be one of the best things to create in photography.

"KEEP CLICKING, KEEP LEARNING, KEEP EXPLORING! " - SANTSHREE SINHA

come as you have pictured. I waited once for more than an hour to frame perfect shot, which was really tiring but, rewarding in the end!

WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR TOP 3 PLACES TO PHOTOGRAPH SO FAR AND WHY?

1. Jaipur, because it has so much to offer and the architecture and monuments are simply majestic. The views you get there are aweinspiring and is relatively easier to find great frames. 2. Varanasi, because it has a different aura altogether. There are frames everywhere and even if you don't click pictures, you get to learn a lot as a traveler and as a human being. 3. Delhi, because there are many genres and varied places that you can explore and hone your skills as a photographer. You get to learn from the people here.

WHAT CAMERA(S) DO YOU USE ON YOUR TRAVELS? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TRAVEL CAMERA BAG? I use Sony Alpha A6000 along with a 18-105mm f/4 lens. That's my only kit. I have an Amazonbasics camera bag that I use all the time.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE BUSINESS AND # MARKETING SIDE — ONCE YOU’RE BACK

FROM YOUR TRAVELS, HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME? Once I come back from my travels, I usually do a review of all the pictures that I have clicked on that particular travel. I segregate and group the images according to the place and type. Along with this, I keep on working on my social media as well as real world projects. I tend to post pictures not just on Instagram but at various channels.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Getting

fame

and

everything

social

media

great

morale

boost-up for anyone, but as a true artist, never attach your emotions to any social media and never let it hamper your work and life. Keep clicking, keep learning, keep exploring!

19 FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

VICKKY IDNAANI FAMOUS FASHION AND FILM PHOTOGRAPHER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH PHOTOGRAPHY? I have trained at the JJ School of Art. I managed to conquer fashion, advertising, portraits, portfolios of young aspirants, prewedding shoots, Street Photography, Publicity Stills & Film Posters. I advise while you guys need to find your own niche, you have to find teams also so you can do various kinds of shoots that come your way. I have had the opportunity to work & learn from filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Hansal Mehta, Omung Kumar, Sandeep Singh to name a few.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NEW THINGS ON WHICH YOU ARE WORKING ON? Recently I shot posters of the Vivek Oberoi film #PMNarendraModi, a music video for Yuvraj Parashar called

JOURNEY STARTED WITH SHOOTING FEMINA COVERS OF AISHWARYA RAI & KATRINA KAIF. NOW IT HAS GROWN INTO DOING A HATTRICK OF BOOK COVERS OF SUPERSTARS RISHI KAPOOR, HEMA MALINI.

"Sajda". Newer avenues are coming up like web series and short films. Currently, I am excited about the comeback of Ex-miss India-universe Celina Jaitley in my friend Ram kamal Mukherjee's short film Seasons Greetings.

# WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTELE? Besides almost every "on and off the camera" celebrity. Advertising clients have been brands like Raymond, Westside campaign for Simone Tata, Rare Heritage for Nakshatra & Manushi Singh and Oma by Rana for the power couple Harshad & Vandana.

FEW OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE #A MOMENTS OF THE PHOTO-SHOOTS? I A photoshoot with Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai- I shot them all in one frame for the film Khakhee. Also, I remember clicking Rekhaji while she was inaugurating my studio by cutting the ribbon.

SHARE SOME IMAGES THAT ARE VERY

WHAT ARE YOUR INGREDIENTS TO PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY?

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

While Pre-wedding shoots are the newest edition to my work of portraits, besides understanding your subject. Clothes, makeup, hair, styling, Posing just about everything is important for portrait photography. Working with professional photographers helps aspiring actors to understand all the above for their career in modelling and movies. Also young couples for their D-day.

"IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO CLICK WITH PEOPLE THAN TO CLICK THE SHUTTER.” - VICKKY IDNAANI

# SPECIAL TO YOU.

IS THE FUN PART OF BEING A # WHAT FASHION AND FILM PHOTOGRAPHER? Ghar ki murgi is not dal barabar. Even Family and friends listen to you. My nephews and nieces: Mahesh, Puneet, Richa, Pearl, Muskaan, Masoom, Paarth want to know the latest trends. My blogger friend, Miss Koffee tales Skimmy Gupta checks with me for her home decor requirements. Chef cum food consultant Avinash Bamania consults me for his Zumba training. I am surely a part-time stylist and a wannabe wedding planner too. Attaching a picture here of my kid brother cum nephew Mahesh's wedding. I Managed to style him & the family for his wedding day!

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF THIS PROFESSION? The perks. Doing interviews with you, Winning awards, being a faculty at

Mithibai

college.

Speaking

Dinesh

Rahejas

media

image

building workshop. And always looking forward to exploring. What else is possible?

IS THERE ANY ADVICE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? "It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.”

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

AMEYA HANDORE A CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHER "VISUAL INTERVIEWS WITH WALLMAG

VISUAL INTERVIEWS IS AN ONGOING WALLMAG SERIES WHERE WE GET TO KNOW ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS THROUGH TEXTLESS Q&A'S AND TODAY WE ARE INTRODUCING AMEYA HANDORE, A CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHER KNOWN FOR THE RESULT OF BEING THERE AT THE RIGHT MOMENT.

# HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?

IS YOUR VISION OF A PERFECT # WHAT WORLD?

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

# HOW DO YOU SEE THE WORLD?

CAN YOU SHARE A PHOTO OF YOURS ON

# YOUR HOME WALL WHICH ALWAYS MAKES YOU PROUD?

# WHAT IS YOUR VISION OF A PERFECT DAY?

#WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN TO YOU?

# WHAT DO YOU FEAR MOST?

#HOW DO YOU CONNECT WITH OTHERS?

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF 10 YEARS # WHERE FROM NOW?

23 FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

# WHAT CAN'T YOU LIVE WITHOUT?

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

DIVINA RIKHYE PORTRAIT AND FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

OUR READERS A BIT ABOUT DIVINA # TELL RIKHYE. I’m a Mumbai-based photographer. My work mainly consists of portrait and fashion photography and has appeared in a few publications. Having had experience under commercial and creative photographer Rohan Shrestha at a very young age, I pursued my love for photography further and went ahead to study in New York and Milan. I believe in looking at the world through various eyes.

WHEN IT CAME TO STARTING OUT IN

# PHOTOGRAPHY, WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST FOCUS?

I think my main focus was to shoot portraits. When I first started out, trying new lighting techniques always fascinated me, black and white especially. Experimenting a lot with different lighting techniques for portraits. Recently I have been doing more creative fashion work.

HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR STYLE OF

HOW WOULD YOU # PHOTOGRAPHY? DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

I discovered my style of photography while working with Rohan Shrestha. His work inspired and evolved me a lot. Continuing that I think I would describe my style as a breath of fresh air. It's young & vibrant.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT PHOTOGRAPHING? I prefer to do daily wage work in the construction field, when I am not photographing.

"I BELIEVE IN LOOKING AT THE WORLD THROUGH VARIOUS EYES." - DIVINA RIKHYE

YOU’VE CLEARLY WORKED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF MODELS, WHAT TIPS CAN YOU RECOMMEND TO PEOPLE LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR PORTFOLIO? I would say keep reaching out to people, keep putting your work up there so people understand your style and connect to you for the same.

FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWS FOR

# QUITE A BIT OF EXPERIMENTATION. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

I take a lot of inspiration from photographers like Peter Lindbergh and Helmut Newton. Their work fascinates me. I recently did a fashion photography course in Milan. I take a lot of inspiration from the city & my teachers. Travelling for me is invigorating.

WHEN YOU’RE WORKING WITH A MODEL,

# HOW IMPORTANT IS COMMUNICATION DURING A SHOOT?

I feel its important meeting the model before the day of the shoot and

understanding

the

vibe

its

easier

for

them

feel

comfortable during the shoot. Just letting them be who they are and letting it reflect through your images.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

HITESH CHAWLA WILDLIFE AND INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

I LOVE CAPTURING ANIMALS. THEY'RE HARMLESS UNLESS PROVOKED. IF YOUR FEELINGS ARE GOOD FOR THEM, THEY'LL UNDERSTAND AND WILL COOPERATE WITH YOU. THERE ARE PLENTY OF REASONS TO LOVE THEM. - HITESH CHAWLA

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

OUR READERS A BIT ABOUT HITESH # TELL CHAWLA Started my wildlife photography journey in 2012, now I am in India's Top30 & World's Top100 wildlife photographers. Wildlife photography, blogging and travelling is my passion where professionally I work as an Interior Photographer and content writer.

WHAT DRAWS YOU PARTICULARLY TO

# NATURE AND WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY?

The beauty of Nature. How these birds and animals speak even without speaking, how they know, understand and respect each other, how the beauty of Mother Nature makes you go awestruck every now and then.

WHEN ON A SAFARI, DO YOU LOOK FOR

# SPECIFIC SPECIES, IF SO HOW WOULD

YOU RECOMMEND PREPARING FOR THAT?

PLEASE SHARE IMAGES THAT ARE VERY SPECIAL TO YOU.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

"THE BEAUTY OF MOTHER NATURE MAKES YOU GO AWESTRUCK EVERY NOW AND THEN." - HITESH CHAWLA

No, I don't go by a specific species. I prefer capturing any species in the most beautiful way possible.

WHAT MAKES ANIMALS SO SPECIAL FOR YOU AND CAN YOU PLEASE MENTION ANY SPECIAL MOMENT WITH THEM? I love capturing animals. They're harmless unless provoked. If your feelings are good for them, they'll understand and will cooperate with you. There are plenty of reasons to love them. Capturing my first Tiger was very special for me. I almost had teary eyes when I saw him for the first time. He came, sat under a pond, hardly a few feet away from our gipsy and looked towards me with those innocent eyes. It was enough for me to forget everything. I fell in love with animals and Mother Nature.

DO YOU HOPE TO SHOW IN YOUR # WHAT IMAGES? I always prefer clicking habitat shots. They show the ambience, the value of nature.

DO YOU THINK PHOTOGRAPHY CAN # HOW CHANGE PEOPLE’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS FEW ENDANGERED SPECIES / WILDLIFE?

They'll understand the value of different species. They'll understand the value of habitat. They will understand that in order to protect a particular species, you need to protect the habitat first. And for all these

things,

photography

can

play

vital

role.

It'll

make

them

understand how that species will look without habitat? Will they get a good frame of an endangered species in a concrete jungle? Will they ever get to see that species? I personally love capturing a Tiger on a river bed in a forest rather than in a Zoo.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

TAPAN SHETH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

OUR READERS A BIT ABOUT TAPAN # TELL SHETH. I am from Gujarat and running a software company from the last 14 years. Photography for me is like something which I can't live without.

DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH # HOW WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY? As I bought my first DSLR it was just to click my daughter's picture while we are on vacation. But soon after once, we went for a safari to Gir national park. And this royal animal the Asiatic lion, the atmosphere of the jungle and all. I fall on in love with them all and this is how its all started.

DON'T RUN BEHIND COSTLY GEARS. FIRST, LEARN EVERYTHING ABOUT ANIMALS, STUDY THEM. WORK HARD TO GET SHOTS. NOT COSTLY GEARS GIVE U BEST SHOTS- TAPAN SHETH. HIS PICTURES AND VIDEOS ARE ALSO PUBLISHED IN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND BBC.

INSPIRES YOU ABOUT WILDLIFE # WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY? Everything about it. Animals, habitat, jungles and to make people more aware of conversations and wildlife.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY A

# WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER ON A REGULAR BASIS?

SHARE SOME PICTURES THAT ARE VERY SPECIAL TO YOU.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

" WORK HARD TO GET SHOTS. NOT COSTLY GEARS GIVE YOU BEST SHOTS." - TAPAN SHETH

There are many like being there in filed kind of worst conditions from 48 heat to -4 degree. Hours of waiting. Travelling to tough places etc. and above all the results are not always satisfactory.

# WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE IMAGE?

It depends on which place I am visiting. Have to plan from choosing lenses, camera, outfits, permits and all to plan.

# STORY BEHIND THE ABOVE PICTURE. It is a very precious picture, showing how Asiatic lion sharing their habitat with humans and how they live safely with each other.

ANY ADVICE YOU WANT TO GIVE TO NEW

# WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHERS.

Don't run behind costly gears. First, learn everything about animals, study them. Work hard to get shots. Not costly gears give you best shots.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

# HOW DO YOU PLAN A SHOOT?

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

SUMER VERMA SCUBA DIIVING INSTRUCTOR, UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER AND FILM-MAKER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

# TELL US ABOUT SUMER VERMA Sumer is a veteran scuba diving instructor and underwater photographer. He is passionate about the oceans and extremely concerned about their plight at the moment. He hopes to foster a love for the ocean amongst everybody and encourage its care and conservation through his photography. A passionate nature and wildlife lover.

US WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, HOW # TELL DID YOU BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER? It started when I first went to Lakshadweep in 1997 and fell in love with the ocean and scuba diving. There was so much beauty around that I felt the need to capture it and share this

SUMER VERMA IS BASED BETWEEN MUMBAI AND THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS AND HAS BEEN THE MANAGING PARTNER OF LACADIVES (INDIA’S OLDEST DIVE SCHOOL) FOR THE LAST 2 DECADES. HE ALSO DOES COMMERCIAL UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY &AMP; VIDEOGRAPHY THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF FILMS, ADVERTISEMENTS AND MAGAZINE EDITORIALS.

ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE SHOTS.

The swimming elephant. I was very privileged to be asked to shoot

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

Rajan – the iconic gentle giant of the Andaman Islands – for the Incredible India campaign. That half an hour I got to spend swimming with an elephant in the clear blue sea will remain etched in my mind forever. The picture from that remains one of my favourites and even hangs on the wall of my bedroom.

" I WANT TO SHARE THE BEAUTY, SHARE THE LOVE AND INSPIRE PEOPLE TO LOVE NATURE, LOVE THE OCEAN ." -SUMER VERMA

beauty with others who were not as fortunate to see it for themselves. From that drive, the photography began.

CAMERA DO YOU USE THE # WHAT MAJORITY OF THE TIME? For the longest time I used the Canon 5D Mark II but I have recently upgraded to the Canon 1DX Mark II.

EXACTLY WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO SAY WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS AND HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY GET YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS TO DO THAT? Simply said, I want to share how beautiful the ocean is and there are so many incredible creatures that live there beyond one’s wildest imaginations. I want to share the beauty, share the love and inspire people to love nature, love the ocean and hopefully act to protect our planet and sea. I do this by taking 2 kinds of pictures – wide-angle images – vast ocean and reef scapes, to capture the essence of the sea and close up macro images – fish faces, scale patterns – to communicate expressions and mood. Together these two types of pictures create a personal connection between viewers and the ocean which I hope leads to love and awareness of the same.

DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN # HOW UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY?

I also use my images in a way that helps the cause of conservation – from allowing conservation organisations and scientists to use my imagery, to actively working with ReefWatch Marine Conservation – an Indian not for profit dedicated towards protection of our ocean

Having become a diving instructor and spending a majority of my days underwater for over a decade and a half, I became extremely drawn

and marine biodiversity, to being vocal on my social media about

to the beauty of the underwater world and wanted to capture its the marine issues in our country.

essence to share with everybody. This got me interested in underwater photography.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING WHEN NOT

# TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS?

I enjoy riding my bike and spending time in the great outdoors.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Getting

fame

and

everything

social

media

great

morale

boost-up for anyone, but as a true artist, never attach your emotions to any social media and never let it hamper your work and life. Keep clicking, keep learning, keep exploring!

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

ALTAF QADRI AN AWARD WINNING PHOTOJOURNALIST

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

HOW DID YOU BECOME A PHOTOJOURNALIST? I grew up amid mass uprising against Indian rule and witnessed many important events & incidents as a teenager. One evening, an Indian Border Security Force personnel raided my neighborhood after separatist rebels attacked their patrol. I was coming from a mosque and that was the first time when I was used as a human shield by the forces. Fortunately, there was no more fire from the rebels and I was let go when my uncle came to my rescue after four hours of detention at gunpoint. Concerned about my safety, the next morning my parents sent me to New Delhi where my sister lived those days. I studied computer engineering but on the back of my mind, there was always photojournalism. This human shield incident made a mark on my psychology and now my primary goal was to make outside world aware of the grass root situation of Kashmir conflict and I wanted to depict the true picture of its

ALTAF QADRI IS AN ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOJOURNALIST BASED IN NEW DELHI. ALTAF'S WORK HAS APPEARED IN MANY MAJOR NEWSPAPERS, NEWS MAGAZINES AROUND THE GLOBE AND HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL AWARDS.

people who were suffering from everyday violence. Those days Indian forces would indulge in many atrocities on civilians but unlike the present, there were very few incidents when they would harass or ill-treat journalists. So I thought being a photojournalist would also save me from their wrath. When I finished my studies I wanted to buy a camera but didn’t have money to do so. However, a Malaysian chat friend, Yuhanis Lockman, presented me with my first camera. It was a Nikon F65 film camera. I began to shoot everything and anything. One evening there was a huge fire in a chemical factory in New Delhi, I grabbed a few film rolls and followed the fire brigade vehicles and soon I was there on the spot. I stayed there whole night shooting even though no one would be interested in these pictures the next day. At the break of dawn, I ran out of the films and came back to my apartment with the exposed rolls. Later in the day, I went to the office of The Times of India where I met a senior photographer, Harish Tyagi, who eventually happened to be my boss when he joined the European Pressphoto Agency as Chief Photographer for the Indian subcontinent. I soon realized that the camera can become a witness along with me so I came back to Srinagar after several years of self-exile and began my first assignment as a freelancer in my hometown. Later I joined a local newspaper in the year 2001. I joined the European Pressphoto Agency in May 2003 for which I provided extensive coverage of the conflict in Kashmir till May 2008. I joined "The Associated Press" in September 2008 and moved to the northern Indian city of Amritsar where I lived for four

WHAT IS THE INSPIRATION THAT KEEPS YOU GOING?

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

It is the incredible power of still images to change the world. This is the only thing that inspires me to stay in this profession. Somebody has said, “photographic images can dig out emotions even the most finely honed prose can't capture”. It’s not possible to convey the emotional impact of the photo in words. I believe merely taking pictures and getting them published in newspapers and magazines is not enough. It should bring about a change in the whole world.

"IT IS THE INCREDIBLE POWER OF STILL IMAGES TO CHANGE THE WORLD." - ALTAF QADRI

years before moving to New Delhi in 2012.

ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE # WHAT DIGITAL MANIPULATION OF IMAGES? Technology, if used within certain parameters, is bliss but whenever we cross those parameters it becomes an evil. Image manipulation is certainly a big problem in photojournalism these days. Ethics can play a vital role here. A photojournalist must know up to what degree can he manipulate or improve his image. There is nothing wrong as far as we do darkroom techniques on the computer. The raw picture obtained directly from the camera is very flat most of the time so we sometimes do adjustments with tones, colors, and saturation but anything beyond that is image manipulation. One is not supposed to remove or add any information in any frame for sure. Unfortunately, some photojournalists sometimes manipulate images to suit their stories which I am totally against.

HOW DO YOU MAKE EMOTIONS TO FLOW

# INSIDE THE FRAMES, HOW DIFFICULT IS THAT AND HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE IT?

It's just like a human connection. You just have to feel the emotions of your subjects, speak to them, understand what they are going through.

Your patience and perseverance will be reflected in your photos.

IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC CAMERA OR LENS YOU USE FOR CLICKING THE PHOTOGRAPHS FOR REPORTAGE? Cameras are just a medium and they don’t take pictures, our brains do. But to answer your question, I work a lot with Canon digital EOS models, mostly a 5D Mark III and IV with a 35 mm lens. I also use a 24–70 mm wide-angle zoom and a 70–200mm zoom. I use film cameras for some assignments. I always like to work with available light so I seldom use flash.

DO YOU BALANCE THAT WITH THE # HOW DEMAND TO “GET THE SHOT” FOR

PHOTOJOURNALISM? HAVE YOU ARRIVED AT A SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN JUST GO OUT AND MAKE YOUR TYPE OF PICTURES? It is the incredible power of still images to change the world. This is the only thing that inspires me to stay in this profession. Somebody has said, “photographic images can dig out emotions even the most finely honed prose can't capture”. It’s not possible to convey the emotional impact of the photo in words. I believe merely taking pictures and getting them published in newspapers and magazines is not enough. It should bring about a cso doubt. At times I’ll say, no matter what I have to get this picture, and I rush in and in the process, I realize I crossed the limit but I immediately retreat. When it comes to photographing people in normal circumstances I usually take time and try to make friensds with them before taking pictures. I will spend days with my subjects, make them comfortable with my presence, and then I can capture what and how I want. In a news situation, it is not wise to seek permission because sometimes asking for permission destroys the scene.

CAN YOU ELABORATE UPON YOUR

#PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESS? WHAT STEPS ARE NEEDED TO BRING OUT A GOOD DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPH?

The assignments I do are mainly related to regular news, conflict, and war so I do not have any predefined approaches but I can presume

privacy and emotions of my subjects and maintain a line that I always try not to cross. Many a time I think those lines are crossed because photographers

have

competitors

and

deadlines,

they

think

the

camera gives them a permit to do whatever and whenever they want. Sometimes I’ll still make the wrong choices, no doubt. At times I’ll say, no matter what I have to get this picture, and I rush in and in the process, I realize I crossed the limit but I immediately retreat. If it becomes necessary to work in such a situation then you’ve got to learn

how

offended.

invade

When

privacy

comes

gently

that

photographing

your

subject

people

not

normal

circumstances I usually take time and try to make friends with them before taking pictures. I will spend days with my subjects, make them comfortable with my presence, and then I can capture what and how I want.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

the situation on the basis of its nature. I always try to respect the

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

SHIVANG MEHTA INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNING WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

# TELL OUR READERS A BIT ABOUT SHIVANG MEHTA.

Best selling author of ‘A Decade with Tigers' and Author of 'Chasing Horizons: Learnings from Africa' and International Award-winning wildlife photographer, Shivang Mehta has donned many hats in his long career journey, including that of a Journalist and a PR Professional. His love for wildlife and nature led him to begin his on-field career in the Sal forests of Kumaon 15 years ago. Shivang is the managing director of Nature Wanderers, India’s premier wildlife photo tour organisation, which he started with his wife, Kahini Ghosh Mehta. Having conducted over 1000 wildlife photography workshops and tours, along with many unique wildlife events and mentoring over a thousand amateur and professional wildlife photographers, Shivang

SHIVANG MEHTA HAS DONNED MANY HATS IN HIS LONG CAREER JOURNEY, INCLUDING THAT OF A JOURNALIST AND A PR PROFESSIONAL. HIS LOVE FOR WILDLIFE AND NATURE LED HIM TO BEGIN HIS ON-FIELD CAREER IN THE SAL FORESTS OF KUMAON 15 YEARS AGO. SHIVANG IS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NATURE WANDERERS, INDIA’S PREMIER WILDLIFE PHOTO TOUR ORGANISATION, WHICH HE STARTED WITH HIS WIFE, KAHINI GHOSH MEHTA.

HOW DO YOU PLAN A SHOOT FROM START TO END? An image or a story or a concept is first formulated in your mind and then the camera is just a tool to turn that into a reality. So the ability to pre-visualise is a must.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

" I AM A WILDLIFE PROFESSIONAL FIRST AND A PHOTOGRAPHER LATER. -SHIVANG MEHTA

specialises in photographing rare species and camera trap technology. He is also a Canon Photo Mentor, a Columbia Athlete and has been published in numerous national and international publications.

INSPIRES YOU ABOUT WILDLIFE # WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY? Nature is a puzzle and a mystery and through the medium of images, we as photographers try to unfold these layers in the natural world. The infinite forms in nature give way to infinite ideas on how to photograph them and this constant zeal to innovate is something which keeps me going.

ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECTS #WHAT OF A WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER? Life for a wildlife photographer who spends maximum time on the field is fun as one gets to explore new elements of nature all the time. However, it comes with its own set of challenges. Staying away from family for prolong periods at times without any connectivity, ability to thrive in all weather conditions and the ability to take field disappointments in your stride and gearing up again with a fresh outlook are the key hallmarks of a wildlife photographer.

I used to work in a small campsite on the outskirts of Corbett in early 2000 and that's when my interest in wildlife grew and I slowly graduated towards photography. I am a wildlife professional first and a photographer later.

WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT YOU USE AND

#WHAT DID YOU START WITH?

My equipment was fairly basic when I started as the purpose was purely documentation. From a film camera, I migrated to digital and the inventory started building slowly on the basis of my needs and requirements. In today's time, I like experimenting with technology and do a lot of remote shooting as well as camera trapping. I have been shooting on the Canon system throughout my career.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

HOW DID YOU GET INTO WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY?

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

RIDHIKA MEHRA FASHION. PORTRAIT AND EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHER

FOR MODELS, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND WORKING WITH DIFFERENT PHOTOGRAPHERS AND NOT JUST ONE. EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT STYLE AND TRYING TO FIT INTO EACH ONE'S STYLE IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY HELPS ONE GROW. MEET RIDHIKA MEHRA, WHO IS ONE OF THE RENOWNED NAMES IN THE INDUSTRY OF PHOTOGRAPHY.

HOW MUCH EQUIPMENT DO YOU TYPICALLY BRING TO A PHOTO-SHOOT? I usually carry my camera, a 50mm (sometimes a 24-70 or a 100mm), a white fabric background and definitely speakers! My current go-to light is Siros 400.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

" THOSE IN BETWEEN MOMENTS ARE WHAT I GO FOR" -RIDHIKA MEHRA

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

# PLEASE TELL OUR READERS A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

My name is Ridhika Mehra, I am a fashion, portrait and editorial photographer. I am based in Mumbai, India and have been in the business for a little over two years now.

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW

# DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH PHOTOGRAPHY?

I have actually done my graduation in fashion design after which I decided to give the creative direction a try. It was during my days as an art assistant that my interest in photography increased because of working on so many photoshoots. I have always had an inclination towards photography since school days but I gave it a serious shot only two years ago and somehow it led me to where I am today!

CLEARLY WORKED WITH A WIDE SHARE 5 OF YOUR SHOTS THAT HAVE HELPED # YOU’VE RANGE OF MODELS, WHAT TIPS CAN YOU # YOU IN SHAPING YOUR CAREER. RECOMMEND TO PEOPLE LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR PORTFOLIO? I believe a model should shoot all the time! It's like any other field, you practise as much as you can. I strongly recommend working with different photographers and not just one. Everyone has a different style and trying to fit into each one's style is something that really helps one grow.

YOU ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE, # MOSTLY WHAT IS THE SECRET BEHIND TO GET A GOOD EXPRESSION OR POSE FROM THEM? When I shoot a person I usually give them some time to warm up with the camera and me. I've realised that only if there is some connection with me the subject feels free enough to be themselves and that helps in creating something amazing. I ask them to just vibe with the music and forget about me while I try to capture those in-between moments.

KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU HOPE TO #WHAT MAKE IN THE FASHION WORLD IN THE NEXT 10-15 YEARS?

In the next 10-15 years, I wish to create images that make people feel something. I always wanted to try to emote with my work and I wish to build on that and create work that seems personal to each person somehow. Also, I definitely want to create a mark in the fashion industry with my work, I love shooting editorials and hope that my work brings about some change!

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

SAURABH DALVI FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

# TELL OUR READERS A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. Hi guys! My name is Saurabh Dalvi, a not so professional but a passionate photographer who loves every bit of being behind the camera trying to create some amazing pictures.

TELL US WHERE IT ALL BEGUN. HOW DID YOU BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER? It all started at the age of 17 when my parents bought me a new phone with a 5mp camera. Soon after that I purchased the cheapest DSLR camera and learnt all the aspects of a camera via the internet. It wasn't stopping after that as I started loving the pictures myself which pushed me to do better every time I went out with my camera. After a while, I started assisting a celebrity & fashion photographer which helped me a lot in understanding the concept of fashion photography, lighting and getting the right mood in every picture. That's how my

MEET SAURABH DALVI, 24 YEAR OLD FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER. HE HAS ACHIEVED MILES IN SUCH A YOUNG AGE. YOU ARE DEFINITELY AN INSPIRATION TO MANY OF US.

BEFORE YOU START A SHOOT, HOW YOU PREPARE YOURSELF? FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

Honestly, I feel nervous but equally excited before every shoot. I just make sure I have carried all my equipment's and the lighting is on point. Rest everything gets better once the shoot starts

BE PATIENT, KEEP SHOOTING AND IMPROVE YOURSELF EVERY TIME YOU STEP OUT WITH YOUR CAMERA. THINGS WILL CHANGE" -SAURABH DALVI

photography journey has begun and transformed me from an amateur to a professional photographer.

PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWS FOR # FASHION QUITE A BIT OF EXPERIMENTATION. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Everything around me inspires me to create something new. When I am roaming around and find a good place I am mostly clear in my mind of what can I create at this particular place. After that, the whole process of a photoshoot starts and it is not necessary that its gonna be a great photoshoot, but not all experiments end up giving you the best results.

YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR # CAN PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESS? My photography process is a planned one. Firstly, I plan a location like a field or any specific place and then visit those places in the morning before sunrise. Later, I search around for some specific subject, if I find any subject then I observe them for some time as what

they

do,

how

they

are

doing,

are

they

looking

for

some

predator, etc. I also plan for the composition & framing at the same time then and the next step is to approach them for photographs.

WHEN YOU’RE WORKING WITH A MODEL, HOW IMPORTANT IS COMMUNICATION DURING A SHOOT? One of the most important factors to make the model comfortable and make her understand what exactly are you looking out of the photoshoot.

MOSTLY YOU ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE, WHAT IS THE SECRET BEHIND TO GET A GOOD EXPRESSION OR POSE FROM THEM? 39

The secret of getting a great expression and the best pose out of the model is to let them be in their comfort zone and just have a great time in front of the camera. A little bit of direction is all it needs.

ANY ADVICE TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PURSUE A CAREER IN PHOTOGRAPHY? Most of the aspiring photographers are under a wrong impression that its the expensive camera's and equipment that creates best pictures, but it is not the camera and equipment that matters the most,

the

person

behind

the

camera

does

never

give

up.

patient, keep shooting and improve yourself every time you step out with your camera. Things will change :)

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

ANAND RATHI WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

#A LITTLE ABOUT REELS AND FRAMES? We are a photography and film company based out of Mumbai. We specialize in capturing social celebrations and indie style cinematography.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WANTED

# TO BE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

I picked up photography as a hobby during my MBA course. I loved travelling (still do!) and photography was a perfect complementing activity. This went on for a while until one day, a friend asked to carry my camera to his wedding. I liked the idea of documenting real people and emotions. I started doing wedding photography weekends while still continuing

MAN BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF SONAM KAPOOR AHUJA'S WEDDING. LET US KNOW ABOUT REELS AND FRAMES WHO HAS SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED WEDDING IN ABOUT 20 COUNTRIES AND 4 CONTINENTS.

COULD YOU TALK A BIT ABOUT YOUR POSTPROCESSING WORKFLOW? We deal with large volumes of data. Thankfully, network storage comes to the rescue. We keep tweaking our workflow to optimize speed and reduce turn around time. In terms of look and feel of the final video/photo, we try and stay in the true-colour zone.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

“IN ORDER TO BE IRREPLACEABLE ONE MUST ALWAYS BE DIFFERENT." -ANAND RATHI

with my day job as a treasury manager. One fine day, I made a leap of faith and went full time.

PLEASE SHARE 5 OF YOUR PICTURES THAT ARE # CLOSE TO YOUR HEART. THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU LEARNED # IS IN YOUR CAREER THAT YOU’D WISH YOU HAD KNOWN EARLIER?

I would have loved to know more about camera tech when I started out. For me, the journey was slow since I was learning entirely on my own (via youtube).

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU - MAY BE A BRIDE & GROOM, OR A PHOTOGRAPHER OR FILMMAKER WHO WANTS TO JOIN YOUR TEAM, HOW SHOULD THEY GO ABOUT IT? Clients can write to us at info@reelsandframes.in and for hiring, we are available at careers@reelsandframes.in

ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A # WHAT COUPLE LOOKING FOR A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

Your wedding photos are the only bridge that exists between the present and the memories of a beautiful past. Make sure you get along with the person-in-charge of building this bridge and once you do, don't forget to smile :)

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

RONNY SEQUEIRA ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

YOU SHARE A PHOTO OF YOUR # CAN FAVORITE PROJECT? This image was done for the Autumn Winter collection of 2012 for L'Officiel magazine in my studio. Technically, it was very different from what we normally do because instead of flash lights we used 5 baby lights. Baby lights are 1000W tungsten units that are now pretty redundant in the world of film making today; but because they have an "old world" charm to it, I have one permanently kept in the studio. The light quality on these lights because they are "Point Source Lights" is very sharp and hard, unlike flash which is more suited to soft / diffused light. We did conventional Hollywood Lighting where we had 1 main light, 1 fill, 2 kicker or edge lights and 1 extra garment fill. The only drawback with this lighting was that it needed to be shot at 400 ISO with the Shutter Speed of 60 and an Aperture of 5.6; thus the use of a Tripod was necessary and the models could not do any rapid movements. The main light along with the 2 fills interestingly caused a lot of crossed shadows in the

RONNY SEQUEIRA; IN THE PHOTOGRAPHY WORLD, IS A NAME THAT IS KNOWN TO FRAME BRANDS IN THE CORRECT LINE OF SIGHT. YES, MOST OFTEN WITH A CELEBRITY THAT LENDS TO THE AURA.

background which added to the drama of the light on the subject. The post work on this was handled by one of my earliest digital assistant - Deb; who did a fantastic job not just in finishing, but also in the use of "Alien Skin - Exposure" where he mixed and matched a few de-saturated colour looks and some cross processes. This particular image was something

TELL US A BIT ABOUT RONNY SEQUEIRA

called Agfa Optima cross processed.

Ronny Sequeira; in the photography world, is a name that is known to frame brands in the correct line of sight. Yes, most often with a celebrity that lends to the aura. A successful photographer working with high-profile clients, major publications and advertising agencies.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE KIND OF WORK # THAT YOU DO? My work for Adidas, LG, Yamaha, Lays, Pepsi, Hindware, Voltas, Horlicks, Nescafe Airtel, Gulf, Castrol, Kellogg’s, Samsung, Dabur, Ford, Haier, Dettol, Fanta, Kurkure, Toyota, Sonata Watches, Mirinda, Toshiba, Philips, Microsoft, Mountain Dew, ESPN, Kit Kat, Gold’s Gym, Pizza Hut, Aircel, Liril, Maggi, Britannia etc. can be over the years. i started off making it to the Society’s Young Achievers Award in 2000. In 2008, I made it to the India TOP 10 Indian

Photographers (Asian Photography) list and since has been creating epochal moments with superstars as enigmatic as

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Parineeti Chopra, and just recently shot with John Abraham for Yamaha.

CAN YOU SHARE A PHOTO OF YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT? In my formative years, I was a big follower of the great "Richard Avedon". Infact my first most expensive book then was "Evidence" bought in LA in 1997. Richard Avedon had a distinct

"THERE ARE NO RULES FOR GOOD PHOTOGRAPHS, THERE ARE ONLY GOOD PHOTOGRAPHS" -RONNY SEQUEIRA

style of shooting with one light against grey background and he shot a lot of male nudes / semi-nudes for the designer "Versace". This shot was done in the film era and I distinctly remember shooting two Polaroids before I shot the final one roll in black and white. The model - David, was a German with a great body but, his body language was very rigid; almost like a German Solider. Thus, most of the shots looks like he is marching and not running.

FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWS FOR

A BIT OF EXPERIMENTATION. WHAT # QUITE INSPIRES YOU? CAN YOU SHARE A PHOTO OF YOURS ON YOUR HOME WALL WHICH ALWAYS MAKES YOU PROUD?

This image was shot for a series of exhibitions that we photographers were part of in the initial days of PGI - Photographers Guild of India! The idea was for us professionals to shoot completely different images than our usual commercial work and basically good enough to sell as art. This image was inspired by "Wolfgang Pietrzok" a German photographer who used a square plate of glass against which he shot his models pressed against. We emulated the same by placing large 6ft x 4ft glass on the studio beams and poured ink on the top to give that "watery" feel. It was technically again a challenge because it was mostly backlit with flashes bouncing off the ceiling and me on the floor shooting upto the subject.

CAN YOU SHARE A PICTURE THAT MAKES #YOU HAPPY? This image was again done for L'Officiel and the theme was "Colour Blocking". Interestingly, we used another continuous light this time a 2K HMI with the hardest filter No1. This was the main light that we also cut interestingly in a "V form", using flags from the subject and the rest was filled in with a flash from right of camera. If I had not filled the shadows, the contrast would have been 4 to 5 stops which meant all the dark areas would be almost black. The flash opened up the shadows about 2 stops thus, letting us see the interesting colour play and shadow play of the 2 lights. The hair and make-up person was the "Saviour" of us in this shoot; the

model

because

had

the

long

light

wavy

was

nice

hair and

and

sharp.

would

not

When

have

showed

worked her

the

reference, she immediately pulled out a beautiful wig from her bag and proceeded to cut it to the required blunt that you see in the final image. This was the "Piece De Resistance" of the shoot and made a big difference in the final image

In a nutshell it has become more easier to become a photographer because, one does not need to be technically so sound. When we started out as assistants we had to learn all the technical bits of the camera - the films, the processing, the printing and the use of equipment like the flashes. Today any youngster with the decent digital SLR has a wider access of creating good images without even knowing the basics. But as much as it has become easier to shoot images and become a photographer; the competition because of the number of photographers being out there brings it down to if one is really good at their job or not? I feel today, there are a lot of "Instagram Photographers" who by and large do work only for Insta and are not really doing paid jobs. Its a bubble they live in because it's quite easy to get a large following of people if one is putting up the "correct" type of pictures but what they don't realise that, if they call themselves professionals sooner or later they need to make money out of photography.

43 FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

MOSTLY YOU ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE, WHAT IS THE SECRET BEHIND TO GET A GOOD EXPRESSION OR POSE FROM THEM?

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

MARK BENNINGTON ACTOR AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

A LITTLE ABOUT MARK BENNINGTON I picked up the camera in 2003, after working as an actor for 10 years in New York & Los Angeles. I was looking for something new and creative, after feeling the never-ending tedium of my acting career. So I started photographing all of my friends in Hollywood doing their headshots, portfolios, etc. And almost over night, I was making a living as a photographer and loving the newness and creativity of it. Within those first 6 months, I realized that if I was charging people for my services, I should probably know what I was really doing. So, I went back to school for photography and later photojournalism. When I discovered documentary work, that’s when things started to shift. I saw the work of Alexandra Boulat, David Alan Harvey, Alex Webb, Mary Alan Mark, Eugene Richards, Lauren Greenfield, etc… that’s actually when I went back to school again for photojournalism. For a long time I tried to separate the two, but a few years ago as I found myself teaching photography at the S.I. Newhouse School at Syracuse University and realized that I could

"IMAGES WHICH TAKES YOU TO THE NEXT LEVEL" WE HAVE A CHAT WITH ACTOR AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER MARK BENNINGTON, BASED IN NYC & AUTHOR OF "LIVING THE DREAM: THE LIFE OF THE 'BOLLYWOOD' ACTOR" (HARPER COLLINS).

successfully do both commercial work and project based work AND that they would/could inform each other.

HOW DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WORK? It seems to come from different places, but always involves the human spirit.

HOW DOES YOUR INTERIOR WORLD AFFECT OR INFLUENCE THE WAY YOU SEE THE OUTER WORLD AS YOU PHOTOGRAPH? HOW DO YOU FOCUS IN ORDER TO DETECT THE DETAILS YOU WANT TO CAPTURE? I really feel with all my work, it is about connection. Emotional connection to other human beings, connection to some fundamental truths that we we all share. And also connecting to a shared narrative as a collaborative process.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESS. HOW DO YOU COMPLETE YOUR WORK FROM START TO FINISH? It's almost always a little different, which is what is so exciting for me... basically we're are creative problem solvers.. it's all about being in the creative maze and finding my way around.

"YOU MUST DIG DEEPER WHEN YOU ARE CHALLENGED AND NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP." -MARK BENNINGTON

CURIOSITY AND INQUISITIVENESS ARE CRUCIAL FOR LETTING THE CAMERA FLOW. ARE THESE THE NECESSARY CONDITIONS FOR DISCOVERING THE ESSENCE OF THE PEOPLE YOU PORTRAIT? IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE A SOUND CONNECTION WITH THEM? I love this quote from the legendary photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, who said 'It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.' For me, that is It.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BEST PICTURE THAT MAKES YOU PROUD - WHY This shot was a wild one... I was supposed to have an session with Ranveer and was waiting outside his dressing room door for an hour- suddenly he opened the door, ran right past me and down the hall to some awards show that unbeknownst to me was taking place downstairs. I ran after him, but when I reached security I couldn't get in. It one of those moments where I thought, 'that's it, I lost my shot, lost my chance'... then suddenly the security guards went to check something out and I sneaked past them ran up to the balcony where Ranveer was waiting to get on this harness and slide down on stage- I had 10 seconds- fired off 3 shots and one is the cover of the book. I knew as I took it, it would be the cover. This is an example of what happens when you don't give up- to go from losing the shot, to making a book cover shot. That's what it's all about- you must dig deeper when you are challenged and never never never give up.

YOU PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR # CAN CLIENTELE WITH PROPER DESCRIPTION? (actors, authors, executives, etc).

One of the reasons I particularly like this shot, is because it was not at all what I had planned. I was looking for and had found a great graffitied wall to shoot this image (part of my 'KEN' series), but something

was

missing.

Then,

when

turned

around

saw

the

beautiful open field behind me, it hit me... I thought, "That's it! This shot doesn't need graffiti, it needs green grass and trees!" So, it's another example of the importance of 'looking around' and be 'open' to the world's suggestions!!

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE FACED OVER YOUR YEARS IN PHOTOGRAPHY? Making money is always the biggest challenge for any photographer. I used to say to my students at Newhouse, if you can take a good headshot you'll always be able to make a living. Some photogs shot

wedding to pay the rent, some do workshops, some do commercial gigs. It's all a balance of practicing your craft and making a living.

WHAT’S YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE STARTING OUT IN PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME? Look at great photography!!... not photos on Instagram with the most 'likes'. Study the masters, submerge yourself in their visual language and then try to replicate them within the context of your world... and slowly with time and the help of your instincts you will start to build your own visual identity and unique storytelling. It's all about time and effort... what you 'put in' is roughly what you 'get out'. And I would say pick one topic to shoot... focus on it, be flexible with it and see what it turns into. And of course.... Be Positive. Weather you are shooting or not, this will having the greatest impact on the world.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

I have commercial, corporate, editorial and individual clients

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BEST PICTURE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPY - WHY?

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

ANUSKA NADIA MENON BEAUTY AND FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

A LITTLE ABOUT ANUSHKA NADIA MENON My name is Anushka Nadia Menon, and I am a fashion, beauty & advertising photographer based in India. I have been in the business for 15 years now and it's been an incredible journey so far. My early years were spent in Oman and when i came to India in 2003 after completing my studies in Australia i took up photography full time starting out with a Diploma Course which took me two years to complete and since 2005 i have been shooting professionally.

WHEN IT CAME TO STARTING OUT IN PHOTOGRAPHY, WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST FOCUS? My biggest focus would have been to develop my skills and

WE HAVE A CHAT WITH FASHION, BEAUTY & ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHER ANUSHKA NADIA MENON WHO IS ONE OF INDIA'S YOUNGEST FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHERS TO HAVE WORKED IN THE BEAUTY & FASHION INDUSTRY

understand the arts better, i remember wanting to learn as much as i could about developing film, lighting and shooting techniques. I was also very drawn to fashion so i knew i would end up in that genre of photography.

HOW DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WORK? Usually an idea just pops up into my head, like a vision, it could have been something i saw before that was deeply imbedded in my conscious, or imagery i came across on social media, most times then not its people - people inspire me the most to create art in collaboration.

HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR STYLE OF

# PHOTOGRAPHY? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

My style keeps evolving, but to define it i would say, simple clean and bold.

HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE # WHAT PROJECT SO FAR?

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOURNEY WITH FUJI FILM?

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

Another great honor to be associated with such an incredible brand doing so much for the photography industry. The journey so far has been great! I've travelled to new countries and spoken on behalf of fuji, sharing my journey and knowledge with new audiences.

"A GOOD PHOTOGRAPH IS KNOWING WHERE TO STAND ." -ANUSKA NADIA MENON

I've had many - it's hard to say but usually my favorite projects are the ones i do for free

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR AT THE MARIE CLAIRE FASHION AWARDS 2011? HOW HAS THIS SHAPED YOUR YEAR?

It was a great honor to be recognised for my work and i'm very thankful to those who have supported my growth over the years.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU FEEL AFTER GETTING AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AT THE "NOKIA EYE ON FASHION" CONTEST 2006 FOR THE BEST NEW PHOTOGRAPHER IN A PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY I was just starting out! it was also quite a surprise at the time but it gave me a lot of motivation to keep doing what i was doing.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE FACED OVER YOUR YEARS IN PHOTOGRAPHY? Staying in demand.

WHAT’S YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE

# STARTING OUT IN PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME?

Shoot all sorts of things to find out what you enjoy photographing the most. Spend time learning your craft and always remember to enjoy the process!

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE

# WHICH WE DON'T COVER IN INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Anushka

Menon

one

India’s

leading

fashion

and

beauty

photographers. Having begun her career in 2005 at the age of 20 she was considered to be the first female fashion photographer in the country at the time. Since then she has paved the way for the

turn their passions into professions. In an extremely male dominated field, Anushka has stood out with her unique style and vision. Her western upbringing and eastern roots make for an incredibly versatile portfolio ! Over the years Anushka has shot for top brands and publications in India such as Vogue, GQ, Harpers Bazar, Dove, Ponds, Reebok and so on. Her work has reached global recognition and some of her international

clients

include

Rolex,

Corto

Moltedo

and

Rituals

Cosmetics. Having been the first India speaker to present her work at the prestigious PhotoKina in Germany Anushka is a A self made brand now being represented in the USA.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

next generation of female photographers to follow their dreams and

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

SAM & EKTA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND FILM-MAKERS

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

# AN INTRODUCTION ABOUT YOURSELF We are Sam & Ekta - we are wedding photographers & filmmakers based in Mumbai, India. We travel all around the world shooting weddings of interesting couples, who believe in the power of documentary storytelling. We are currently ranked among the top 100 photographers in the world by Fearless Photographers, and are previous winners of the the Wedding Photographer of the Year as well as Wedding Filmmaker of the Year, awarded by WeddingSutra.

TELL US WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. HOW DID YOU BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER? Our pursuit of photography started when we started travelling together. The desire to capture the special moments our own lives in a matter-of-fact, honest manner led us to exploring and learning more about street and documentary photography. Our best friends were getting married in Amritsar, and we decided

DOCUMENTING WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY RIGHT IS WHAT YOU SEE RARELY THESE DAYS, LEARN HOW SAM AND EKTA DID THE JOB RIGHT IMPACTING THE LIVES OF FAMILIES. YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY INSPIRED US ALSO, SAM AND EKTA.

to carry our cameras along to document some moments including our visit to the Golden Temple, Wagah border and so on. We ended up clicking pictures throughout the trip, which also included the wedding. Our way of capturing these moments in a real, honest manner connected with a lot of people after they saw our photos from the wedding, and we ended up getting enquiries for professional wedding

IS THERE A PHOTOGRAPHER OR ARTIST WHO YOU ADMIRE OR THINK THEY ARE KILLING RIGHT NOW?

photography. Over time, we learnt the art of documentary filmmaking, and here we are - 5 years later, now doing this full time with our own handpicked team.

here are genuinely too many to name here. But the common pattern among everyone we admire is a sense of honesty toward their craft, and the continuous pursuit of learning new things, coupled with a desire to excel.

DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR STYLE OF # HOW PHOTOGRAPHY? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

We discovered our style through our pursuit of street photography - which is about capturing decisive moments as they happen, in an pure and unadulterated format, without intrusion or direction. Our approach towards wedding photography & films is exactly the same - we look for moments of truth and capture them in an honest manner. We want all our wedding pictures & films to

feel real, so that the natural magic of every couple's story is preserved. And this is what we believe, will make these

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

photographs & films timeless. Our couples choose to have us because they want to remember what their wedding FELT like, not just what it looked like.

WHO AND/OR WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR WORK AND WHY? We derive inspiration from all forms of art. When it comes to photography, some of our inspirations are Alex Webb, Martin

"WE BELIEVE IN BEING INSPIRED BY LIFE, AND CHANNELING THAT INTO OUR WORK." - SAM & EKTA

Parr, David Alan Harvey, Vineet Vohra, Rohit Vohra, Suresh Naganathan, Two Mann Studios. In the world of filmmaking, our favourite cinematographers & filmmakers include Roger Deakins, Emmanuel Lubezki, Seamus McGarvey, Terrence Malick, Denis Villeneuve, Spike Jonze, Stanley Kubrick, Alejandro Calore to name a few. Some of these artists work in the wedding category, most of them don't. We believe in being inspired by life, and channeling that into our work.

TELL US THROUGH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

HOW DO YOU COMPLETE YOUR # PROCESS. WORK FROM START TO FINISH? Since weddings are all about understanding people & their relationships and then translating that into photos & films, our first step is always to know more about the couple. We prefer to meet them face to face and understand them as human beings - what drives them as people, what are their goals in life and in their relationship. We try to understand their chemistry & also tell them about our unique way of looking at, and capturing their memories. Once we are all on the same page, then we completely focus on bringing their story alive in the best way possible. We believe in giving our best to every story, so we limit ourselves to shooting only 20 weddings a year. Our personal attention and involvement to every

YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT # WHAT PHOTOGRAPHING?

wedding (we are shooting & editing everything with our team) puts us at a premium price bracket, and we work really hard to give all our brides & grooms

TWhen we are at home, we love spending time with our dog, Crusoe. We try to stick to a fitness routine as much as possible. We also love

a fantastic experience. Sometimes this may include organising screenings for them, so that they have the best experience when they view their wedding

travelling and experiencing new things. Irrespective of whether we are travelling or at home, watching movies, listening to music & exploring other forms of art is how we love spending our time.

photos & films for the first time. Shooting and filming a wedding in real time is probably just 5% of the total time we spend on a wedding. The rest of the time is spent in understanding our

Apart from Facebook & Instagram, our website is the best way to get

touch

with

us.

There

'Contact'

section

for

brides

brides & grooms, and then thoroughly editing the output to bring their wedding memories to life. After all, we are documenting family legacies. Each wedding requires a lot of physical, mental & emotional involvement at our end. We end up forming everlasting bonds with most of our brides & grooms. It is truly, the best job in the world.

grooms, and a 'Careers' section for people looking to join our team. Write to us through either of those, and we will definitely write back.

YOU GUYS PLAN TO CONDUCT ANY # DO WORKSHOPS IN THE FUTURE? Yes we do, but we don't know when. We have attended some really great workshops by among the best photographers & educators in the world, and as a result of this; our workshop should first satisfy our own expectations, which are pretty high. We have to be sure that our workshop will be worth the financial and time investment for emerging photographers. So when we are confident that we have something extremely special to offer, we will conduct a workshop.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU - MAYBE A BRIDE & GROOM, OR A PHOTOGRAPHER OR FILMMAKER WHO WANTS TO JOIN YOUR TEAM, HOW SHOULD THEY GO ABOUT IT?

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

MARCOS ALBERTI FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE MONTH

THE INSPIRING PHOTOGRAPHY OF MR. MARCOS ALBERTI IS ALL YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT TODAY! WE WENT DIVE AND TOOK HIS INTERVIEW TO UNDERSTAND HIS PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE. HIS CLIENTELE INCLUDES COCACOLA, BRADESCO, SAMSUNG, NESTLÉ, NIKE, ASICS, COLGATE, AND MANY MORE. WE PROUDLY PRESENT HIM THE FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE MONTH.

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

#AN INTRODUCTION ABOUT YOURSELF I'm curious ! a lot ! And I always knew that I'll work with art, but I didn't realize that was photography. I went trough music, plastic arts, architecture, graphic design and after all that I discovered photography and fell in love immediately. I work with advertising photography since 2004, shooting for major clients like Coca Cola, Samsung, Nike... After I launch the wine project in 2016 I started doing branded content projects to clients all over the world.

TELL US WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. HOW DID

#YOU BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER?

When I was in college studying architecture, I started to freelance as graphic designer, and to be better at my freelance work, I decided to study a little bit about photography, just to learn how to speak with a professional photographer. So, at the first day of my photography course I fell in love. It was love at first sigh. After my Architecture graduation in 2000, I started as an assistant in a studio, and after work in 3 different studios, I decided to open my own studio. The rest of this story is a lot of work and dedication, lots of sleepless nights.

IS THERE A PHOTOGRAPHER OR ARTIST WHO YOU ADMIRE OR THINK THEY ARE KILLING RIGHT NOW? I really like to look for new talents in different areas. I love to watch independent films and new painters.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

"A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY IS ALL ABOUT PLANNING AND PRE PRODUCTION." -MARCOS ALBERTI

DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR STYLE # HOW OF PHOTOGRAPHY? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

TELL US THROUGH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

HOW DO YOU COMPLETE YOUR # PROCESS. WORK FROM START TO FINISH? For me, a good photography is all about planning and pre production.

In my personal work I describe myself as a portrait photographer.

The fist step is to have a good visual concept, a brand new idea,

I always look to shoot someone beyond the image. I want to

always having in mind that this idea must be possible using your

capture the history behind the face. I think that style comes with

budget. The next step is to build and lead a team with the best

professional growth, you need experience to create your own

professionals for this idea, casting, wardrobe, make up, location scout,

style. I discover mine when I choose emotion instead of

everything... the photographer must be a leader of this talented

technique. Idea instead of simple aesthetics.In my advertising

group, like a maestro, making everyone feels part of this masterpiece.

work, I'm requested to shoot people, any kind of people, from models to common people. Anything that needs a good direction and how to make an average person fell confident and look good in front of a camera.

After that is the shooting itself. In this phase I don't create anything anymore, it should be only transpiration instead of inspiration. Hard work to make the best. And then we have the post production, it's very important to take time to choose the best image available, and post process them taking in consideration the main idea. After the technical procedures it's time to find the best way and time to release the project. I like to be present in every step of the process, looking closer for a better result. I also need to have certain that my crew is aware of everything I need.

YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT # WHAT PHOTOGRAPHING? I like to spend time with my family, watching films and cooking. I love to travel around the world to understand and learn about different cultures. I also like to go to museums and galleries.

AND/OR WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR # WHO WORK AND WHY? I was influenced by the classic photographers like Helmut Newton, Henri Cartier Bresson, Peter Lindbergh, Annie Leibovitz, Richard Avedon... and influenced a lot by painters like Picasso, Dali and specially Caravaggio ( my favorite ! ). I really like to know where the rules of art are, to know when to follow it and know when to break it.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

KUNAL MALHOTRA CANON MENTOR AND THE PHOTOGRAPHY BLOGGER

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

WHAT HAS MOTIVATED YOU TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHY MENTOR WHILE YOU WERE A DIGITAL MARKETING PROFESSIONAL? Well, working as a digital marketing professional has helped me polish myself as an individual. I always say that photography is not all about clicking great images, you must also know how to market your work in this digital era. When I started clicking photos in 2010 I was lucky enough to learn the basics of photography while I was pursuing mass communication. In a couple of months, I even managed to purchase my first DSLR camera, because in college we only used to get 4 cameras to share among 60 students. One fine day while browsing photography videos online, I realized that there are hardly any resources available in the Hindi language. How about I start sharing my knowledge with photography enthusiasts by making videos in Hindi, I questioned myself. In 2017 I was at that stage of my life where I have to make a decision, either to work 5 days a week helping brands grow their digital presence or quit my

KUNAL MALHOTRA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE PHOTOGRAPHY BLOGGER, IS A CANON MENTOR AND A SOCIALLY RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHER WITH 9+ YEARS OF PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE. KUNAL STARTED HIS JOURNEY AS A PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIAST IN 2011 WHILE PURSUING MASS COMMUNICATION.

job and help budding photographers across India learn how to capture amazing images. I hardly had any savings, no backup plan for regular income, but the passion for sharing knowledge with others gave me the courage to quit my job. If you are passionate about something, things work out for you sooner or later.

WHAT APPS OR TOOLS DO YOU USE TO BRING OUT BEST IN A PHOTOGRAPH?

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

I am a big fan of Adobe Lightroom, a photo editing software that I always use to edit my photos on my laptop. But I make sure I fine tune my photos before uploading them on Instagram or facebook, using Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed apps on my smartphone to match the colors and exposure.

YOU HAVE CONDUCTED MANY WORKSHOPS ON STREET, ARCHITECTURE, WEDDING, AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY, WHICH AMONG THESE FIELDS IS LIKED BY YOU THE MOST, AND WHY? Personally I love clicking multiple genres of photography as you get to learn a lot more about the art of creating images. Street

"IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING, THINGS WORK OUT FOR YOU SOONER OR LATER." -KUNAL MALHOTRA

photography helps you understand how to play with available light and improves observation skills, whereas fashion/portrait photography lets you understand the use of artificial lights. If I have to choose, I would love to click street and landscape photos for hours and hours. It excites me when I am clicking photos with the sunlight changing frequently and every moment is candid. As photography I love to go out of comfort zone and challenge myself to capture better photos than my previous ones.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR # HOW PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE? WHAT WOULD YOU COMPARE YOUR WORK TO?

My photography style has changed a lot over the time. I started by clicking photos of various monuments here in Delhi, during our weekend photowalk sessions between 2011-2013. Lucking I got the chance to assist my mentor Mr. SPS Kalra for 2 years, where I got to know a lot about fashion and product photography. Later I did commercial assignments for few clothing and jewelry brands, along with fashion and fitness shoots. Currently I have stopped taking commercials work, and I try to capture the nature and candid moments in a way that our eyes don't see.?

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH? HOW DOES IT HELP YOU AS A PHOTOGRAPHY MENTOR? As per the feedback on my videos and social media, my way of explaining things in the easiest way possible and in a language that connects directly with the viewer. Trust me, this strength of mine was my biggest weakness few years ago. I used to be introvert and could hardly speak in front of the camera, but with practice things changed over the

IN YOUR OPINION, IS MOST IMPORTANT # WHAT, TO CONSIDER WHILE SHOOTING PORTRAIT

years. Photography is all about capturing moments using your camera, but for that you must understand your camera and know what makes a

PICTURES?

good image. My style of sharing knowledge about photography is very simple and I never hold back any secrets. I share every single camera

How you use the available/artificial light makes or breaks a portrait. No

setting and openly talk about the ethics of photography which connects

matter how good the model is with the poses or how perfectly you have

with the audience as they find me genuine.

set the exposure, if the lighting is not good you might end up with a normal looking portrait. Before even switching on your camera, look around and study the nature of light. Decide whether you want hard light or soft light on the face. Examine how the slightest change in the angle of the model or the camera changes the contrast of the light.

WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY MENTOR? A good photography mentor must have years of practical experience, book knowledge itself is not sufficient to teach about a visual art form. A mentor goes through various ups and downs in his/her photography career, and that experience is what a mentor shares with the budding photographers. A mentor must ensure that he/she is sharing factually correct information with others, one wrong information can confuse the students for their entire photography journey. Last and the most important quality of a mentor should be to never stop learning new things and update as per the trends.

ARE THE BEST WAYS TO BE AN # WHAT EFFECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY MENTOR? I would love to carry my Canon EOS R mounted with the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens as I like shooting at this particular focal length range on a full frame camera body. The 70-200mm is an all-rounder lens, I can use it for portraits, fashion shoots, events and what not. I switched to a mirrorless camera last year because of better video features and better optics.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Observe more, shoot less. We as a photographer must not simply press

the

shutter

button

and

when

visit/see

something

interesting. Observe your subject, think of a unique way to capture that shot, look for interesting frames, and then click that shutter button.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

HARI & SHANKAR WEDDING AND CANDID PHOTOGRAPHERS

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

COULD YOU GIVE OUR READERS A BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT YOU, WHERE YOU’RE FROM, AND TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE KIND OF WORK THAT YOU DO? We are Harish and Shankar, childhood friends with a shared passion for the lens. We started out down this road six years back because we wanted to be storytellers and expression capturers and have never looked back since. Each of us is a master of all trades. If one of us focuses on Photography and the other on Cinematography. We both adore nature, and often travel to feed this love of ours. You’ll see the mountains, the rivers, the seas and the trees a lot in our work because our love of nature is often reflected there. Apart from this we are movie maniacs and work with the Tollywood industry often. One example of our recent work would be the movie Sahoo, we

WE HAVE A CHAT WITH WEDDING AND CANDID PHOTOGRAPHER HARI AND SHANKAR FROM HARISHANKAR PHOTOGRAPHY WHERE TWO INDIVIDUALS SHARED PASSION FOR THE LENS TO BECOME STORYTELLERS AND EXPRESSION CAPTURES.

have been covering its making since the past two years and have been featured in the credits.Currently we operate from Hyderabad and have a team of talented visual artists with us who have helped us build a name in the Wedding Photography Industry.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BEST PICTURE THAT MAKES YOU PROUD - WHY? This is a spontaneous shot that we took of our clients Pavan and Vidya at the end of their shoot when we felt like we hadn’t yet gotten the ‘Picture of the Day’. The different perspective that struck us in that moment in such a short time and the final outcome of our work that day always makes us proud.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY? WHAT INSPIRED YOU TWO TO GET INTO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

Our first wedding project was an accident. We shot my sister’s wedding and friends liked it so much that they all started to come to us. After looking at the pictures we clicked all of the couples’ families were overwhelmed with emotions and invited us to lunches with them. We felt really appreciated and realised that pictures make an impact. Our pictures made people happy and their happiness gave us the satisfaction that our 9 to 5 jobs didn’t at the time.

"WEDDING IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT SO YOU SHOULD HIRE THE PHOTOGRAPHER THAT WILL BE RIGHT FOR IT." -HARI & SHANKAR

WHAT ARE THE UNIQUE TRENDS IN WEDDING AND PRE-WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY THIS SEASON? WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST POPULAR? Conceptual pre-wedding shoots and pre-wedding shoots in exotic locations are in trend this season. Candid photography and candid videography are the gold of the industry and have consistently been in trend since they began.

YOU ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER # HOW WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS? All photographers by the nature of their job are quick. But we change the definition of quick not just in reference to our shutter speeds or our ability to catch a moment while it's happening but through our ability to be spontaneous. Most of our best shoots were spontaneous. An example of this is our couple shoot in CA 1 highway in California which was only decided on, one night before the shoot day. In the morning we just woke up and drove with the couple by the seaside to stop and set up at whichever spot we felt was scenic. One more thing that’s different is how we are able to understand the importance of personalizing wedding photography. Our focus on clients’ perspectives makes us stand apart. A lot of our couples feel the same emotions that they did on their wedding day when they look at their pictures years down the lane. Our pictures usually act as a cure for their nostalgia. Because of this, we have a lot of clients who get back to us even 3-4 years after their wedding to thank us for the wonderful memories we helped preserve in time.

WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE TO COUPLES SEARCHING

# FOR THEIR DREAM PHOTOGRAPHER? ANY OTHER TIPS FOR THEM?

Every Photographer has a different style, you have to choose the style that best meets your vision. This will help you filter out most photographers. Next thing you need to look for is a team with face. It is crucial for you to choose a team with a representative. A known face or a representative can help you better communicate your vision to the rest of the team and is also responsible for ensuring that the shoot fits your vision for it. One more important thing is not compromising on your choice of photographer due to slight variation in your budget. Do not lose out on your dream photographer due to slight differences in your budget and their package costs.

WOULD YOU SAY YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY # HOW HAS CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED OUT? When we started out it was just the two of us and we were handling everything,

even

had

small

office

where

everything

was

extremely chaotic. We were doing so many things that we were unable to keep track of all of them. That’s when we realized that we had to use our prior experiences

make

things

easier

for

us,

make

them

streamlined. We then started building a team and assigning things to each department. Today we are a team of 24 members in-house and we work with over 50 freelancers all over.

CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR

# CLIENTELE WITH PROPER DESCRIPTION? We have a lot of NRI clientele. Couples who live far away from their home are often tensed with planning their wedding from across the seven seas. They find out about us through word of mouth and usually contact us to ease their worries. We help them by planning and coordinating with them even when they are not present in the country, when they finally arrive for their wedding events, we are able to capture them just as they wanted us to.

WHAT’S YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THOSE

# STARTING OUT IN PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME?

First, don’t expect quick returns in the first few days. The fruits of your labour will take time to come. Things will change once you establish yourself. Second, if you’re getting into wedding photography make sure you are client centric. For other genres, make sure you’re passionate about your work. Third, stay motivated and have the zeal to learn. Experiment with everything, the angles, the lighting, the location, the lens and the colours.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

ANUPAM & SOUMI WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS OF KNOTSBYAMP

"Q N A " WITH WALLMAG

# HOW DID YOU MEET EACH OTHER?

We were in the same school (Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mankhurd) for a brief period of time, then Soumi left for another school. We were mere acquaintances then and were passive friends on Facebook. When Anupam moved back to Mumbai in 2014 to start Wedding Photography after leaving his Circuit Design job with AMD in Bangalore, we got in touch again, since we used to live close-by. It may sound funny, but our first meeting was while jogging in the morning. Little did we know, that would result in a beautiful friendship, love and thereafter Work Partners as well.

WORK FOR YOU BOTH IS A COLLABORATION, A COMPETITION OR A BIT OF BOTH? Anupam: I never consider it be a competition, I feel very proud how in a short span Soumi has learned so much and her work speaks for itself. Soumi inherently is more empathetic and her style of connecting with people is very different from me.

MEET ANUPAM AND SOUMI OF KNOTSBYAMP: A COUPLE KNOWN TO SHOOT MESMERIZING WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES.

Soumi: Well, its both a collaboration & a competition for me. We both think differently, and learn a lot from each other, which adds a lot of value in what we do. But our end-goal is the same, to make our couples happy, and in the process to get satisfied with our work as an artist. So, we collaborate to make our couple’s wedding visions & dreams a reality. We compete as well while working, but that’s a healthy competition, as it helps us in bringing out the best in each other.

HOW HAS WEDDING IDEAS HELPED AND SUPPORTED YOUR BUSINESS?

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

More than any specific idea, we feel it is our photography and filmmaking style of staying true to human emotions and their stories which we believe is timeless and connects people. Also taking a personal interest in other aspects of wedding planning, design, and conceptualization helps greatly to help your couples. Along with your work, your personality is equally important for your success. Being able to connect with people and help them through the whole anxiety is just as important as your creativity and vision.

"ITS THE LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT WE RECEIVE FROM THE COUPLES THAT MAKE US WORK HARDER, BE MORE CREATIVE ." - ANUPAM & SOUMI

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SHOOTING

# WEDDINGS? HOW MANY WEDDINGS HAVE YOU PHOTOGRAPHED?

Anupam: I found Anupam Maurya Photography (AMP) in December 2013. Thereafter, Soumi came on-board in 2017. We felt there was a need to rebrand ourselves as the team grew, so AMP became "KnotsbyAMP" in the same year. We have covered 300+ weddings by now involving all the major traditions & rituals in India, and ranging from celebrity, destination & international weddings. The only culture we haven’t covered in India as of now is the northeastern/tribal wedding.

BEING PHOTOGRAPHERS, HOW MUCH EXCITED YOU WERE FOR YOUR OWN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY/SHOOT? WHAT PLANS DID YOU BOTH MAKE TOGETHER FOR IT? Anupam: Being a Wedding Photographer, I was quite excited about my own wedding, and I had tons of ideas, but back then Soumi wanted a simple wedding, her only concern was to be dressed as a typical Bengali bride so we went along with what the bride needed. Being the most experienced person with respect to weddings, most responsibilities regarding planning came on to me. One thing I was clear on was that I wanted both families to stay in the same place for two days and have all the functions in one big venue, so we settled down for an RTISC Sports club in Navi Mumbai, which had ample of choices of having an open-air wedding and also banquets for indoor functions like Sangeet and cocktail. However not all things go as expected at a wedding, and we had problems with the default decorator of the venue. Apart from that, we didn’t worry about other things going here and there and just made sure we enjoy our wedding along with our friends and family. For photography, we had our team

HOW WILL YOU ELABORATE ON YOUR MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER?

to care of all aspects.

Soumi: I always wanted to be a Bengali bride. This was a distinct wish right from my childhood. And when the time came, I told Anupam about it. I am really glad that he agreed, or he had no choice either

The most memorable and enjoyable experience is to meet new people and be able to tell stories through your vision. A lot goes behind creating an image, from composition, to timing, to lighting and when everything comes together perfectly it gives you great joy to see the output. Also when you are editing a film on the edit-table and you see the output, it makes you fall in love with your own work. Each film that comes out of KnotsbyAMP, we all see almost a hundred times, before we share with

(laughs)! We also agreed on having a single wedding (rather than two, Bengali and UP wedding in our case). Luckily, both our parents agreed as well. Then I started the real wedding planning. I was lucky about the fact that I didn’t have to worry about photography & cinematography. So for me, the major lookout areas were the makeup & clothes. The wedding days passed away in a jiffy, but one thing which I and Anupam ensured was to have a lot of fun and that’s exactly what has been captured in the photographs. Not only us, but our friends,

our couples and that just happens unconsciously.

families, and relatives let their hair down and totally enjoyed the wedding at RTISC Sports Club in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai. And when I saw the photos and the wedding film, I literally cried, out of happiness. It was overwhelming in every way. You actually get to know the wedding emotions when you see your own wedding photos and film. That joy is different, like living the day through the photos & film. And I am really glad that Team KnotsbyAMP did such an amazing job with our wedding photos & film!

WITHIN THE WEDDING INDUSTRY, WHO ELSE

# CAPTIVATES AND INTERESTS YOU?

The great thing about photography is that its very open and you keep coming across great work almost every other day. But it's important to be true to your art, approach and work with an open mind, so as to be not too inspired or else your work could be too derivative and unoriginal. One

great

way

derive

inspiration

from

popular

cultures,

surroundings, nature, basically life in general. While you can keep experimenting with style, you must be able to capture the story that lies in front of you honestly and consistently. Among living people on earth, we like Two Mann Studios, Ferjuaristi, Mayad studios, etc.

THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO # IS SHARE WITH OUR READERS? - Follow the work of great wedding photographers and shoot as much as you can. - Try to carry a camera with you whenever you step out. - Study composition rules, try to work with them and eventually study the effect when you break them.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

LEARNING ARTICLES

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

Grow and Improve Your

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS # L E A R N

W I T H

W A L L M A G

It is not at all easy to become a professional wedding photographer. It has its own sets of challenges. There are various options for professional wedding photographers available. So, you have to be unique and confident enough before entering into this highly competitive field. Here is a list of steps which could help in solving the problem which might occur if you go for this profession.

#1 ANALYZING THE IN-AND-OUT OF ENTIRE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS If you are a novice, the local wedding photographers could help you in getting the idea about the budget and the pricing that is offered by the clients. Theoretical knowledge could be obtained by

visiting

the

blogs

and

websites

professional

wedding

photographers.

The Wedding photography business is a very competitive field. You should have a proper list of your USP (unique selling points).

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

It is your USP’s that could help in creating a difference from the other options that are available.

#2 FIRSTLY APPROACHING TO YOUR INNER CIRCLE Don’t

think

that

you

have

mastered

the

art

#3 STARTING WITH FREE PHOTOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENTS It may take quite a long time to get your first bonafide client who could recognize and pay you as a professional wedding photographer. It will

wedding

take a huge amount of background work together with lots of dedication

photography, if your friends and family are complimenting. Your

and preparation. In the initial stage, you could start taking free wedding

amount of success can be monitored by the amount offers and

photography assignments. This could help in building up the attractive

references you start getting on a regular basis.

portfolios. You could even ask the people with whom you have offered your services for free to rate you on your social media accounts. It is to

In the initial level, you could start as part-time. This will make

be noted that the wedding you pick to shoot for free should be of

sure that you have another source of income i.e. from your full-

premium class. It should include the best photography poses. This would

time job. This act is considered somewhat safe.

enable you to produce a high-end portfolio.

#10 APPROACHING WEDDING BLOGS AND MAGAZINES TO GET YOUR WORK FEATURED Wedding planning blogs showcase the choice of perfect designer bridal gown and even perfect wedding venues. It offers a wide range of choices to the clients. These wedding magazines tell about the latest trends in fashion and makeup industry.

#11 BUILDING SOCIAL NETWORK Networking is one of the crucial steps in building any business.

It has to

be kept in mind that it is the people who could help in increasing the business. So you should always respect people approaching you related to your business. Social media is a great platform for streamlining your work and getting in touch with the people.

#12 COLLABORATING PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM DIFFERENT NICHE It can be a crucial step in collaborating photographers from different niche. This could help in providing great exposure. Similarly, wedding photographers can work with boudoir photographers. You can ask the collaborating partners to tag you in the images of behind the scenes.

#4 DECIDING YOUR PRICING WISELY AND SMARTLY Pricing is a very important factor for both client and professional wedding photographer. You should have a proper list with detailed explanations of the expenses which could be both incidental as well as fixed expenses.

#5 ESTABLISHING A BRAND NAME AND DESIGNING AN ATTRACTIVE WEDDING PORTFOLIO WEBSITE It is very essential to establish a brand which would include the name of

your

business,

logo,

unique

visual

elements

font

size

and

colour. It even incorporates professional business cards, websites, brochures. You should have professional wedding portfolio website with the complete details of your business including photography pricing list.

#6 KEEPING IN MIND THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL STUFF Contracts and agreements play a major role in looking after the legal

stuff.

professional

important

wedding

both

for

photographer.

the

client

Contracts

as and

well

the

agreements

should list down all the details of the services which you would be offering to your client.

#7 USING THE CLIENT PROOFING PLATFORM TO STREAMLINE AND SHOWCASE YOUR WORKFLOW This provides clients with easy access giving them the opportunity to share their thoughts on the images. It is also a great method in online delivering the work to your clients. It helps in saving time. You can tie

photos.

#8 USING A BLOG TO WRITE AND SHARE THE WEDDING SHOOT EXPERIENCE Blogging helps in making your wedding photography portfolio richer.

#13 MAINTAINING A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH A VENDOR NETWORK Vendors

very

well

know

the

importance

clients

order

run

business. So asking help from vendors can be a good option. Proactively asking the vendors to praise your work in front of their clients.

It increases the chances of getting more business from the couple

#14 THERE IS NO LIMIT OF GROWING OF LEARNING

out there who are in search of professional wedding photographers.

There is no limit to learning and growing in the field of photography. A

This could even help in gaining existence in google and other used

Photography business is something which keeps on evolving frequently.

search engines.

You could be in touch with workshops, seminars and tutorials so as to keep yourself updated with all the latest evolvement.

#9 REGISTERING WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS ON ‘WEDDING MARKETPLACES’

These are some of the methods which could help you in increasing and

Wedding marketplaces is considered to be the best choice for listing

vast field and there could be innumerable challenges that might occur in

your wedding photography business. These wedding marketplaces

your way. It is solely your dedication and passion towards your occupation

are known to provide the best of services in the field of caterers,

that could help you keep you going despite all the hardships that might

officiants, DJs

occur your way.

spreading your business. However, a wedding photography business is a

60 FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

up with companies who look after the editing post-processing of the

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

Photography Types :

The Complete List 2019 # L E A R N

W I T H

W A L L M A G

We are surrounded by different types of photography all the time. They are found on every TV channel we switch to. It even covers the major portion of social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest. There are different genres in a photographic composition. The article below gives an analysis of the popular types of photography. Well, you’re in for a treat because we have put together a complete list. Here are the types of photography in 2019. Let’s dive right in.

#1 ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY

#4 ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

#7 CANDID PHOTOGRAPHY

#2 ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY

#5 BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

#8 CITYSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

#3 ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPHY

#6 BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY

#9 COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

#16 FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

#23 LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

#30 NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY

#11 CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

#17 FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY

#24 LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY

#31 NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

#12 DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY

#18 FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

#25 LONG EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY

#32 PET PHOTOGRAPHY

#10 COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPHY

#19 FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

#26 MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY

#33 PHOTOJOURNALISM

#13 DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY

#20 GOLDEN HOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

#27 MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY

#34 PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

#14 EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

#21 INDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY

#28 MINIMALIST PHOTOGRAPHY

#35 PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

#15 EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

#22 INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY

#29 MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY

#36 REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY

The above list of different types of photography might have helped you in getting an idea about the wide scope in photography. You can choose your niche if you want to pursue a career in photography. Time is changing and in this era of digitalisation, everyone wants to capture special moments of their lives. So, the art of photography gives them the liberty to showcase their vision in the way they want.

62 FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

#10 COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPHY

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

Flourishing Creativity Without Suffering With Any Loss Of Visual Integrity # L E A R N

W I T H

W A L L M A G

The article talks about the importance of visual integrity and the role it plays in photography. It helps you in standing apart from the other people in the same occupation. It may involve a lot of error and trial but at the end it is all worth it.

CREATIVE MATURITY HAS BECOME THE NEED OF AN HOUR. IT DOES NOT HAVE A WELL-DEFINED SINGLE ROUTE. HOWEVER, IT MIGHT BE BIFURCATED INTO CERTAIN STEPS WHICH COULD HELP IN BUILDING A PERSONAL FRAMEWORK AS A PHOTOGRAPHER.

It is very important to store the authenticity of the content you produce while maintaining the creative style of photography. Here, we will share some steps that might help you in maintaining your creativity without losing a pinch of visual integrity.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

KEEPING YOURSELF OPEN TO NEW THINGS It is very important to put yourself into unfamiliar situations. It will result in the exploration

diversified

cultures,

natural

landscapes

and

people

different

backgrounds. This would be a great help in expanding the creative opportunities and will add diversification in the visual stories you want to convey via your images. However, you are required to be consistent and should always be ready to try new things.

THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY Being

vulnerable

not

just

making

the

other

person

comfortable and to make him or her open up in front of the camera. But being vulnerable is a lot more than this. It is about making the subject of trusting the photographer. At times there might be a shortage of time and you just have 510 minutes to build up the rapport.

This can be achieved by breaking up the creative approach. You may find that your idea is being copied. But certainly if there would be originality in your idea, nobody can take the “You” out from your innovative idea.

ALWAYS VALUE SECOND THOUGHTS THAT OCCUR IN YOUR MIND In order to impart integrity in your photography style, you must be well-aware about the influences that you want to showcase with the medium of your creative photography.

You

should

devote

yourself

some

personal time just to think about the factors that have great

influence

your

thinking.

There

are

external

influences as well which will, however, be never static. But the process of focussing on your priorities should

IMAGES SHOULD BE UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC AT THE SAME TIME

be a major concern.

TOP TIP IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO INITIATE A CONVERSATION WITH NON-CREATIVE MINDED APART FROM CREATIVE MINDED. IT HELPS IN ANALYZING THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE THINKING.

MEASURING AND COMPUTING MATURITY

SEEKING ACCOUNTABILITY It is very much important to maintain the individuality while developing your creative visuality in the images. It is essential

Examination of the content and direction requires a

form of measurement. It is important to jot down your

provide

occasions

where

your

style

approach

and

aims

techniques are questioned.

which

you

want

achieve

with

your

artistic

creativity. is

great

platform

where

you

can

find

the

accountability or you may even contact people whom you feel

The aim which you decide helps a lot in working on the

you are close to. It might prove as a great way to encourage

projects which you take. The projects might be big or

and motivate you by reflecting and analyzing the quality of

small

work that is being produced by you.

achieving output.

but

the

focus

the

aim

that

helps

THE ROUTE WHICH LEADS TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CREATIVE MATURITY MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FOR EACH OF US. THE MAIN PROBLEM THAT OCCURS YOUR WAY WOULD BE RELATED TO BUILDING UP A PERSONAL FRAMEWORK. THIS PERSONAL FRAMEWORK WOULD ACT AS A PLATFORM TO QUESTION YOUR ARTISTIC CREATIVITY AT EVERY STEP. THE DIVERSIFIED LIST OF YOUR IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES WILL HELP YOU TO REESTABLISH YOUR CREATIVE INTEGRITY.

64 FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

WallMag

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

Photographers Guide To #COVID-19 # L E A R N

W I T H

W A L L M A G

Your photography business might be slow for now, but it doesn’t have to be a death to your career. Here's what you can do now!

STAY MORE BLESSED, LESS STRESSED. STAY MORE PRODUCTIVE YET PROTECTED.

COVID-19 is a global health concern that is distancing the photography

lovers

from

events they want to go and creating

slowdown

business prospects.

1) PREPARE THE PORTFOLIO YOU ALWAYS WANTED

65 FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

Some

tasks

can

worked

upon to make things work in this

aura

srticle:

are

given

this

Organizing your profile to make it more attractive and pleasing to converting prospects into clients online. Your online portfolio includes your Instagram, Facebook, Google My business and your website. Keeping everything up to date, organized and attractive will give you a better opportunity when the market will start again.

5) FOCUS MORE ON PROJECTS THAT INVOLVE A SMALLER GROUP Take up smaller projects which could be done easily. Try

reschedule

big

events

possible,

instead

cancelling them. Don't be disheartened, you must have heard of the saying that many small droplets make up a big ocean.

2) SELL YOUR WORK ONLINE Having photography as your passion, you have a tremendous amount of amazing pictures ready to sell. You can earn an extra income by selling your images to image marketplaces. This could open a whole new dimension to your earnings.

6) SAVE MORE AND SPEND LESS Make optimum use of your gadgets that you already have and bring out your best creative work. Planning expenses

today

for

upcoming

economic

conditions

would be a remedy to play safe with an upcoming situation. File your taxes if you haven't and follow a budget for the next few months as sometimes it’s good to be pocket-friendly.

3) APPLY FOR PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST AND AWARDS ONLINE There

are

numerous

photography

grants

run

various

organizations. So, being prepared with an outstanding style statement will help a lot to boost up your chances of winning and gear up the level of work through recognition provided by participating and winning the contest. It would also help you to get more clients in the upcoming months.

7) PERSONAL CARE IS A MUST 4) DIG INTO SOME FAVOURITE PHOTO BOOKS

Carry sanitizer wherever you go, wear masks wherever is

large

overcrowded

crowd

places

and

people.

keep

Avoid

yourself

going

clean

and

Spending time looking and thinking about what some of the

hygienic. Exercise with the help of instructions on a live

great

very

video, mediation would make you feel less stressed,

inspiring for your own work. Taking in a photo book can also

positive and out of anxiety created by the news to

be extremely relaxing, which is something that I think all of us

coronavirus.

photographers

the

could benefit from right now.

past

have

done

can

66 FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

there

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

Tips & Tricks For Wildlife Photography Beginners By Hitesh Chawla # L E A R N

wildlife

W I T H

W A L L M A G

photography,

don't be there for the sake of being there, be there to feel

the

nature.

ONE

with NATURE.

A BRIEF ABOUT THE AUTHOR Hitesh

Chawla

wildlife

started

photography

his

journey

in 2011-12. Since then, he has traveled

places

than

Sattal,

Chhapar,

Tal

Ranthambhore,

Jorbeed,

Bharatpur,

Andamans, Himachal Pradesh,

etc.

FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 01

Whenever

unable

outstation,

does

photography surroundings

in of

bird the

Delhi

itself.

After visiting so many places,

In this blog, tips & tricks are shared for capturing creative images of birds and animals for those who are beginners in wildlife photography.

he has earned a fair number of

images

recognizations.

well

some

People usually ask how to make creative images? What camera settings to use? What are some basic tips & tricks of wildlife photography? Which is the best lens for wildlife photography? Below are some points which the author follows. It is important to note that these are just his personal views.

1. KNOW YOUR CAMERA Wildlife photography is very tricky and does not last for more than a few seconds. If you are not aware of your camera features, you may miss the moment. To understand the camera, the basic points to know can be: The

minimum

and

maximum

shutter

speed

your

camera, How many frames your camera can capture in a second, How much ISO your camera can handle, Knowing when to open or close aperture, Change the settings even without moving your eye from the viewfinder.

4. KEEP PATIENCE It's essential in wildlife photography. The shot of this flying Crested Serpent Eagle is not just another random shot . It required a lot of patience. This eagle was sitting on a branch and an intuition was made that it would fly in that direction. It did the same but took more than an hour and a half before taking off.

5. SHOOT DURING GOLDEN HOURS During these hours, give

2. USE A SUITABLE LENS

extra

The best lens for wildlife photography is which suits your

spoil

vision. You can go for any, telephoto or wide-angle lenses.

making

Where the telephoto lens will give you a good reach and

warm

bring your subject closer, with the help of a wide-angle lens,

Capture in RAW so that

you can create some unique images.

you can adjust the tone

attention

white

later.

WHY USE A TELEPHOTO LENS?

the

too

fluorescent.

priority get

PERFECT

to reach closer to the subject, chances are that they may move

either

Though, be

the

Don't

image

should

It’ll bring the subject closer to you. In a natural habitat, if you’ll try

balance.

THE

PICTURE

directly in the field.

away. A telephoto lens will help you to capture images from a

6. UNDERSTAND THE BEHAVIOUR OF YOUR SUBJECT AND GET DOWN TO THE EYE LEVEL

distance. Due to the high focal length, you’ll feel like standing near your subject.

WHY USE A WIDE-ANGLE LENS? The advantage of the wide-angle lens is the capability to add

Don't

habitat into your images. You are able to document the wildlife

the

field

and

start

clicking.

Pay

attention to the behavior of birds or animals. Eye-level shots will be the game-changers. Lay down on that dirty ground, full of animals dung, or at times on a

3. PLAY WITH THE SHUTTER SPEED

muddy ground which will change the colour of your

In wildlife photography, shutter speed plays a very important

creative shots.

clothes. It will help you in getting some amazing and

role. If it's not up to the mark, the chances of missing the action will increase. If you are capturing a bird in flight, make

sure

that

1/4000(1/8000

the too

shutter is

speed

achievable

is in

between high-end

1/1000

cameras).

Don't forget to play with it. If you are looking for a panning shot, you can use between 1/30 to 1/250 as well. Though, it

7. BE THERE, BREATHE, AND ENJOY. YOU ARE ALIVE! Hear the chirping of birds, see the flowing water, feel the wind kissing your cheeks. Be the one with Mother Nature.

This

one

the

most

neglected

tricks

wildlife photography as most photographers are busy in getting THAT PERFECT SHOT.

Many times, keep the camera inside the bag, lie down on the ground, and feel the nature. This opens mind and helps in getting better frames.

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 01

depends on that time's conditions and subject as well.

WHERE PHOTOS MEET STORIES

The Ultimate Photography Hashtag Cheat Sheet for Instagram 2020 Education # L E A R N

W I T H

W A L L M A G

Hashtags are essential for getting your pictures easily accessible to a wide-reaching audience. Hashtags are like shortcuts for people who are looking for a specific genre of photography. Now the hashtags may differ and their uses too,

you

have

keep

mind

under

which