Photography: Looking through my lens
Photography has been a transformational journey for me, deeply rooted in my life from childhood. My mom, a huge fan of documenting moments, exposed me to various cameras—from Polaroids to DSLRs. Now, with smartphones offering incredible quality, capturing memories has become easier and more accessible.
For me, photography has never been about professional aspirations. It's about the joy and fulfillment I get from clicking pictures. My phone currently holds around 30,000 photos, with countless more backed up on my hard disk. Photography makes me happy, and I love it without needing any particular reason.
During my time at NIFT, photography became even more meaningful. When COVID hit, boredom set in as I spent a year without new clothes or many photos. One day, I ordered clothes from ajio.com, took my brother out, and we started clicking pictures. This reignited my passion for photography, and I discovered the joy of editing with Lightroom, which led me to post online.
Initially, it was just fun. With so much free time during the pandemic, I created content, stitched clothes, made videos, and edited photos. Over time, I started uploading more on Instagram, pondering whether to become a blogger or influencer. Ultimately, I realized I just wanted to document life.
Aesthetics matter to me, but it's about more than just looks. There were times I was worried if I was seeking attention through social media. However, after a recent reflection on my Instagram, I saw it as a beautiful documentation of my life, exactly what I wanted. Photography captures the evolution of my thoughts and experiences—changing places, meeting new people, and forming relationships.
Reflecting on my Instagram, I realized how much my life has evolved. The people I was with, my interests, my thoughts—all of these have changed. Looking back at old photos and captions, I can see a younger, more innocent version of myself. This journey is not just nostalgic; it's satisfying to see the flow of my life.
Photography has also introduced me to new people and experiences. On trips, I often asked strangers to take pictures, valuing the capture of moments. I've read that the brain can relive the same happiness or sadness when rethinking an experience, and photography helps in reliving those beautiful moments.
Videography is a natural extension of photography for me. It adds movement and sound, creating a richer representation of moments. With the advancements in editing tools, both video and photo editing have become incredibly accessible and enjoyable. Editing is crucial because a photo or video can never truly replicate the original experience. It's just a visual representation, as close as it can be, but not the same. Recognizing this difference is essential.
When editing, I aim to recreate the vibe of the moment. For instance, the sky may appear more saturated in real life, whereas my iPhone captures it as pale. By enhancing the saturation, I can bring the photo closer to my memory of that moment. Editing helps bridge the gap between reality and the captured image, creating a neural network where seeing a picture triggers the memory and emotions associated with that time.
While editing, I've had moments where my edits looked overdone. Over time, I've learned to strike a balance that feels true to my experience while enhancing the aesthetic. The joy of editing lies in this creative process, making the captured moment resonate more deeply with how I remember it.
In essence, photography and videography are about documenting life visually. With the rise of visual media, capturing moments offers a vivid memory, sometimes more striking than written words. It shows my growth and changing interests—like my past obsession with sustainability and crafts, which I now view with some confusion.
Photography and videography are forms of personal data analysis. By looking at my photos and videos, I can track my journey, my changing interests, and my evolving thoughts. It’s a valuable and enjoyable experience, providing a visual narrative of my life.
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