• My smartphone (this has an app that
lets me know the positions of stars
and planets in night sky: SkyMap
by Google)
• Rain cover/Umbrella
• Solar Battery charger for my phone
(Cobra 300)
• A book/ my iPad that holds all the
music and ebooks
• A portable UV water purifier (SteriPen)
• A Swiss knife
"I taught myself
through blogs, videos,
magazines. Being
an engineer, the
technical part was
simple; my interest
in people & music
made the art side of
photography easy"
Pic 1 - Leh
72 Travel Secrets September-October 2015
What challenges have you faced when
travelling in somewhat dodgy locations?
One big challenge is to preserve charge
in batteries. Lack of electricity makes the
battery charge very precious. I keep the
camera off when I am not shooting. Only
turning it on before taking a picture will
conserve precious charge. If you leave it
on, the camera sensor will remain charged
and exposure metering system will keep
making the chip waste away batteries.
Also, during trekking, the temperature
falls subzero in higher camps at night. At
such low temperatures, the batteries start
losing their charge quickly even when
not in use. We need to keep them warm.
I do it by keeping them in my pocket or
sleeping bag while sleeping at night.
Pick 3 of your favourite shots
Three favourite shots
o This was shot on a film camera while
flying in Leh (pic1). This was the first
time I saw glaciers, snowy peaks. The
aircraft’s deep red engine added colours
to the mostly monochrome landscape
below.
o This one exhibits the tiny scale of a
traveller and the vast majestic natural
landscape. I had set up this shot for
myself. I showed the frame to a fellow
trekker and asked him to press shutter
on my signal. See if you can spot me
standing. This was taken on Day 4 of
our 8-day trek to Roopkund (pic2).
o This one was shot in Kanyakumari
(pic3) from the top of a lighthouse.
What I love the most is how slow
shutter speed has captured the
boisterous high-tide waves and steady
rocks. It provokes philosophical
thoughts in my head.
Does being a photographer sometimes
keep you from experiencing a place to the
fullest?
Like learning to play a musical
instrument, there is a gradual progression
in how much photography takes away
from being in the moment. First, one
learns to play by the rules and then it
becomes instinctive. Similarly, in the
beginning, the entire focus is on the
technique and getting it right. Conscious
thinking takes the front seat. As the art
matures, it becomes instinctive and the
camera becomes a part of you. Then, one
can begin to enjoy being in the moment
and take pictures too: Collaborative play
of mind and machine.
Though I am still learning, the camera
has become a part of me. I enjoy being
in the moment and if it inspires a photo
in me, I take a picture. It does take part
of conscious thinking, but I enjoy the
process of getting it right. It’s madness.
photographers & bloggers you admire?
In landscape photography, Ansel Adams
does not need an introduction. For street
photography, Henri Cartier-Bresson.
For portraits, my favourite is Yusuf
Karsh, and for special techniques such
as HDR, Trey Ratcliff is an authority.
For monochrome long exposures, Joel
Tjintjelaar. For flash photography,
David Hobby’s Strobist Blog. For