#c4n

C4N Nashville is a one-day training and networking event for anybody who wants to make a positive difference in their neighborhood. Last year, over 200 neighborhood and community leaders attended this important event. C4N Nashville (http://n2n.solutions/c4n) will be held on Saturday, March 28th at Croft Middle School. Advance registration is required. The deadline to register is Friday, March 20th. This year, our design team has created a special track focused on Schools & Neighborhoods. The topics include:

Why Neighborhood Experiences Matter

A History of the Relationship Between Schools & Neighborhoods in Nashville

Schools & Neighborhoods Working Together

We are pleased to have the following people working on this special track: Deputy Mayor Brenda Haywood, Reuben DePena, Tennessee PTA President Kim Henderson, Amanda Kail, LaTonya Turner, School Board Member Freda Players-Peters, Kyla Drengel, and Caroline Marks.

We would love for you to attend the day and especially participate in the discussion, "Schools & Neighborhoods Working Together," facilitated by LaTonya Turner. Visit http://n2n.solutions/c4n to learn more and register.

IN CONVERSATION WITH: MICHAEL STEVERSON, AN AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY AND TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER

Michael Steverson, an American documentary and travel photographer based in South China’s Guangxi Province. Introduced to the wonder called camera from a very young age, he could never stay away from it. According to him, ‘The best photographer out there is the one having the most fun.’ He loves meeting people and captures their stories. He has a deep connection with India and Indian people. We, the photography enthusiasts follow his work and learn something new every day. Here, Michael talks about his family, work and his affection toward India…

Let’s hear him:

Tell us something about yourself:

I’m an American documentary and travel photographer based in South China’s Guangxi Province, where I’ve lived and worked for the past 13 years. Most of my work focuses on people in their everyday environment. While I do photograph landscapes and iconic architecture when I travel, and I also love street photography, I seem to gravitate toward people. For me, it’s the people who make a place appealing or special. I love the interaction, the connection, and I want to tell those stories.

Tell us something about your family:

I’m married to the most remarkable woman, Lily. She’s Chinese and the primary reason I’ve stayed in China all these years. We have four adult children spread out across the globe and we’re very proud of them. They’re each remarkable. We’re also blessed to have two lovely granddaughters in California. Oh, and there’s our little dog, Elvis.

How did your journey as a photographer start?

I was a very small boy when I first picked up my dad’s Rolleiflex TLR. I must have been 8 or 9. I played around with it for a few years but never anything more than snapshots around my grandparents’ house on the Kentucky River, where we lived at the time. I do remember loving the way the camera felt in my hands, the heft. I was intrigued by all the dials and settings and tried to read and understand the manual, but of course it was a struggle at that age. I did figure out how to load the film. I would shoot anything and everything and most of the results were absolute rubbish. My dad was a career soldier and had used the camera wherever his assignments took him. He was killed in Vietnam in 1967 and the camera remained a connection to father. My infatuation with photography wore off after a while. I was told we couldn’t afford the film and processing. As we all do as kids, I moved on to something else. I was hooked though. To this day I still “see” a lot of shots in square format! I wish I knew what happened to that camera.

How much Street Photography does take place in your routine?

Well, I do love street photography, but I’m not really a street photographer per se. As I said earlier, I’m typically more interested in meeting and talking with people as opposed to being strictly candid. Still, I do love it and I hope I have managed to catch some decent street images over the years. It’s without a doubt the most difficult genre of photography to do well. It’s evolving for sure.

Interesting! Let’s talk more about it:

How was the response you received to Street Photography in the early years and how has it changed with time?

I think early on, a lot of people didn’t really “get” some street photography, surely myself included. At first glance, it can be easy to miss the details, or to not see the connections that form a story. I mentioned before the evolution of street photography. These days it seems everyone is chasing juxtaposition or layers or something “extra”. At times it feels to me almost gimmicky now. The problem is, only a few people can actually “see” those shots. Guys like Vineet Vohra, Siegfried Hansen and Tavepong Pratoomwong come to mind. These are all special photographers with unique vision and talent. They’re freaking unicorns and most of us will have a difficult time trying to reproduce their styles. I’d encourage folks to forge their own path. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take lessons or study great photographers or their images and I don’t mean we shouldn’t strive to get better via workshops and the like. I’m nearly 62 and I learn stuff every day and I’m still attending workshops! I just mean that at some point we all need to be true to our own creative vision.

Street Photography is challenging. Please share the critical situations you had to face during your photo-walks:

It can be challenging, yes. I have to say I’ve had very few “critical” situations arise on the street. We are all going to get those people who say no, and some folks are certainly more aggressive than others. I find that 98% of the time; a smile and a nod will go a long way to defuse those situations. I’m pretty open with folks and will even approach them after they’ve said no, hoping to perhaps break the ice. When that doesn’t happen, I simply walk away. I’ve rarely been afraid on the street. That said, there was this one night in Bangkok (song reference). I was out very late by myself; I was just exploring and not really aware of my surroundings. I turned a corner into an alley and suddenly found myself surrounded by a group of about 7 or 8 young men. It was instantly uncomfortable and they were definitely thinking about taking my camera. I quickly brushed by a couple of them and made it back to the corner where there was some foot traffic and got out of there. It was foolish. I admit I was scared at the time but didn’t panic. I’m a fairly big guy and they were all smaller guys and they hesitated just long enough for me to move. Still, they were a group. From that day I’ve become acutely aware of my surroundings and I’m no longer foolhardy in the pursuit of the shot. Be confident in your posture but yeah, be aware. Again, 98% of the time you’re going to be fine.

In how many countries do you work?

Wow. Too many. I’ve been just about everywhere in Asia now. 75% of what I do is China-based and more than half of that is produced specifically for the Chinese market. I’ve also developed a strong relationship with India over the last 6 years or so.

Please share your photography experience in India with us:

The India connection actually began with my affiliation with the Vohra brothers and APF (Artphotofeature) Magazine. I’d met Vineet on 500px and we just kind of hit it off. Soon afterwards, I met Rohit via Facebook and when they began their Facebook street photography group, I joined their admin team. Through that group, I met thousands of Indian photographers and soon enough made my way to Delhi and Varanasi. Since then I’ve made another return to Delhi, been to Agra and have been back to Varanasi twice more. My wife has joined me in India twice now and our daughter was able to make the last trip with us, where we got to experience the magic of Kumbh at Allahabad. Then there is Kolkata.

Lily and I have developed a special affinity for The City of Joy. I’ve been there four times now and have been treated like family every time I’ve visited.

I have to single out Sabya and Lopa Talukdar, as they’ve been instrumental in introducing us to the Kolkata photography community. There is something so special about India. It’s beautiful to be sure but it’s developing so rapidly that the infrastructure is hard-pressed to keep pace and that, of course, creates some unique problems. It’s the people though, who make India unique. There is something genteel about Indians, something genuine in their concern for their fellow man. I’ve never been treated with more kindness than when I’m in India.

Tell us something about APF (Artphotofeature) Magazine and your role in it:

It’s funny. APF has, in some ways, become something of a runaway train. I don’t think any of us, when we started that FB street group years ago, foresaw how big or influential it would become, especially in Asia. The magazine continues to produce quality work and the FB street group is still going strong. Officially, I’m a Senior Contributing Editor at the magazine and I’m still an admin in the FB group, but man, it’s so large now that it is truly difficult to keep up. We (the admins) all have our own photo careers to maintain and let’s face it, Vineet and Rohit have become authentically famous in the street photography world. I’m not sure what the future holds, but I know I’ll forever be thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of APF.

How do you see the future of Indian Photography according to your experience?

The future is bright. India has so many great young photographers and there are so many strong photographers to serve as mentors and stewards for the next generation. Honestly, there are kids doing things today with smartphones that I can’t even approach. So, yeah I think the future is in good hands, and not just with street photography. I discover amazing young Indian photographers on Instagram every day.

And about Indian Street Photography…

As for street photography, in particular, India is producing a hugely talented pool of young photographers. I’d name some of them off, but inevitably I’d leave someone out. India has to have the highest level of photography talent per capita, than anywhere else in the world. One unique thing to India, at least in my experience, is that people on the street are fairly amenable to having their photo taken. It’s much more so than in most other places and I hope that doesn’t change anytime soon.

What would be your advice to the young photo enthusiasts?

Over the years I’ve been asked for advice, especially from younger photographers, on just about everything you could imagine. The obvious things come up, like exposure settings, composition, what equipment I use, how I process my work, how I get published. Then there are the esoteric questions like, “What were you feeling when you took this shot?” Man, I’m 61. I can barely remember what I had for breakfast. I do my best to answer thoughtfully in ways that are relevant and helpful, but honestly, I’m not sure how effective or useful it is. I think all too often we let ourselves get bogged down in the details, the minutia, looking for shortcuts or magic bullets. Too much thinking, too much analysis, can be paralyzing. There is no substitute for just getting out there and shooting and remembering why you picked up a camera in the first place. You picked it up because it was fun.

The best photographer out there is the one having the most fun. Follow your own creativity, your own creative vision, your own passion and desire to create. Trust yourself. As long as you love what you’re doing, everything else will come with time.

What are your future plans ( Do they include India   )?

I’m slowing down some, but I still have things I want to do. I’ve got two long-term projects from here in China that will be published this summer, both of them more than a decade in the making. I just this week began a new relationship with arguably one of the best photo tour companies in the world, Photo Workshop Adventures. I’ll lead three or four photo tours a year for them. It’s a quality outfit and I’m really looking forward to it. Personally, I’ve kind of been thinking about visiting every Province in China and documenting the journey. Certainly its ambitious but I’d still like to try. I want to explore more video work and I definitely want to buy a drone. I also want to stay married, so the drone may take some work. As for India, I have a dream to somehow do something to give back to the people that have given me so much. It will involve another long-term project and the details are still being sorted out but I’m very excited about the possibilities. It would involve a move to India for an extended period, perhaps twice over the next few years.

Oh, did I mention I want a drone?

[Photographs By: Michael Steverson]

[Keep yourself updated at]

C4N India’s Facebook Page

www.c4n.in

[You can also share your story on]

[email protected]

IN CONVERSATION WITH: MICHAEL STEVERSON, AN AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY AND TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER

Michael Steverson, an American documentary and travel photographer based in South China’s Guangxi Province. Introduced to the wonder called camera from a very young age, he could never stay away from it. According to him, ‘The best photographer out there is the one having the most fun.’ He loves meeting people and captures their stories. He has a deep connection with India and Indian people. We, the photography enthusiasts follow his work and learn something new every day. Here, Michael talks about his family, work and his affection toward India…

Let’s hear him:

Tell us something about yourself:

I’m an American documentary and travel photographer based in South China’s Guangxi Province, where I’ve lived and worked for the past 13 years. Most of my work focuses on people in their everyday environment. While I do photograph landscapes and iconic architecture when I travel, and I also love street photography, I seem to gravitate toward people. For me, it’s the people who make a place appealing or special. I love the interaction, the connection, and I want to tell those stories.

Tell us something about your family:

I’m married to the most remarkable woman, Lily. She’s Chinese and the primary reason I’ve stayed in China all these years. We have four adult children spread out across the globe and we’re very proud of them. They’re each remarkable. We’re also blessed to have two lovely granddaughters in California. Oh, and there’s our little dog, Elvis.

How did your journey as a photographer start?

I was a very small boy when I first picked up my dad’s Rolleiflex TLR. I must have been 8 or 9. I played around with it for a few years but never anything more than snapshots around my grandparents’ house on the Kentucky River, where we lived at the time. I do remember loving the way the camera felt in my hands, the heft. I was intrigued by all the dials and settings and tried to read and understand the manual, but of course it was a struggle at that age. I did figure out how to load the film. I would shoot anything and everything and most of the results were absolute rubbish. My dad was a career soldier and had used the camera wherever his assignments took him. He was killed in Vietnam in 1967 and the camera remained a connection to father. My infatuation with photography wore off after a while. I was told we couldn’t afford the film and processing. As we all do as kids, I moved on to something else. I was hooked though. To this day I still “see” a lot of shots in square format! I wish I knew what happened to that camera.

How much Street Photography does take place in your routine?

Well, I do love street photography, but I’m not really a street photographer per se. As I said earlier, I’m typically more interested in meeting and talking with people as opposed to being strictly candid. Still, I do love it and I hope I have managed to catch some decent street images over the years. It’s without a doubt the most difficult genre of photography to do well. It’s evolving for sure.

Interesting! Let’s talk more about it:

How was the response you received to Street Photography in the early years and how has it changed with time?

I think early on, a lot of people didn’t really “get” some street photography, surely myself included. At first glance, it can be easy to miss the details, or to not see the connections that form a story. I mentioned before the evolution of street photography. These days it seems everyone is chasing juxtaposition or layers or something “extra”. At times it feels to me almost gimmicky now. The problem is, only a few people can actually “see” those shots. Guys like Vineet Vohra, Siegfried Hansen and Tavepong Pratoomwong come to mind. These are all special photographers with unique vision and talent. They’re freaking unicorns and most of us will have a difficult time trying to reproduce their styles. I’d encourage folks to forge their own path. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take lessons or study great photographers or their images and I don’t mean we shouldn’t strive to get better via workshops and the like. I’m nearly 62 and I learn stuff every day and I’m still attending workshops! I just mean that at some point we all need to be true to our own creative vision.

Street Photography is challenging. Please share the critical situations you had to face during your photo-walks:

It can be challenging, yes. I have to say I’ve had very few “critical” situations arise on the street. We are all going to get those people who say no, and some folks are certainly more aggressive than others. I find that 98% of the time; a smile and a nod will go a long way to defuse those situations. I’m pretty open with folks and will even approach them after they’ve said no, hoping to perhaps break the ice. When that doesn’t happen, I simply walk away. I’ve rarely been afraid on the street. That said, there was this one night in Bangkok (song reference). I was out very late by myself; I was just exploring and not really aware of my surroundings. I turned a corner into an alley and suddenly found myself surrounded by a group of about 7 or 8 young men. It was instantly uncomfortable and they were definitely thinking about taking my camera. I quickly brushed by a couple of them and made it back to the corner where there was some foot traffic and got out of there. It was foolish. I admit I was scared at the time but didn’t panic. I’m a fairly big guy and they were all smaller guys and they hesitated just long enough for me to move. Still, they were a group. From that day I’ve become acutely aware of my surroundings and I’m no longer foolhardy in the pursuit of the shot. Be confident in your posture but yeah, be aware. Again, 98% of the time you’re going to be fine.

In how many countries do you work?

Wow. Too many. I’ve been just about everywhere in Asia now. 75% of what I do is China-based and more than half of that is produced specifically for the Chinese market. I’ve also developed a strong relationship with India over the last 6 years or so.

Please share your photography experience in India with us:

The India connection actually began with my affiliation with the Vohra brothers and APF (Artphotofeature) Magazine. I’d met Vineet on 500px and we just kind of hit it off. Soon afterwards, I met Rohit via Facebook and when they began their Facebook street photography group, I joined their admin team. Through that group, I met thousands of Indian photographers and soon enough made my way to Delhi and Varanasi. Since then I’ve made another return to Delhi, been to Agra and have been back to Varanasi twice more. My wife has joined me in India twice now and our daughter was able to make the last trip with us, where we got to experience the magic of Kumbh at Allahabad. Then there is Kolkata.

Lily and I have developed a special affinity for The City of Joy. I’ve been there four times now and have been treated like family every time I’ve visited.

I have to single out Sabya and Lopa Talukdar, as they’ve been instrumental in introducing us to the Kolkata photography community. There is something so special about India. It’s beautiful to be sure but it’s developing so rapidly that the infrastructure is hard-pressed to keep pace and that, of course, creates some unique problems. It’s the people though, who make India unique. There is something genteel about Indians, something genuine in their concern for their fellow man. I’ve never been treated with more kindness than when I’m in India.

Tell us something about APF (Artphotofeature) Magazine and your role in it:

It’s funny. APF has, in some ways, become something of a runaway train. I don’t think any of us, when we started that FB street group years ago, foresaw how big or influential it would become, especially in Asia. The magazine continues to produce quality work and the FB street group is still going strong. Officially, I’m a Senior Contributing Editor at the magazine and I’m still an admin in the FB group, but man, it’s so large now that it is truly difficult to keep up. We (the admins) all have our own photo careers to maintain and let’s face it, Vineet and Rohit have become authentically famous in the street photography world. I’m not sure what the future holds, but I know I’ll forever be thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of APF.

How do you see the future of Indian Photography according to your experience?

The future is bright. India has so many great young photographers and there are so many strong photographers to serve as mentors and stewards for the next generation. Honestly, there are kids doing things today with smartphones that I can’t even approach. So, yeah I think the future is in good hands, and not just with street photography. I discover amazing young Indian photographers on Instagram every day.

And about Indian Street Photography…

As for street photography, in particular, India is producing a hugely talented pool of young photographers. I’d name some of them off, but inevitably I’d leave someone out. India has to have the highest level of photography talent per capita, than anywhere else in the world. One unique thing to India, at least in my experience, is that people on the street are fairly amenable to having their photo taken. It’s much more so than in most other places and I hope that doesn’t change anytime soon.

What would be your advice to the young photo enthusiasts?

Over the years I’ve been asked for advice, especially from younger photographers, on just about everything you could imagine. The obvious things come up, like exposure settings, composition, what equipment I use, how I process my work, how I get published. Then there are the esoteric questions like, “What were you feeling when you took this shot?” Man, I’m 61. I can barely remember what I had for breakfast. I do my best to answer thoughtfully in ways that are relevant and helpful, but honestly, I’m not sure how effective or useful it is. I think all too often we let ourselves get bogged down in the details, the minutia, looking for shortcuts or magic bullets. Too much thinking, too much analysis, can be paralyzing. There is no substitute for just getting out there and shooting and remembering why you picked up a camera in the first place. You picked it up because it was fun.

The best photographer out there is the one having the most fun. Follow your own creativity, your own creative vision, your own passion and desire to create. Trust yourself. As long as you love what you’re doing, everything else will come with time.

What are your future plans ( Do they include India   )?

I’m slowing down some, but I still have things I want to do. I’ve got two long-term projects from here in China that will be published this summer, both of them more than a decade in the making. I just this week began a new relationship with arguably one of the best photo tour companies in the world, Photo Workshop Adventures. I’ll lead three or four photo tours a year for them. It’s a quality outfit and I’m really looking forward to it. Personally, I’ve kind of been thinking about visiting every Province in China and documenting the journey. Certainly its ambitious but I’d still like to try. I want to explore more video work and I definitely want to buy a drone. I also want to stay married, so the drone may take some work. As for India, I have a dream to somehow do something to give back to the people that have given me so much. It will involve another long-term project and the details are still being sorted out but I’m very excited about the possibilities. It would involve a move to India for an extended period, perhaps twice over the next few years.

Oh, did I mention I want a drone?

[Photographs By: Michael Steverson]

[Keep yourself updated at]

C4N India’s Facebook Page

www.c4n.in

[You can also share your story on]

[email protected]

Rammohan Paranjape: the first and only surf-photographer of India

“I didn’t want to simply end up graduating, finding a job, getting settled and working a desk job for somebody.” – Rammohan Paranjape

How do you see your life at the age of 16? Where do you think of your life would head?

We might not know what the life has in offerings for us, but lucky are those who know what they don’t want for sure. Rammohan Paranjape is one of those lucky ones. At the age of 16, this college dropout was all set to lead his life how he had seen. Dismissing the stereotypical methods provided by the society, he chose his subjects to carve his life, his career for him. He chose a sport like surfing and a passion for photography. Today, Rammohan is the first and only surf-photographer who has captured world’s best surfers in his camera. He has surfed across many oceans of the world and made adventure and travelling his lifestyle. What we say- Like a boss!

Let’s here Rammohan’s story in his own words:

Who is Ram?

Haha! Good question. This is a question which I ask myself from time to time. I truly believe that we are all on a path of self-discovery in our lives where we evolve as a person with our goals, aspirations, personalities, relationships and so on. The idea is how well or positively we can do that and how we can make this world a better place to be in. Hence, Who is Ram is a thought I deeply engage in from time to time to be better at what I do.

Tell us about your earlier life:

My earlier life was that of a student until I dropped out of college at the age of 16. My student life was very much like any other normal teenager. I was good at both academics and sports and truly enjoyed the time I spent in high school.

‘India’s first and only Surf Photographer’ – where did this journey begin? How did you become the surfer first of all?

After finishing my high school and securing distinction in my 10th grade, I took up science in my pre-university. But somewhere between all that, I was able to see where things were going and what was in store for me. I didn’t want to simply end up graduating, finding a job, getting settled and end up working a desk job for somebody. Around the same time, some of my childhood friends had just started surfing and were one of the first generation surfers in India which got me interested in surfing, apart from that, I was also very inclined towards spirituality. I basically followed my instincts from there onwards.

How did you combine photography and surfing?

Surfing & Photography kinda happened at the same time. These were the two things I was introduced to when I dropped out of my college. Surfing was something very exciting and new and photography was to fulfil my creative longing. I pursued both with a lot of passion and interest and tried to learn as much as I could and still do. Surfing has provided me with an opportunity to carve a career and business interests in India as the sports grows. Surf photography has got me immense recognition and appreciation in what I do. What do you say about Indian Surf Destinations?

India has plenty of good surfing spots or destinations one can experience from beginners to advanced level. It will never be like Bali, Hawaii or Australia but I believe that surfing being a huge lifestyle sport, many of these surf towns will play a major role as surfing hubs and make surfing more popular.

Which is your favourite surf destination in India?

My favourite will always be my home break which is Mulki, 30 km north of Mangalore. That’s where I learnt to surf and is considered as the home of surfing in India.

Why do you think we don’t have many celebrated surfers in India?

Since surfing is still a new sport, it is yet to catch the imagination of many Indians but there are a few surfers who are doing well in terms of recognition and popularity.

Which was the longest surf trip you have had?

I have had few long trips but I think my first ever surf trip to Andamans was quite long and painful in the sense we camped in the middle of nowhere in some remote island for 2 weeks where we surfed, carried water for 2 miles every day, cooked our own food and had to survive the summer heat with mosquitoes and sand fleas. At the end of it, we were completely exhausted, mentally and physically.

Please share one of your most memorable experiences till now in surfing:

A couple of years ago I was in Fiji at Cloudbreak, one of the most dangerous waves on the planet and watched some of the best surfers in action. I didn’t surf but took plenty of photos. The experience of watching the action from a boat in the middle of Pacific Ocean was quite a memorable experience.

Which is your most favourite surf trip and photograph you have clicked till now?

One of my favourite trips was about 6 years back when I did a surf trip with Craig Anderson to Lakshadweep Islands, that trip had some of the most amazing surfers and big names. Some images of Craig Anderson surfing are of my favourites.

You swam with Rajan, the elephant. Please share your experience with us.

Ahh… Swimming with Rajan is something which I will always cherish in my life. One of the greatest experiences of my life I would say. It happened on a trip with Godrej Cinthol to Andamans. I think I had won their blogging contest and we had gone to Havelock Island where Rajan was. We were lucky on that particular day; he came out to swim and spent about 30 minutes gently swimming in the sea. I, fortunately, had all my camera gears and was ready to capture some photos. Mind you, it’s very expensive and the caretakers don’t force him to swim if he doesn’t want to swim, we were lucky that day!

Tell us more about your love for adventure and travel:

I love adventures and growing up as a kid, I only used to read books of various travellers and their adventures which always left a huge impact on me. Today I am so fortunate that I am able to live that dream of travelling and having many adventures around the world. I feel I still have lots to do, see and experience but I know I will be chasing adventures for the rest of my life.

About your Surf Photography Exhibition:

When did you arrange it?

Having my own solo photo exhibition had always been my dream but I never took the step of organizing one until my good friend Mr Arun Vasu, CMD of TT Group in Chennai actually organized this photo exhibition for me; the venue, invitees, PR etc….. All I had to do was just choose my photos and get them printed.

How was the response you received?

The response was incredible! We had Gautam Menon, an acclaimed movie director in South film industry open the exhibition. We had lots of media and press who covered the 2-day exhibit. This was for the first time most of my surf photos were printed that big and were displayed. People really appreciated the effort taken behind these photos. I sold quite a few prints as well. Overall, it was a big success and I plan to take it to Bangalore and Mumbai later this year. Tell us about your future plans and projects:

I am going to keep working on promoting and developing the sport of surfing in India. I have always enjoyed working on new things and the challenges which come with it. I am also in the process of making a surf movie – a travel documentary series which I am in talks with a few production houses. It’s an ambitious venture but I am quite determined. Otherwise, we are also working on opening a surf camp in Andamans in the hospitality industry. Let’s see how it goes

You can see Rammohan’s work here as well: Facebook Profile Instagram Handle

[Keep yourself updated at]

C4N India’s Facebook Page www.c4n.in

[You can also share your story on]

Bhasmang Mehta: An industrialist turned into a wildlife photographer

“I was destined to become a wildlife photographer.”

– Bhasmang Mehta

After finishing his graduation in science in the year 1997, Bhasmang joined his family’s pharmaceutical manufacturing business as per everyone’s expectations. But when you know that there is something else waiting for you, that ‘tickling’ which makes you look out for that ‘something else’ never stops. Sooner or later, you reach where you are supposed to be. Bhasmang’s journey as an industrialist lasted for long 11 years and that was the time when he finally pursued his dream of becoming a wildlife photographer.

Let’s hear Bhasmang’s story in his own words:

Tell us something about yourself: your earlier life.

I am born and brought up in Ahmedabad in a family of doctors. My father is a doctor and so were my grandfather and great-grandfather. I started learning and playing Tennis from my school days and participated in various tournaments in Gujarat. I was a captain of my college’s Tennis team. I am a science graduate. Immediately after getting my bachelor’s degree in science in the year 1997 I joined my family business of pharmaceuticals. Even though I knew this is something that I am not made of to do, I had to continue doing it since there was no one else other than me to run the industry. So I pursued my hobby of wildlife photography as and when I used to get time off from my very hectic life as an industrialist. I did it for almost 11 years before winding up the industry. I took to professional wildlife photography in the year 2011.

When was the first time you realized that you wanted to become a photographer?

I would say I was destined to become a photographer. I have been fortunate to be born in a family of travel enthusiast and have been even more fortunate that my wife, Zankhana loves travelling too. So we have been travelling to places, in the year 2003 we had gone to Switzerland, I photographed some 35 rolls of Cameras on that tour. Those were the days of Film SLR cameras and Digital Cameras were just out. After showing the photos to my friends and families even I also realized that I have that eye to become a good photographer. So you can say it was in the year 2003.

Do you remember your first click?

If you ask me about my first click in the wildlife photography, yes… I do. It was in the month of February in the year 2001! The venue was Gir National Park, Gujarat and it was a sub-adult female Lion that I saw and photographed for the 1st time ever in my life. Actually, we had gone to attend a wedding of my cousin in a town called Amreli. Since we were close to Gir National Park, we decided to go and spend a couple of days there. This was my 1st trip to Gir and it started the never-ending love affair between me and the wildlife…

How has your love for wildlife changed you as a person?

I was a very impatient person to begin with; absolutely restless- a person who would never wait. After taking to wildlife photography the biggest change that I have seen in me is “patience”. As a wildlife photographer, I have to and I do sit for hours together to get that perfect shot or that perfect angle. I remember spending 12 hours at a lake in Punjab to get photos of “Red-crested Pochard” in the year 2012, and returning empty handed as the birds I was looking for were there but didn’t come close enough to get the shots I wanted and there was no other way to approach them. Yet another thing I have learnt as a wildlife photographer is “perseverance”- never stop trying until you get that perfect shot. And despite trying if you don’t get that shot, don’t feel “disappointed”… just enjoy being in the wild.

Tell us something about ‘Wildlife Sojourns’:

“Wildlife Sojourns” is a company that I and my wife Zankhana Mehta have founded. As a couple, we have been visiting various national parks and sanctuaries of our country since 2001. In all these years we have acquired thorough knowledge about each and every sanctuary and the wildlife seen there. We have been working with the same set of guides and drivers in all these places over these years. So there is a good rapport with them. Before starting the company, we used to hear many complaints from friends and relatives who used to visit some of the sanctuaries that “we visited so and so sanctuary and couldn’t see a tiger, how come you guys go and get to see them so well”. So our answer was… “you need to be at a right place at a right time with a right person”, when all these 3 ‘rights’ meet, your chances of sighting a big game increases”… So these questions prompted us to start this company so that we can make use of our knowledge and contacts at these sanctuaries and try to make trips into the wild more pleasurable for our guests. See nobody can ‘guarantee’ sightings of any kind of wildlife in the national parks and so can’t we. But yes our guides and naturalist work hard and use their best of the knowledge to make our guests’ safaris more pleasurable and fruitful.

Besides personal, family and corporate trips, we organize workshops in these national parks too where we teach the participants about the basics to the advanced level of wildlife photography. We have been working for Asiatic Lion conservation and House Sparrow Conservation since almost a decade now and we share our knowledge about that too and teach how as an individual we can make efforts to save and care for wildlife around us.

How was the initial response from people?

The response has been brilliant. We have successfully organized over 25 workshops since October last year in 11 national parks of India.

Tell us about the difficulties and challenges you faced in pursuing your dream:

Well, the most difficult part was to quit the family business and take up wildlife photography as a profession. Sadly in India, still most people believe that if you are not a doctor, engineer or a chartered accountant – you are good for nothing. So it was a tough call to make, in fact, the toughest…

What has been your strength?

My strength has been my wife- Zankhana. She stood by me and my decision of quitting the family business. Zankhana is a wildlife filmmaker. Our journey into the wild started together only, and while I do the photography she makes films on wildlife. Also if I have to mention more about my strengths- yes I am blessed with immense self-belief.

Please elaborate on the photography tours you conduct: the places and subjects.

We arrange and organize wildlife viewing and photography tours to major national parks of Central, Western and Southern India. We organize these photography tours for families, school children and corporate people too. See, these tours are for everyone- even non-photographers who have interest in seeing and enjoying wildlife can also come. Besides these, we also organize ‘photography learning tours’ where we teach different intricacies of wildlife photography to our participants and help them to become a better photographer.

Please share one of the most memorable experiences you have had during the tour:

There have been many to share… but just to share 1, on one of the tours to Gir National Park, we had a guest who was a senior citizen- an ardent lover of wildlife. He had been on safaris on a number of occasions without seeing any wildcat in the wild. He said if I can break the jinx on this trip I would be happy. On the very first game drive with us he got to see 2 Lionesses, he was excited and satisfied that the jinx was broken, the next day, however, was a special one- it was his birthday and on that day, he got 5 more wild cats to his tally. 3 Lionesses, 1 Lion and 1 Leopard… at the end of the evening game drive, he said, “These sightings are the best ever birthday gift that I have ever received”…!!!

You have talked about the animal attacks and the precautions to be taken to avoid them. Have you experienced such attack while any of your tours?

None. We take utmost care in not crossing that line of comfort between ourselves and wild animals, after all, we are in their home, they are the hosts and we are visitors.

Apart from wildlife, which is your favourite genre in photography?

I used to do a lot of abstract photography back in 2005-06 along with wildlife, but not anymore.

What are your future plans?

Future plans, well, I let the master planner “God” decide about it and I enjoy the present.

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Bhasmang Mehta: An industrialist turned into a wildlife photographer

“I was destined to become a wildlife photographer.”

– Bhasmang Mehta

After finishing his graduation in science in the year 1997, Bhasmang joined his family’s pharmaceutical manufacturing business as per everyone’s expectations. But when you know that there is something else waiting for you, that ‘tickling’ which makes you look out for that ‘something else’ never stops. Sooner or later, you reach where you are supposed to be. Bhasmang’s journey as an industrialist lasted for long 11 years and that was the time when he finally pursued his dream of becoming a wildlife photographer.

Let’s hear Bhasmang’s story in his own words:

Tell us something about yourself: your earlier life.

I am born and brought up in Ahmedabad in a family of doctors. My father is a doctor and so were my grandfather and great-grandfather. I started learning and playing Tennis from my school days and participated in various tournaments in Gujarat. I was a captain of my college’s Tennis team. I am a science graduate. Immediately after getting my bachelor’s degree in science in the year 1997 I joined my family business of pharmaceuticals. Even though I knew this is something that I am not made of to do, I had to continue doing it since there was no one else other than me to run the industry. So I pursued my hobby of wildlife photography as and when I used to get time off from my very hectic life as an industrialist. I did it for almost 11 years before winding up the industry. I took to professional wildlife photography in the year 2011.

When was the first time you realized that you wanted to become a photographer?

I would say I was destined to become a photographer. I have been fortunate to be born in a family of travel enthusiast and have been even more fortunate that my wife, Zankhana loves travelling too. So we have been travelling to places, in the year 2003 we had gone to Switzerland, I photographed some 35 rolls of Cameras on that tour. Those were the days of Film SLR cameras and Digital Cameras were just out. After showing the photos to my friends and families even I also realized that I have that eye to become a good photographer. So you can say it was in the year 2003.

Do you remember your first click?

If you ask me about my first click in the wildlife photography, yes… I do. It was in the month of February in the year 2001! The venue was Gir National Park, Gujarat and it was a sub-adult female Lion that I saw and photographed for the 1st time ever in my life. Actually, we had gone to attend a wedding of my cousin in a town called Amreli. Since we were close to Gir National Park, we decided to go and spend a couple of days there. This was my 1st trip to Gir and it started the never-ending love affair between me and the wildlife…

How has your love for wildlife changed you as a person?

I was a very impatient person to begin with; absolutely restless- a person who would never wait. After taking to wildlife photography the biggest change that I have seen in me is “patience”. As a wildlife photographer, I have to and I do sit for hours together to get that perfect shot or that perfect angle. I remember spending 12 hours at a lake in Punjab to get photos of “Red-crested Pochard” in the year 2012, and returning empty handed as the birds I was looking for were there but didn’t come close enough to get the shots I wanted and there was no other way to approach them. Yet another thing I have learnt as a wildlife photographer is “perseverance”- never stop trying until you get that perfect shot. And despite trying if you don’t get that shot, don’t feel “disappointed”… just enjoy being in the wild.

Tell us something about ‘Wildlife Sojourns’:

“Wildlife Sojourns” is a company that I and my wife Zankhana Mehta have founded. As a couple, we have been visiting various national parks and sanctuaries of our country since 2001. In all these years we have acquired thorough knowledge about each and every sanctuary and the wildlife seen there. We have been working with the same set of guides and drivers in all these places over these years. So there is a good rapport with them. Before starting the company, we used to hear many complaints from friends and relatives who used to visit some of the sanctuaries that “we visited so and so sanctuary and couldn’t see a tiger, how come you guys go and get to see them so well”. So our answer was… “you need to be at a right place at a right time with a right person”, when all these 3 ‘rights’ meet, your chances of sighting a big game increases”… So these questions prompted us to start this company so that we can make use of our knowledge and contacts at these sanctuaries and try to make trips into the wild more pleasurable for our guests. See nobody can ‘guarantee’ sightings of any kind of wildlife in the national parks and so can’t we. But yes our guides and naturalist work hard and use their best of the knowledge to make our guests’ safaris more pleasurable and fruitful.

Besides personal, family and corporate trips, we organize workshops in these national parks too where we teach the participants about the basics to the advanced level of wildlife photography. We have been working for Asiatic Lion conservation and House Sparrow Conservation since almost a decade now and we share our knowledge about that too and teach how as an individual we can make efforts to save and care for wildlife around us.

How was the initial response from people?

The response has been brilliant. We have successfully organized over 25 workshops since October last year in 11 national parks of India.

Tell us about the difficulties and challenges you faced in pursuing your dream:

Well, the most difficult part was to quit the family business and take up wildlife photography as a profession. Sadly in India, still most people believe that if you are not a doctor, engineer or a chartered accountant – you are good for nothing. So it was a tough call to make, in fact, the toughest…

What has been your strength?

My strength has been my wife- Zankhana. She stood by me and my decision of quitting the family business. Zankhana is a wildlife filmmaker. Our journey into the wild started together only, and while I do the photography she makes films on wildlife. Also if I have to mention more about my strengths- yes I am blessed with immense self-belief.

Please elaborate on the photography tours you conduct: the places and subjects.

We arrange and organize wildlife viewing and photography tours to major national parks of Central, Western and Southern India. We organize these photography tours for families, school children and corporate people too. See, these tours are for everyone- even non-photographers who have interest in seeing and enjoying wildlife can also come. Besides these, we also organize ‘photography learning tours’ where we teach different intricacies of wildlife photography to our participants and help them to become a better photographer.

Please share one of the most memorable experiences you have had during the tour:

There have been many to share… but just to share 1, on one of the tours to Gir National Park, we had a guest who was a senior citizen- an ardent lover of wildlife. He had been on safaris on a number of occasions without seeing any wildcat in the wild. He said if I can break the jinx on this trip I would be happy. On the very first game drive with us he got to see 2 Lionesses, he was excited and satisfied that the jinx was broken, the next day, however, was a special one- it was his birthday and on that day, he got 5 more wild cats to his tally. 3 Lionesses, 1 Lion and 1 Leopard… at the end of the evening game drive, he said, “These sightings are the best ever birthday gift that I have ever received”…!!!

You have talked about the animal attacks and the precautions to be taken to avoid them. Have you experienced such attack while any of your tours?

None. We take utmost care in not crossing that line of comfort between ourselves and wild animals, after all, we are in their home, they are the hosts and we are visitors.

Apart from wildlife, which is your favourite genre in photography?

I used to do a lot of abstract photography back in 2005-06 along with wildlife, but not anymore.

What are your future plans?

Future plans, well, I let the master planner “God” decide about it and I enjoy the present.

[Keep yourself updated at]

C4N India’s Facebook Page

www.c4n.in

[You can also share your story on]

[email protected]