Photography & Me

     Don't know why, the sight of a camera excites me to an extent where the amateur photographer in me starts playing with it. I think, this special interest in photography was developed when I was 11. My uncle on his way back from Russia, brought me a gift, and said,"This is for you" handing it over to me. Guess what? It was a camera. It was a moment of joy, which made me completely speechless. I had to get batteries & a camera reel for it. How can a kid afford all that? Just like everything else would happen, the camera went into the hands of my grandpa. Though it was my gift, I was never allowed to touch it, until I completed schooling. 

Just like any other nerdy kid does, I had to pause all my interests and leave for JEE coaching. Finally, after intense 3 year study, I stepped into IIT Hyderabad, with all my interests still paused. That was the time, I've seen one of my senior holding a DSLR camera,Canon 550D. That's when my interest in photography was resumed. I was very eager to hold that camera and click a few pictures. One fine day, I finally got a hold of the camera, clicked pictures for a while. Being the first time, I was worried about my skills in photography, but surprisingly I received a lot of applause from people around.

     Photography drove me so crazy that, I started clicking pictures with the small unusual camera phone I had. One of my cousins who is also a photography maniac, always kept discussing interesting things related to photography. Our conversation went to a level where we actually portrayed ourselves as experts. Though I was very mad about photography, I never felt the need to own a DSLR until I met this girl, rather spoke to her. The very first day I started conversing w her, she understood that I was a photography freak(like her). She showed me the pics she clicked, I was very much impressed looking at them. This way, our conversations grew focusing on photography. She used to mention about many photographers, I liked it. The way she talked inspired me a lot. Then grew my dedication towards photgraphy . I then felt,"Oh boy! now its time, go get a DSLR".

      Though I was interested in photography, I never cared about the cost of a professional camera. To my surprise, when I searched for it on flipkart, it stated, canon 600D DSLR would cost Rs.39,980. I lost hope, I thought , its better I remain silent as I can't afford that. But I was sure that I would buy a camera. I went home. That night again, that girl talked to me. That's it, I straight away went to my mom , and said "Mom, I am thinking to buy a DSLR camera". She said "Ok, how much would it cost?". I told her the cost and reply was, as expected, a straight "NO". I started convincing her, I showed her all the pics I clicked using my phone, all the comments I got in Facebook , for the one's I clicked using a DSLR. It took me an hour to convince her showing all my work and explaining my passion towards photography. I tried to show my desperation, guess it worked.

       After a week , I see a balance of Rs.43,000\- , and then a call from my mom , go get your camera , work on your passion. That was the best word I've ever heard. Obviously , if anyone tells u to go explore your dreams , what else would you feel. There started the war, to select , which cam should I opt for. It took a week more, I discussed with that girl, searched for reviews and at the end , I had two options , NIKON and CANON. My best friend suggests me NIKON and that girl says she would go for CANON. I was confused, I thought, I would try both and pick the best that suits me.

                                 Finally it was CANON 600D, I own it now, yippee. Really, I was very excited that I own a camera. The moment I stepped out of the store, took the camera into my hands and started clicking randomly. Then I went to my cousins and clicked a lot of pictures. Finally it was time,"Click some pro-level pictures", said my mind. I started with the tree , rather a plant , in front of my room. Then I started thinking, got a crazy thought. I sprinkled water on a leaf clicked it , and god! look at that, a perfect click. After looking at that pic, I smiled, nothing more could I do. Immediately that night I showed the picture
to that girl and she liked it. She told me it was good, and colour of the leaf is adding beauty to the photograph. That way I was randomly clicking pics and having discussions with her. To be frank ,I learned a lot after owning a camera.
                                 Now, I am still a learner. Having a camera is not only a possesion, but, a responsibility. "You'll feel proud when someone praises you for your work", said my brother when he started working at Infosys. I experienced it, when I got appreciation for my pics. Well this was my journey with photography....still going on.

Prithvi Gude