Aalayam is going to be a 100 posts old soon!!! And as we draw closer to our century, it’s time to pause and reflect, on all the things that have gone well for us , all the accolades, all the opportunities to be awesome, to make your lives better, and to evolve as artists ourselves. It’s also time to commemorate our team – Deepa and I, and another crucial teammate! Ujwal a.k.a UJ!! You may be familiar with this photographic work already, replete with crystal clear composition in Deepa’s posts. And today we peek into the desiderata of this artist who is indeed, the pride of Aalayam! It seems strange that I am actually conversing with UJ 1-1, after such a long time of literally (indirectly!?) working together. UJ is such an integral part of Aalayam. The vision, composition and textures he brings to Aalayam through the pictures he shoots for Deepa’s posts, have been a definite the highlight of our blogging journey so far. Of course, he has a formidable, talented and design diva partner - in Deepa, who I am sure "gently" nudges him to keep coming up with awesomeness for Aalayam! So, thank you so much, UJ for agreeing to be featured in Aalayam as our star artist, as we countdown to the century of posts! In a candid Q&A with this interesting and stoic artist, I have tried to intersperse the views, passions and thoughts he brings into this creative work. As always, I aim to get at the core of who the real person behind the artist is, what inspires their work, and how they believe they are making a difference in this melting pot of culture, we are all thrown into in a world far away from home! Hope you enjoy this post, as much as I have enjoyed putting it together. Supriya  |
| Saguaro cactus silhouette - a beautiful Arizona sunset! |
Supriya (S): What got you started as a photographer?
Ujwal (UJ): I remember being interested in photography for a long time. Looking back, I cannot think of any one point in time when I wanted to pursue this as a hobby. My inclination may have had roots in my family’s interest in it. I grew up around cameras and amateur photographers. My mom and uncle were both photography enthusiasts and I grew up watching them shoot for a hobby and discuss their love of the craft. My first request for a camera was at the age of 11-12 and my dad promptly turned it down! I am sure he had some legitimate concerns about his 11 year old wanting to take pictures on a vacation to Goa – this is the Goa of the 80s we are talking about! But that didn’t keep me away from photography. I took pictures with cameras borrowed from friends all the time and then for a while the hobby became dormant only to resurface later when I could afford a camera. I bought a Canon Rebel and there has been no looking back since!
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| A timely shot- black angus pose for a pic in the backdrop of New Mexico mesas |
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| Bald cypress and and aquatic plants of Caddo lake - a painting in green |
S: How do you get the person, place or thing in front of the camera on to the film in just the way you want? Talk to us a bit about how this process works for you
UJ: Patience and practice! For a humorous take on how you get there, take a look at this graph. The art of taking good pictures (ones that ultimately pass my own standards) often take an enormous number of clicks. Over time, photography has definitely evolved into a more earnest hobby – one that I am truly passionate about. Along the way, I took a couple of courses that have helped me make the best use of the equipment that is available these days. The cameras these days seem overwhelming to the end user given the number of features and trickery but in reality they have made the task of taking great pictures much easier.
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| UJ's mantra for awesomeness! |
S: Which photographers have influenced you? How have they influenced your thinking, photographing and career path?
UJ: I have not extensively researched the work of photographers but one photographer whose works I have read is Ansel Adams. It is fascinating to try and understand what makes his work stand out. The play of light and shadow, composition and what he could do given the limited technology available to him represents his genius and that has served as an inspiration. His work among others’ catapulted photography into the fine arts’ league. Ansel Adams has inspired me to take pictures that tell stories. I recognize that you cannot tell a story with every picture but when the opportunity presents itself, I try not to let go.
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| The devil is in the details - dragon fly! |
S: Exactly, what it is that you want to say with your photographs and how do you actually get your photographs to do that?
UJ: I aim for an end result that makes me happy and hopefully that will make my audience or subject happy as well. Personally, I enjoy landscapes and portraiture, which are at the extreme ends of a spectrum from inanimate to animate. But then again, I shoot many other things in between that fall into the broader realm of lifestyle photography including arts &crafts, culture and styled home décor for Deepa and they have all contributed to the learning.
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| Vancouver harbor shimmers under the nigh lights. |
S: Do you enjoy clicking for Aalayam? How is it like working with your spouse on creative projects for the blog? (I ask this tongue in cheek!)
UJ: Taking pictures for the blog has been a lot of fun and a great learning experience as it comes with its own unique challenges. Most pictures are shot indoor and Deepa often envisions a certain persuasive look that involves the creative use of equipment to get a picture we both like. Deepa is a tough client but in meeting her requirements for an assignment, I have been able to unceasingly work on my technical skills. Taking good pictures for the blog has its own perks. Wink!
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| Temple architecture - intricate details enhanced by the play of light and shadow |
S: What technology/software/camera gear do you use to keep focused on what you do best, as you photograph?
UJ: I currently shoot with a Nikon D800 and a D7000. My first foray into photography was with a canon rebel film SLR and canon G series digital camera as backup. Then I moved camps and have stuck with Nikon for the last 7 years. Choice of brand is only a personal preference as these brands stand head to head in technology. I generally shoot with prime lenses even though it takes lot of walking back and forth. The only software I use for cataloguing and categorizing is Adobe Lightroom. I limit my processing to lightweight exposure correction only. I use a custom workflow in Lightroom for naming, importing, cataloging and archiving processes, which makes it easier to manage the thousands of pictures from our travels and projects.
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| Portraiture - Deepa |
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| Anirudh learns to bike and it is captured in a panned shot! |
S: So, is it the lens or is it the man behind the lens? We are dying to know what your secret is!
UJ: As one gets better, equipment matters less and skills matter more. I would like to believe I am beginning to tip the weight on the skills side J
S: UJ, we are given to understand that photography is a hobby for you, but you do it fantastically. Would you ever consider photography as a full-time profession?
UJ: Thank you. I’ve only got a lifetime’s worth of learning to go before considering the career switch.
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| Macaroons anyone? |
S: How, in your opinion, does your photography art contribute to the preserving of culture?
UJ: Via photography I have learned to appreciate beauty and diversity and I love how images come to life to tell a story. Deepa and I seek adventures - even cultural ones. Often, I find myself recording an intimate cultural event at home as a way of preserving for our son and at other times I am capturing a snap shot of global culture on one of our travels. Photography is a vigorous medium and to be able to interpret culture through the use of light, color and technology has been fun. No matter where you go or how the culture differs, everyone likes to stop and admire a good picture!
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| Temples of the Grand Canyon. A shot well worth the wait for the right lighting! |
S: Finally, what does a Weekend In The Life Of Ujwal look like? (I say Weekend, as I know you work full time on "non-photography" related work! And I am assuming, you shoot with your beloved lens on weekends only) I'd like to zone in on your other creative/intellectual interests as well here.
UJ: Weekends are when we as a family unplug and unwind. Deepa and Anirudh take precedence and thankfully the 3 of us share many common interests such as enjoying a game, exploring the outdoors, reading, whipping up a meal or hosting friends. Of course, work occupies the background but the tempo is simmered down. I relish the outdoors and after a 17-year hiatus, I recently bought a motorcycle and am slowly rediscovering the joy of being a rider again. I believe that weekends are a respite – a good work out, playing tennis, listening to music, and photography all play into that. Our weekends are an eclectic stew of fun and creative pursuits!
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| The artist with his work - top right (natural landscape), Taughannock falls, NY and bottom right (urban landscape) - cattle drive - Pioneer plaza, TX |
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Thanks a bunch UJ for opening your heart out to us. And for tirelessly working to increase the curb appeal of Aalayam!
Love & Hugs,
Supriya & Deepa