Images Took Over

My dear friend and fellow content producer here at, Rajen Nair, whom I met in Seoul, South Korea, during the 2007 edition of the OhmyNews International Forum, has just launched a Web site to showcase his photography.

This is a great virtual place where you can see, almost touch and feel many of the fantastic aspects of India. I interviewed Rajen for this article. I am sure you will like it, but even more, I am sure you will like his new Web site.

The colors, spirit, hardship, joys and beauties of India are right there, available to you at the click of your mouse!

When did the idea of having your own Web site strike you and what efforts went in to creating it.

Actually it was my online friends who urged me to have a Web site which would showcase all my images and photo-essays.

Who inspired you to go on with this project?

I already had the idea in my heart, as I said, but at the 2007 OMNI Forum it became more clear, the forum itself and the many friends I made there that have since been encouraging me -- all that, you see? I am thankful to all.

How did you begin photography?

I was always interested in photography. During my travels I used to carry a box-type camera and would try taking snapshots in various angles.

A personal incident in my life led to photography. Four years back I had undergone an ear surgery. Thereafter I lost complete hearing in one ear and subsequently got ... tinnitus (nonstop ringing in ear, which has no cure). In order to get some relief from the buzzing ear I sought to pursue photography. I enrolled in photography class. I first brought a semiprofessional film camera F-65 and later switched to a digital camera. The images you see in my site are taken from Nikon D-70 camera backed by Nikon lens ranging from 18- 55mm, 24-80 mm and 300 mm. Since I was already into writing articles I felt adding visual images would enhance my writing. I think photography and writing makes a great combination.

What are your references?

A few names that come to my mind are the all-time great Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams and Robert Adams. I am greatly influenced by the work of Indian Photographer Raghubir Singh and Raghu Rai.

What are your favorite subjects?

I like shooting candid photos, nature, historical places, clouds and birds. Children offer me the most challenge to shoot. Also I like to shoot in natural lights and avoid using artificial lights as much as possible.

What is the purpose of the Web site?

The theme of the Web site would be to showcase Indian diversity in culture, art, history and festivals to an international audience. Later, I will be adding more features.

Who created the Web site and how long did it take to build it?

I came across a young IT professional locally, who helped me create this site on a shoestring budget. It took more than a month as we tried different experiments with our Web site.

How much did you have to travel? How long did it take you to collect all those pictures?

I am also in to computer retailing so that limits my traveling time but I make it a point not to miss any photo opportunity that comes up by traveling and exploring new places and covering festival events in India. The images you see in my site are from my huge collection of about 5,000 photos taken over the last four years.

What are your future plans?

I would like to take up photography full time and do a lot of traveling and also see that my Web site grows and evolves as a meaningful and attractive site.

What is your message to citizen reporters and viewers who wish to take up photography?

For budding photographers, improvisation and sharpening their basic skills would go a long way to excel in one's field.