4th October 2007.
I still remember the date that I bought my first digital SLR camera. It was a Canon 40D and my father bought it for me at the London Camera Exchange in Colchester. I had only been in England for a week, it was the first week of my University, I was a fresh faced 17 year old kid, eager, enthusiastic, and nervous. My father’s business trip happened to coincide with the Freshers’ Week at my University and he came by to see me. Its been 18 years since that day but the memory is absolutely fresh in my mind. We took the bus to town, walked around the streets, and went into the store. The Canon 40D was a very new camera and they had one in stock. I had done a lot of research before picking the Canon 40D, read a lot of articles about Nikon vs Canon. and even tried both brands in person (Sony was not in the picture then). The Canon felt apt for me, ergonomically, and had a good range of lenses available. My father, without a second thought, said let’s buy it for you. And that decision probably put into motion a series of events that have to led to my career as a photographer, and led to the announcement made yesterday by Canon India – they are officially getting me on board as a Canon Influencer in India.
Hand to heart – I can honestly say that 17 year old Kishor couldn’t be prouder of where I have come today. Its been no easy feat.
My degree at that time had nothing to do with photography – I studied BA Economics & Politics at the University of Essex and even today, I am passionate of both subjects and regularly keep up with world affairs. But my career took a different path, and after a brief stint as an Oil Trader in London, I decided to change my career to photography. The hobby of photography found me much earlier, when I was the editor of the school newsletter at my beloved alma mater – the Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet. And that was probably the real origin of the creative bug.
13 years of professional photography. It feels absolutely crazy to write down that line. Where has the time gone? From those very early days of working out of bedroom to now, running my own large office – I am sometimes astonished at my own growth as a photographer.
One article will not be sufficient to enunciate the highs and lows of a career in the creative industry in India. Regardless of how fashionable it looks on social media, the hard truth is that it is absolutely grueling to stay relevant, creative, and consistent, especially for over a decade, while navigating personal and professional pitfalls, and not letting anything get in the way of the larger goal – to constantly tell stories of the world around me, in bigger and better ways.
That one single goal has helped me keep my vision clear and work relentlessly amidst all hardships. Shooting more than 700 weddings, publishing a dozen photo zines, photographing global celebrities for landmark movies, holding photo exhibitions of my work, documenting important stories all around my country, capturing the lives of politicians, creating a coffee table book to mark a centenary of HPS, conducting workshops, and enveloping myself into the photography community – its been a one-of-a-kind experience.
All through this journey, I have had one constant reliable and loyal companion – my Canon camera. Whilst many around me changed brands constantly, I stayed true to the brand with the belief that consistency is important, and familiarity is vital. Having the same brand in my hand for so many years means that it works without a second thought. My brain is hard wired to know all the Canon menus and button placements, which allow me to operate at speed. And speed is what we need in this industry. One missed moment and its all over. That also means you need a device that wont let you down, will work in all conditions, and always be there for you. I have photographed in snow in Scotland, in cold conditions on Great Wall of China, amidst the heat and humidity of coastal AP, and squeezed between immense crowds in Indian weddings. And always, all of my Canon cameras have stayed strong. Be it the old 40D, or the latest R5 Mk II.
I am incredibly grateful to Canon India for this momentous occasion. It still feels surreal. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my long creative journey, from my parents, my colleagues, my staff, my friends, my clients, and most importantly, my wife. The level of perseverance needed to get here has been almost inhumane and it couldnt have been possible without the constant support of all my well-wishers.
Currently listening to – Loud Places by Jamie xx ft Romy
Currently watching – Trigger Point on Amazon Prime
Currently reading – My Income Tax returns for FY 2024 – 2025
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