Beyond capturing natural beauty, photography has become a tool for self-reflection and personal growth, teaching Hemant valuable life lessons. One such transformative experience occurred during a challenging hike in New Zealand, enlightening him about the importance of thoughtful planning and minimalism in gear. Hemant’s passion for photography has also influenced his career choices, where he seeks to merge his healthcare expertise with his love for photography to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
My passion for photography was deeply influenced by my family’s appreciation for photographs during my upbringing in a small Indian town where personal cameras were rare. Pictures held immense value and were cherished possessions for many families. I vividly recall how my mother would treat photographs of her parents with great reverence, almost as if they were living beings. When my family moved to the US, photographs became my link to my close family members in India, as I lost the ability to see or communicate with them regularly.
The journey of photography began when my dad gifted me my first camera before our trip back to India. Capturing candid photos of my family became an obsession during that trip. I found joy in not just having pictures of my loved ones but also in preserving the mood, memories, and emotions of those precious moments. This realization had a profound impact on my photography and guided me as I explored landscape photography, all the while cherishing this core value.
What excites me the most about landscape photography is the process of planning and preparation. I meticulously use Google Earth to select angles, track the sun’s position, and find the best lighting. On the day of the shoot, I woke up early to arrive at the location well in advance, seeking the perfect composition. Despite the occasional challenges and last-minute rushes, the experience is immensely gratifying.
Conversely, urban photography offers a different kind of thrill—spontaneity. I embark on early morning walks armed with just a single 24-70 mm lens, allowing me to immerse myself in the city’s vibe. There’s a serene charm in capturing candid interactions between people and their surroundings, with the play of light and shadows adding a captivating element to the shots. My ultimate goal in urban photography is to convey the essence of the city through my lens.
Photography has become my medium of self-expression. It provides an outlet for expressing various emotions, including negative ones like anger, disappointment, or frustration. Through images, I can portray the beauty of locations, situations, and people without relying on words. Photography also encourages me to view places from different perspectives, helping me discover beauty even in seemingly ordinary places.
Beyond self-expression, photography has been a tool for self-reflection. It has shaped my character and approach to life, enabling me to build meaningful connections with people worldwide. It has been a true blessing in my life, teaching me some essential life lessons:
The importance of having a clear vision and planning ahead, which applies not only to photography but also to everyday life.
The significance of putting in the effort to turn ideas into reality, as great ideas alone are not enough to achieve goals.
Embracing uncertainty and learning from failures, as they offer opportunities for growth and improvement.
One remarkable instance of tremendous growth occurred during our journey along the Tongariro Northern Circuit in New Zealand. Excited to make the most of our trip, we had packed our schedule with numerous activities, one of which was a challenging 27-mile loop walk around Tongariro National Park. Our adventure began at 3 AM, under pouring rain, and lasted until 8 PM. Sounds adventurous, right? Well, it turned out to be one of the most memorable yet grueling experiences of my life.
Don’t get me wrong; the sunrise that followed the storm remains one of my all-time favorite sunrises. The stunning landscapes and diverse terrains along the trail were simply unbeatable. However, none of us had ever hiked more than 13 miles in a single day before, and this journey pushed our physical limits.
I made a common mistake by overpacking my backpack with photography gear, including multiple lenses and a tripod. As we reached the halfway point, exhaustion, thirst, hunger, and discomfort engulfed me. At that moment, I questioned my choices, asking myself why I had brought so many lenses and why I hadn’t packed more water. This experience taught me a valuable lesson: more isn’t always better, especially when it comes to gear.
The ordeal helped me understand the importance of thoughtful planning for the shots I wanted to take and the environment I would encounter. I realized that carrying every single lens I owned was unnecessary for such a challenging hike. From then on, I became more mindful of my equipment and focused on being prepared with essentials rather than excess.
Although this experience had a long-lasting impact in terms of lessons learned, I have to say that seeing the northern lights in Iceland left me deeply impressed as well (without having to endure hardship).
We planned a last-minute trip to Iceland in September and our only goals were to experience both the highlands and the ring road. Even though September is supposed to be the best month to see the northern lights, it wasn’t our primary objective. To explore the highlands, we had to spent the first three nights in the car around the highlands. We wanted to cut costs and therefore didn’t invest in proper equipment for the cold temperatures. We resorted to waking up every two hours and taking turns to start the car and turn the heater on for 15 minutes. One night we were parked at Maelifell and at around 3 AM my friend woke me up during his heating shift after seeing northern lights. We were able to watch the northern lights and transition into the sunrise. The reason why it was so special was that we didn’t really plan on seeing them – but we did, and it was great to be able to share our first time seeing the lights.
As you can understand from the above trips, every trip and experience triggers different emotions and I always try to incorporate those emotions into my final images. While photographing a location helps me capture the natural beauty that’s present, editing helps me transmit my mood. My goal for editing is to outline a few regions and a few tones in the photograph that capture my mood and will hopefully help someone experience that when they look at the image. Structurally I keep my images as close to reality as possible without replacing the sky or adding other effects to the picture.
The photo that is closest to my heart is one I took on my most recent family vacation to Hawaii. Most times when I shoot at sunrise I’m usually alone. This time my parents insisted on coming with me to see what it was like. It was an incredibly hectic experience. We left at 3 in the morning and when we got to the trailhead it was pouring. I offered to turn around, but my parents insisted on making it to the end of the trail. I had zero hopes of getting a good picture because of the clouds, but we did it anyway. We slipped and slid the entire way down, but when we got to the bottom the clouds cleared up and it was one of the most incredible sunrises I have ever seen.
My interest in photography not only increased my passion for travel but also shaped my career choices. From the day I started medical school, I was naturally drawn to Radiology, where imaging techniques are used to diagnose and treat diseases (X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, etc.). Like photographs, comparing a series of imaging studies can give you an idea of a patient’s entire treatment journey/history. Later, I pursued business school to blend my passion for photography with my desire to help patients and healthcare organizations. Today, I’m eager to explore opportunities where I can combine my photography background and healthcare expertise to communicate the needs of patients and promote the value of healthcare products and services. The prospect of fusing technology and healthcare excites me, and I aspire to make a meaningful impact on many lives.
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Arnaud’s journey into photography began in 2023, inspired by a friend’s breathtaking road trip photos. Starting with a basic drone and a desire to capture the beauty around his home, his passion quickly grew, leading him to invest in a camera and fully immerse himself in the craft. Though still early in his journey, Arnaud’s dedication to practice, patience, and embracing mistakes has already shaped his evolving style. One of his images won the Best of the Week at Nomadict.
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