You have lots of opportunities there just know how to do it. Content is very important people are looking for top-notch. So just trust yourself and do it.
1. Tell us about your background and journey.
I am Rathika Ramasamy wildlife photographer based out of Chennai, I grow up in a small town called Venkatachalapuram in the Theni district of Southern Tamil Nadu much of my childhood was an additional upbringing focused on going to school and studies and that would lead to a Bachelor degree in engineering and I did Masters in Business Administration and also I'm into this field for last 19 years. I have travelled to most of the national parks in India and also abroad in African forests in Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and many more.
2. How and when did you realize your passion for photography?
For me, photography is an interest that started as a hobby actually way back in school and has since developed as a passion my father gifted me a small film camera when I was in my tenth standard and in back those days it was a film camera. I would shoot everything around my home garden and trees full us mostly in my backyard. So the camera is my constant companion wherever I travel and I love travelling also exploring places in India and abroad. So the first time I visit Bharatpur Bird sanctuary so as soon as I entered the park after seeing the bird that is so colourful I just wanted to capture the images of the bird so that I could enjoy seeing those again that's what my first experience was.
I thought to explore more birds and wildlife. So luckily those days when I lived in New Delhi surrounded by many birds sanctuary and national parks and it is the main route for migrating birds also, this gave me plenty of opportunities to shoot and started to specialisation in bird photography. I think there are the most beautiful god creations. Photography for me is the medium to connect with nature. I started more time in the field of wildlife photography so I thought it was my love. There was no looking back and it's going to be 19 years and next year it's going to be 20 years and 2 decades in this field.
3. What are some tips you would like to share with mature photographers?
My tips for many of the photographers actually in wildlife is we have to find out new species, and new places to explore and sthe second tip you have to go through technical knowledge and subject knowledge in depth is a must. Research your subject throughout before your shooting where to go, when to go, when is the best time and all the details and get permission to shoot in the national park or bird sanctuary. These are the preparation you have to do before you plan. You should create your own style, thousands of photographs are looking but only some stand so create your own style and be unique and update yourself with the latest technology. The first thing is how many photographers have their own websites with different portfolios to showcase what sources you could do.
4. What are the important skills one should have to be a successful photographer?
Success comes after hard work. So I don't know whether important skills will make you a successful photographer but definitely one should have in-depth knowledge of the subject you're working on and technically any photography degree will help along with the subject degree to have started. The first thing is passion and patience and love for photography and general photography like wildlife and many more you should just love your subject.
This is an art form not just nine to five job. So if you love what you shoot definitely success will follow you. Photography is a business one should create your own brand in the industry. Just taking pictures won't make you a successful photographer you have to create your own brand in the industry you have to know where to sell your photographs and what sort of sources you can use. So many other business parts of photography also one should have that great marketing skills and of course technically very good. You must have to follow the ethics of wildlife photography then only you become a successful photographer.
5. What are various opportunities available for aspiring photographers?
So photographers can convey much more than words. You really say one photograph speaks thousands of words so if you're doing photography not only for yourself, like say photography of wildlife is to connect with nature and then it to people and thereby helps to increase awareness about wildlife and its conservation. So it's particularly important to spread this awareness among youth and children and as wildlife photographers, we're the ambassador for the wildest creature.
So you can help people to understand how certain human activity can rack our natural habitat and wildlife photographers to use their work to increase creating awareness and along with taking pictures you have to concentrate on coming up with photographers. I request to concentrate on conservation photography also. Of course, the opportunities are now we have so many platforms to showcase your work and from website to social media platform whenever there is good stuff or good stories you are having can share with your beloved and many more. So it is really good people would like to work with you. You have lots of opportunities there just know how to do it. Content is very important people are looking for top-notch. So just trust yourself and do it.
6. Which is your favourite book and why?
I don't have any particular favourite book, any good book about photography and conservation then I really like to read two or three times. I love travelling so I too love travelling books.
- Rathika Ramasamy (Instagram)
- Interviewed by Manjul Yadav
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