Nirman Shrestha

Camera: Nikon D80(digital), Nikon FM2N(analog), Olympus XA2(analog)

Lenses: 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX, 50 mm f/1.8 AF and 28 mm f/2.8 AIS
 

What inspired your interest in photography?

Memories are fun when they are captured. I just started taking pictures to keep them into my memories. It was not until the start of 2008 that I started to take it as a serious hobby. I always have a camera with me now a days. It is the happiness and kind of satisfaction I get after developing and seeing the pictures that inspires me everyday to click some more.

What kind of training have you received in photography?

I have not received any formal training in photography. All I learn through is by exploring, and reading everything I can get hold on. After I started taking photography as a serious hobby, I started uploading my pictures to Flickr as my backup. The comments I read there, the pictures I see there and discussions I follow there are training enough for me.  I try to see what makes these photographers outstanding; makes them extra ordinary. I learn by reading, I guess.

What do you recommend for people who are trying to start out in photography?

The type of gear a photographer has does not make him a photographer, but the kind of vision he has for things around him makes him one. Learn the technical aspects of photography, use them as far as possible. Don't run after equipments; instead, if you are really interested in photography, try to invest more in learning what good photographers do. I first bought my Nikon D80 to start out my hobby in photography, but now I overuse my Olympus XA2, which I got dirt cheap on ebay. And it is never late to start out. Just grab a camera, start exploring, build your vision.

Do you think people are born with the talent for photography—you either have it or you don't?

Nobody is born with it; just some may learn it faster than others, but some may take time. Photography is an art of expression for me, so I guess everybody has a talent to express things.

What do you want people to get from your photography?

I almost never give title to my photos. I want them to see what they want to see in my photos. I guess I just want people to have my pictures in their mind as a good memory.

Where do you get your creative inspiration?

I see around and I get my inspiration. One shot is never enough to capture all the beauty around.

What is your favorite type of photographs to take?

There is not a single thing I don’t take pictures of. I take pictures of buildings, of people, of trees, of scenery and I also take pictures of animals. I guess I would not limit myself to one genre, but yeah I prefer to take pictures of everything in its candid form.

Do you have a favorite photograph that you can share with us?

I am yet to take a favorite picture I absolutely love. I usually take set of pictures as a project whenever I go somewhere or whenever something interesting happens.

- Compiled by Shreyans Tamang, Creative Director, V.E.N.T! Magazine