When Namrata Rupani fell ill, looking through a camera changed her perspective on life. The 37-year-old dentist had picked up the camera almost 11 years ago when she took a break from her practise, and now it has become her constant companion. Photography helped her feel better and filled the void inside her. The art form interested her so much that she began travelling with her camera everywhere. “I travelled to Europe and that’s where my interest magnified. I have travelled to Ladakh, Leh, Kabini, Nepal, Uttarakhand, Tadoba and Ranthambore, among several other places. Every Sunday, I drive around the city taking my camera or sometimes just sit on the terrace clicking the sunset or capturing some birds,” says the Hyderabad-based photographer.
Chowmohalla palace
Silhouette of Qutb Shahi tomb
While Namrata’s landscape and wildlife photographs are beautiful, her architecture photography is what stands out. “These days, even if you travel 20-25 km away from the city, you still don’t get good shots. However, Hyderabad is full of old architecture. The Paigah Tombs and Qutb Shahi tombs are beyond beautiful. There is a 200-year-old temple near the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and I plan to explore that next. Old architecture does something to me. It’s therapeutic and transports me to another place and time,” she says.
Jantar Mantar
One of the corridors at Qutb Shahi tombs
Apart from being a dentist and professional photographer, Namrata is also a TEDx motivational speaker. So how does she manage doing all of this? “It’s all about balancing. I make sure that my dental appointments and shoot dates do not clash. While most of us are chasing multiple things these days, photography is what keeps me grounded,” says Namrata, who uses a Canon 1Dx with multiple lenses.
Paigah tombs
Another shot of the stunning Paigah tombs
Namrata also conducts workshops once in two months. Her next workshop is at Gaunap in Uttarakhand during the Republic Day weekend. While she is an inspiration to many, her inspirations are Ansel Adams and James Nachtwey. Her advice to amateur photographers: “The best pictures are taken by you, not the camera or the gear. Master the art before worrying about your equipment,” she says.
Framed!
Favourite shot: One night in a little town in Uttarakhand, I was on the terrace capturing the sky. It was like the sky was on fire. The sunset was beautiful. When I thought it could not get any better, there was
lightning. I got a perfect
shot.
Favourite genre: Old architecture, sunrise and sunsets.
Best thing about photography: As opposed to other art forms, photography gives you instant gratification.
Challenging thing: Carrying the gear while trekking can be back-breaking. For a woman, it’s not safe travelling alone in deserted places . And sometimes, the shoots go on till midnight or early mornings.
