It’s all about quality over quantity for photographer Ashish Sulkh

For travel photographer Ashish Sulkh, “less perfect, more human” are the words to live by. In a candid tete-a-tete, he tells us about his journey and how picking a favourite shoot destination is like picking between his babies.

For travel photographer Ashish Sulkh, “less perfect, more human” are the words to live by. In a candid tete-a-tete, he tells us about his journey and how picking a favourite shoot destination is like picking between his babies.

Last of the Headhunters from the land of Nagas! Nagaland (Photo: Ashish Sulkh)

Question: Trace your journey in to the world of photography. What was the starting point of your career? How did you approach it to become the fine photographer that you are today?

Answer: As far as the starting point of photography is concerned, I feel we all are born as photographers. I felt the same. I happened to chance on a camera and my journey began from there. It’s like trekking to the top of the mountain and just hiking or climbing. Its one step at a time. So, you walking and one fine day you reach your destination. People start believing in you because they have seen your journey from the beginning and now see the results but for you it’s one step at a time.

Question: Where all have you travelled for photography? Which locations are paradise for photographers and why?

Answer: I have travelled a lot. To be precise, I have travelled to 1800 plus locations officially in the past five years. Frankly speaking, every place has a unique essence of its own. To choose among my favourites, would be like picking between your babies and you can’t choose one. Those shops without the shop keepers in Mizoram would be incomplete. Also, the tribes of Nagaland are different and western ghats has its own charm. It’s unfair to compare back waters of Kerala to the mesmerising sunrise of Arunachal Pradesh to the Indigenous tribes of Chattisgarh. But my heart is somewhere in Lakshadweep.

Question: How important is research on a photography subject?

Answer: I feel research on your subject is very important as far as the documentary and advertising photography is concerned. If one has researched the behaviour of an animal or the basics about a space that you would be shooting, then it becomes very easy for you to position yourself at the right spot and that’s the key to good pictures.

Question: Is it important to have right equipment for your subject or you think that passion for the art is enough to create a visual?

Answer: It’s a very tricky question. I can tell you the best equipment is a great thing. But when you are shooting in a competitive world, like shooting advertisements, there is a basic requirement of the equipment, and as long as you meeting that, you are fine. What you do with the equipment is more important and that is where passion for art and visuals lie.

Ashish Sulkh

Question: Any difficulties you have faced in photography? How did you overcome that?

Answer: To be honest, I face difficulties in every project and I am not the only one. What matters is when you are on the ground, you don’t have the time to think about what could have been done or what you could have done or this is what you should have done. It’s about the facts on the ground. So, you assess what you have and then you play accordingly. Unlearning is the key. If you unlearn within few minutes or seconds and start afresh, difficulties become less.

Sheltered by the high passes of Ladakh, the inhabitants of a few quaint villages along the Indus river believe they are the true Aryans, descendants of members from Alexander’s army. With beautiful sharp features, green and blue eyes, flawless skins, they are unlike other Ladakhis and Kashmiris. (Photo: Ashish Sulkh)

Question: Your take on some photography myths?

Being a photographer is so easy.

Trust me we are all born as photographers, its just that the tag we give to people who take it up professionally. I believe that everyone is a photographer. So I don’t know if its easy or not but we all are photographers.

Great photos require expensive gear.

That so not true. All it requires is a simple vision. What used to be great gear back in time and great photographers have shot on that gear and if we have to compare with todays equipment, I mean that equipment is as good as nothing. But still those images are iconic. So it has nothing to do with the gear.

Shoot as many photos as you can.

I strictly disagree. Less you shoot, the better you shoot. Give more time to creativity and less time to shooting. Click the photograph in your mind way before you pick up the camera. Don’t go about trying and clicking and then trying again.

You need a huge portfolio.

I think you need a quality portfolio.

Manual mode is the best mode.

There is nothing as the best mode. As long as your job is done, all modes are good. Everything is good as long as its working for you.

Avoid shooting in bad lighting.

I don’t consider any light bad light, its about how you use it. So there have been great iconic images that are shot in what we call bad light but that’s not what it is. Photography is sketching with light, how can light be bad if you are sketching with it. Always keep the horizon straight.

Don’t put the subject in the middle.

Always keep the horizon straight, I mean it is more of a gimmick thing but for beginners, always keep the horizon straight and experiment with the dynamic pull and you can experiment with the horizon. Ensure to take care of the visual balancing of the image. As long as it is aesthetically pleasing and visual balancing is good, you can play with the horizon.

Question: Any tips or tricks you would want to share regarding photography?

Answer: Keep it simple. Don’t pre-decide and then go and shoot, No. Just go to the location and see what is available and then shoot accordingly. Don’t create a shot before reaching the location.

Question: Any photography advice you want to share with the photographers out there?

Answer: Click less and your quality will increase. Don’t shoot too much. Don’t create digital garbage.

Question: Your favourite photography quote?

Answer: I don’t have a favourite photography quote. I live by this quote “Less perfect more Human” that’s what I believe in and that’s my quote.