Balan Vinod

An Eminent Nature Photographer

balanvinod.com

1) Would you tell us more about you and your interest in Photography?

Photography is the latter part, the love for nature was the first part. This was more because of the place where I was born and brought up. In the midst of nature, in the Nilgiri mountains. From listening to jackals at night to feeling a fine breeze and walking to school through the woods, made me feel that I am an integral part of nature.  Photography came into my life in late 1990’s, when I felt the need to document what I saw. It all began, when I felt the need to capture the sheer beauty of nature. Sometimes I see the complexity of nature, and have felt the need to document it. And this,  over a period of two or three years drew me into this art form.

2) Can you please tell us about the types of Photography you indulge with?

Primarily nature. That’s a very broad spectrum, I could do images on insects on one day, and landscapes on another day. I leave it free for my mind to decide, but I shoot within the spectrum of nature. Occasionally I do indulge in people and event photography.

3) What is the inspiration that keeps you going?

Travelling through nature, is the journey I have embarked on, and photography my companion. During this journey, I see the fascinating beauty of nature, the complex science involved, and the art work of the creator. Everything is so magical out there. I see and learn, and learn to see, and this keeps me going. [caption id="attachment_649" align="aligncenter" width="424"] Cozy and Comfortable_Quietly hidden among the petals of a Dahlia flower is a lady bug[/caption]

4) How do you feel when your work is exhibited and viewed by tons of people?

It is indeed a great feeling, when an image taken by you is viewed by many others. I always want my images to convey the art and speak for the life form. The beauty and how I see the things around me. This need not be seen in the same manner by the viewer. If the message gets across, its fine. [caption id="attachment_650" align="aligncenter" width="599"] State Flower_The Gloria Superba is the state flower on Karnataka, can be seen in the wild and has lot of medicinal values[/caption]

5) Can you tell us something about Photography and its inception?

I would not really look at photography from when the gadget or a tool came in to being. As these gadgets keep evolving all the time. For me it’s all about visually expressing what I see. Hence that takes us back to art and painting. [caption id="attachment_651" align="aligncenter" width="598"] Awaiting takeoff_A female sun bird had just finished sipping up nectar from a lions ear plant, and just about moving on to another flower[/caption]

6) To you, what is Photography?

A form of visual expression and art. Sometimes, I want to tell a story, sometimes I just capture the moment, and often I tend to use my camera as a paint brush on canvas. I just want to show people the wonder of nature, its magic and mysteries and the craftsmanship of the creator. My images are the points in time, when I stopped for a moment during my journey through nature.

7) Please share us some of your achievements in Photography Profession?

Photography is still a hobby, a serious hobby for me and not yet a profession. If you ask me about my material achievements, then, my images have been highly commended in the Moscow International photo awards, International photo awards and may be recognitions from couple of other photo competitions. I would consider myself very lucky, to be out there with nature, again and again, being able to see nature changing constantly, its beauty, its mystery. In a fast-changing world which is so tech savvy, my ability to connect with nature, in today’s world, is by far my biggest achievement.

8) Can you tell us something about your Photography community?

I do work with more than one independent community or group of photographers. Some in Bangalore and one Internationally. Some of them are what’s app groups, and some online forums where photographs are discussed. These communities also keep changing all the time. I always see photographers changing their area of interest. That said, this is a ever changing space. Everyone I connect with, gives me a new learning.

9) Can you tell us about the general response you receive in exhibitions?

My images have been displayed at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad on couple of occasions. This was a part of the Vismaya exhibition. The images have received a good response, in terms of comments from the viewers and appreciations.

10) What do you think about the scope of Photography in the modern Digital world?

Tools will change, but the art will remain for ever. It has remained so since humans started painting of what they saw, as memories.

11) How do you feel about your association with Honeycomb creative support?

I have always felt that photographer is an artist, and am particular about the output that I get as a print. Light and colour are key components that need to come out as the photographer conceived it. Honeycomb, had always provided me with this output.

12) Can you share us your future plans and dreams?

The journey continues, and will keep taking pictures of nature. They may be of the same subjects, or new.