Tania Chatterjee, a travel and documentarian photographer from Kolkata in India, is an expert at capturing the world through her lens. She founded the photography community Fotorbit. Tania believes that “a good photograph should express the photographer’s belief and vision towards people and society.”
Thank you, Tania, for accepting our invitation. Please continue reading…
Please introduce yourself.
As a professional, I think that a picture of a person, place, or event can tell a story. I am the founder of FOTORBIT, a company that promotes photography as a form of expression for photographers, viewers and other businesses. As a mother, a trained environmentalist and originating from Kolkata, India, my unique position to learn and practice the art of photography is as a woman.
What are your childhood memories of art?
As a young child, I was fascinated with paintings, drawings and crafts. I also enjoyed listening to stories and telling them. Unconsciously, this childhood interest in art morphed into my passion for photography. Each photograph tells a story about a person or place.
How did you develop a love for photography?
I have always been passionate about traveling and discovering new cultures. I used photography to express my love for a place and its people. My first DSLR, the Nikon D90, was my favorite. I had a few point and shoot cameras but fell in love with it. Nikon D90. My new DSLR camera has inspired me to create images that tell stories. Slowly, the interest grew and gradually it turned into my identity and being.
Your portfolio’s portraits will be the first to catch the eye of any viewer. How about a few words on your portraits?
I’d love to be able to say that I am a travel, documentary and portrait photographer. Faces have a special attraction for me and I am always waiting to capture the perfect expression. Every face has its own story. The ability of a photographer to capture the perfect expression is what makes them unique. That’s why a few of my portraits have become my trademark as a professional photographer.
What’s the secret to a great portrait?
The ability to read facial characters and capture emotions that go with personality and environment is the secret. You can’t make a good portrait by forcing yourself. It takes practice, inner flair and learning to discover your own style.
What is it like to be a Travel Photographer? Does it affect your personal life in any way?
As a travel photographer, I feel gifted and a sense responsibility. I feel fortunate to be present at the perfect moment, despite all the challenges I face as a woman traveling in remote areas (insecure places), or having unpleasant experiences when attending a large gathering or doing a household task that requires your immediate attention. I feel responsible because I have to be able portray the story with the true cultural sensibilities and emotions of both the person and place. My family has given me a lot of support and I am a strong advocate for women in the travel photography field.
What makes a good photo for you?
A good photo represents people, places, things, and their related elements in a meaningful way to tell a tale or touch an emotional response. A good expression, a unique composition and humor in an image can create curiosity and appeal to viewers. An image should express the photographer’s view and belief towards people and society.
What have you learned and adhered to through your photography?
The beauty and diversity of human beings has been revealed to me through photography. It taught me how to be sensitive and respect different cultures. Every picture teaches me to be patient and to try again. Over the years, I have learned that photography can tell others stories about people and societies.
Please share a photo from your portfolio with us and tell us the story.
This photo of the Pattankodli Festival 2018 is my favourite, as it represents my triumph in a harsh work environment. A stampede could happen any time when you are surrounded by 100,000 people, some in a trance. There is no way to clean my lenses, my breath, or my eyes. Every cloth and tissue I remove is covered in turmeric powder. I managed to capture this picture despite the burning eyes, inappropriate touching and trance-like mob. After I took the picture, I could not see. I was afraid that this would be my final visual frame. With burning eyes and turmeric powder in them, I couldn’t cry. After washing my eyes continuously for an hour I was able to see my friends, and I also saw the photo. I can assure you that the life of a traveling photographer is not all rosy. Every image is the result of hard work, dedication and perseverance.
What can you do to stay motivated and maintain your passion for photography when it gets tough?
Hunger for better images keeps me inspired. My passion for photography is fueled by new photographic adventures. I interact with many people, including non-photographers and development workers, to better understand human nature.
