“My journey with the camera started early. I’m Shreyas, 18 years old, currently studying photography at JNAFAU, Hyderabad. My father, Mr. Mahesh Kumar, is a photojournalist with the Associated Press. Growing up, I watched him capture everyday life and important events. He’d often hand me his spare camera, and I’d go around clicking whatever caught my eye. I wasn’t thinking about composition or technique back then, but some of those photos still feel special.
That’s how I slowly started liking photography. My father would share tips on framing and composition, and it became a regular part of how I saw the world.
At college now, I’m learning to build on that foundation—composition, leading lines, rule of thirds, monochrome, colour psychology. We’ve moved into photojournalism and mass communication, and it’s helping me understand how to express stories through images. I believe when a photo comes from a place of self-reflection, that’s when it connects the most.
One of my most memorable experiences was in Chennai recently, during the 20-year remembrance of the tsunami. I was at Marina Beach and captured a powerful moment—an older woman crying, surrounded by others. It wasn’t staged. It was raw and honest. That’s the kind of photography I want to pursue—something that says more than just what’s visible.
I’ve also been shooting skateboarding photos for friends, experimenting with both DSLR and mirror less. I use a Canon 6D Mark II right now. My dad started with film and has shifted to Sony, so I get to explore both worlds. I’ve always been curious about different styles—travel, documentary, portraits—and I enjoy trying them all.
There’s so much in India that’s yet to be showcased—stories, people, places—and I hope to travel and cover as much as I can through my lens.
Student life at JNAFAU has been good. Different departments work together, and we learn from each other. The culture helps you grow as an artist.
Even with AI making things easier and more accessible, I still believe photography as an art form comes from the person holding the camera. Tools might change, but the vision behind the lens—that’s human.
On this International Art Day, I feel art education in India still has a long way to go. But the change has begun. Mindsets are shifting, and I hope more people are encouraged to explore art seriously. Photography, for me, is a reflection of the inner self, attempting to express something authentic through an image, which I believe forms the truest expression of art. I’m thankful to my parents and mentors for supporting me. I’m still learning, still experimenting—but I’m here for the long run.”