How did your journey in photography begin?
My journey began in childhood, inspired by my father's love for drawing. When my mother bought a mobile phone with a 2 MP camera, I started capturing moments instead of drawing them. Everything changed in 2012 when my brother bought a camera—I realized how a camera could freeze a moment so effortlessly.
What was the first moment that made you fall in love with photography?
It all goes back to my childhood. I had a taste for drawing but couldn't become a perfectionist like my father. I loved how frames could bring life to any moment through a mobile phone or camera. At a time when there was little scope for a middle-class family to own such devices, I developed my passion using my mother's Nokia phone. Even though it was only 2 MP, it felt like 200 MP to me. Later, using a friend's digital camera gave me a fresh perspective on resolution and framing. After buying a Canon 1100D in 2012, my understanding of photography transformed. Even now, whenever I capture a moment, I feel that same happiness within myself and others.
How has your experience as a lecturer influenced your photography and documentation work?
As a lecturer in English literature with over nine years of teaching experience, my academic background has deeply shaped my perspective. During my undergraduate and postgraduate studies, I explored film studies, journalism, literary theory, and literature. Exposure to various theories gave me a wide worldview that I now apply to my photography and filmmaking. During my post-graduation, I created a documentary about the victims of endosulfan in Kasargod, Kerala. That experience inspired me to become both a documentarian and a teacher. In the classroom, I share my photography experiences with students. For the past five years, I've been teaching film studies, which has deepened my understanding of the basics of photography and cinema. Poetry, in particular, inspires me to frame subjects in a way that tells a story, even if others don't see it at first—just like poetry hides meanings within lines.
What role does editing play in your creative process?
Editing is crucial in photography and filmmaking. Anyone can capture a moment with a phone or camera, but it's our perspective and editing that determine how that moment is told. Every photo changes through framing, tone, mood, and editing. Editing boosts creativity—it can transform a year-old photo or a week-old one, changing its meaning according to your vision. A noisy background can be cleaned up to tell a story, color tones can alter the entire appeal, and techniques like double exposure can weave a narrative within a single image. So, while the camera captures the subject and frame, editing beautifies the moment and gives it significance.
Tell us about a documentary photograph that holds special meaning for you.
Every photo has a story behind it. The monochrome image of a boy and a dog playing together is particularly meaningful to me. I took it with my Canon 1100D during a summer vacation at home. I always carried my camera to capture moments, especially of the kids in my family—they were between 8 and 12, full of raw emotions, playfulness, and happiness. Capturing that is beyond the image; it preserves a moment forever. As the boy played with his pet dog, I kept shooting. It may not be a technically perfect photo, but it carries a moment of love and happiness beyond the frame. Even though the moment has passed, the image revives the past as if it's happening now.
What does an everyday moment as a lecturer mean to you?
I always enjoy my life. I love to be happy and make others happy. Through my lectures and photography, I try to inspire and spread happiness. Every moment and every day is precious to me. Time flies quickly, and memories fade, but having a photo in your gallery brings life back to those memories and the people in them. Whether it's a selfie, a group photo, or a raw image with students or family, all are important. Clarity or the rule of thirds doesn't matter if the photo speaks something.
Walk us through your editing approach for a before-and-after comparison.
I prefer simple editing—fixing color tones and lighting. I never add anything extra to the frame; I just rectify the lighting and color. Sometimes, a small change in color tone creates a huge difference in the raw image. It all depends on how the editor or photographer wants to present the image, and the audience's response is always unpredictable.
What photograph defines your passion for photography, and why is it significant?
These photographs represent the different genres I want to explore. Through images of a snake and a white peacock, I try my hand at wildlife photography. Although I dream of being a wildlife photographer, I can't afford the equipment yet—maybe in the future. Apart from wildlife, I focus on portrait and nature photography. I love capturing the flora and fauna of the world. Most of my social media posts feature flowers, birds, or animals. Sometimes I explore abstract photography to show reconstructive meanings. Photography doesn't have a single style or genre; I don't want to strictly follow one. I want to explore different styles, perspectives, and genres.
What was the most memorable part of a behind-the-scenes shoot?
These are behind-the-scenes clips from portrait and pre-wedding shoots. One of my favorite moments was the pre-wedding shoot for my sister—it's my all-time favorite photo and moment. The shoot took place in the premises of an old temple with a banyan tree. The ambiance was wonderful, and I tried to immerse that feeling into the photos.
Describe a challenging project you completed and how you overcame the obstacles.
This was a function at the college where I worked for three years. It was the inaugural ceremony of a new building, with the Hon. Higher Education minister attending via teleconference, along with the Member of Parliament and MLA. It was a prestigious event, and I was assigned the responsibility for media and publicity. The college trusted me to handle the photography, and I was eager to do it. The biggest challenge was that I only had an 85 mm lens, which is mostly used for portraits and weddings. It's difficult to capture a stage with more than ten people in a row with an 85 mm lens. I had to move far from the stage to get wide shots and then move forward for close-ups. Fortunately, I managed to take some good photos and sent them to the media in time for publication.
Contact and Follow
Email: sreehulem2014@gmail.com
Instagram: @sreehul_edamana
