WallMag: How did you first get into photography?
From my college time only, I had an interest in clicking pictures and getting clicked. It was in 2014 when I went on a trip with my friends and there I happened to use my friend's DSLR for the very first time. The photographs I clicked during that trip, got some appreciation from my friends and family. I decided to continue with my interest in photography and initially, I started clicking using my phone only. Then within a year, I got a camera for myself and started taking pictures using it. It all became possible because of a lot of practice and constant support from my friends.
WallMag: How would you describe your photographic style?
I almost shoot everything but my passion lies in the street, silhouette, travel, and conceptual photography.
WallMag: Can you share your achievements in life regarding photography and motivation behind it?
I like to shoot, its a like a meditation for me and it makes me happy. My photo has been featured in multiple exhibitions, won 2nd prize in one of the exhibitions, got featured in Google and Nikon.
WallMag: Taking a shot in the street could be difficult at times; dealing with people’s reactions or making sure it is not invasive in the various situations that could arise, is not always easy. What is your approach in these circumstances?
Yeah, shooting on the street is not always easy but there is always a reaction to an action. So, I believe that one should not go into the street and just start shooting directly, roam around first then after spending some time start clicking. If someone is objecting as why you have clicked their picture then just delete it. Remember we are going into there life to capture something. So, we should respect their privacy.
WallMag: In recent years, Street Photography has caught on, and many photographers have become keen on it. What do you think is the reason why many of them prefer to shoot on the street?
In my opinion, there are many things among which the first and foremost reason is interest, as a normal human being people love to be surrounded by humans. Second is easy access, you just need to come out of your house and you can shoot, not like travel and wildlife where you have to plan and spend money.
WallMag: What subjects inspire you and push you to look for the shot in the city where you live or in the places you are frequent?
Any subject which has a story to tell inspires me to shoot. Whether it's a farmer doing some work in his field, a girl reading a book, or a lady preparing food in a shop. I normally shoot in and outskirts of Bangalore and in villages, where I can easily get those kinds of stories.
WallMag: What makes a street photo expressive? Can you recognize, when you’re on the street, all details that can make a simple photoshoot a good photograph?
Story and perspective - These two things make any photo expressive. When we are on the streets, we observe things which are happening around us, the story which is running around us and all these stories will run only for a second. If we can capture that moment then it will become good from simple. Street photography is like you are pausing a movie and taking a photo from that movie, if you are pressing the pause button at right time then you will be able to make your simple image an extraordinary image.
WallMag: In a street photo, do you think that light contrasts are important to tell a story, or are they just an aesthetic aspect?
Light is an integral part of photography. An image with bad light but a good story will not be able to convey the same story to the audience. The key to capturing a great street photograph is to use light, any light, to your advantage.
WallMag: What settings do you choose for photography?
I normally shoot in manual mode and keep my ISO to 100. other settings I change other settings based on the available light condition. If I am not able to manage enough light with shutter speed and f-stop then I bump up the ISO as needed.
WallMag: What editing software do you use?
I usually use photoshop, lightroom mobile, snapseed mobile for editing of my photos.
WallMag: Is there anything you would like to share with our readers?
I read one quote somewhere "Your first 10,000 images are your worst images that you can ever take". So keep clicking and keep learning. Google and YouTube have a lot of data to learn from. Take time out, do mistakes, click everything, and learn. We have plenty of things to click and learn if you are ready to observe the things around you. So, I believe constant efforts and clear vision will let you to your goals.
You can follow Rahul Singi on Instagram to stay updated with his work.
You can also have a look on his Website.
