In a profession dominated (in numbers at least) by men, LOPAMUDRA TALUKDAR stands as a name to be reckoned with. It is the pleasure and privilege of The Uncommon Box to present our Be Inspired photographer Lopamudra Talukdar, who is a diva in every sense of the word. Her images from around the world are breath-taking and this self-taught photographer is one of the luminous stars in the world of photography. We caught up with the lady herself as she graciously kept aside time for our little tete-a-tete.
The Beginning of the Journey
The wise were truly wise when they said that the right time to begin any journey is NOW.
The story of LopamudraTalukdar began on this note.
It is incredible to think that this much lauded photographer began her journey as recent as 2010, when her husband gifted her his camera and accessories when he realised he could not find time to pursue his hobby.
It sounds karmic right? Yes, it probably was- because that was where Lopamudra’s story began.
But a bit of flashback is due at this juncture –
Daughter to a father who was a keen photographer himself and married to an individual who pursued photography as a passion, Lopamudra (a Masters in Zoology from Calcutta University) had always been interested in photography and painting. But little did she realize that the future had such an amazing turn waiting for her!
The Journey Begins:
2012 saw Lopamudra participating in some international photography competitions, winning accolades very early in her career. At this time she also began getting assignments from a number of magazines, including some internationally reputed ones to do some documentary features. It was at this juncture that our Diva realised her true calling in life.
On the whole,her gamut of work mostly belongs to the travel and documentary genre.But Lopamudra focuses on the human elements in her composition.
In her words, ‘just a travel postcard isn’t good enough for me. I would rather tell a story about a travel destination by relating to its people, their culture and cuisine.’
In her words, ‘as a photographer I have dabbled in a number of genres. While I have felt most comfortable in socio documentary and travel photography, street photography has been the most challenging for me.
“The search for that magic moment when all the elements come in tune to tell a perfect story, gives me an adrenalin rush like no other.’”
It is a true testament of her will-power that while she admits that challenges are present in every aspect of life, there is no such thing such as an insurmountable challenge.
Lopamudra accredits three strong influences on her craft- famous photographers Vineet Vohra, Suvomoy Mitra and of course, her husband Sabyasachi, have all played their part in inspiring her to keep improving and aiming for higher goals.
“I strongly believe a photograph is created through the camera and not through any photo editing software.”
Being a travel photographer, Lopamudra has travelled widely and to some of the most exotic locations in the world, but she does have a few destinations left on her bucket list. Additionally there are some social documentaries close to her heart that she is working on.
We could not let this incredibly talented lady to leave without imparting some words of wisdom to budding photographers.
This is what she had to say…
- I feel if you have a dream, strive to achieve it.
- Share the photographs you take and seek out advice. With so many photography and social networking sites, it is easier to seek expert advice and hone your skills.
- At the end of the day, stay true to your heart.
- See as many photographs as possible but believe in originality instead of imitating someone else’s style of photography.
On a personal note:
My first memory of Lopamudra Talukdar is connected to my first ever photowalk. Standing on the banks of the river, against the backdrop of the Howrah Bridge, I, a hesitant and nervous rookie photographer, spotted a graceful lady in a sari, with a camera slung over her shoulders, surrounded by a group of admiring photographers. That she had carved out a place of esteem in everyone’s heart was evident. I could not gather the courage to go and speak with her but well, karma has had its way- and here I am penning lines about her.
It seems like a tale straight out of the story books, when we read about an inspiring figure like LopamudraTalukdar.
But her life and work is a message to all that whenever you discover your true calling in life that is the time to begin anew.
On behalf of Team TUB, we wish this lovely lady the very best in her endeavours.
You can follow her work on the links given below:
Do leave your valuable comment on this write up, and say how it may have inspired you.
Do you have a similar passion you follow? It could be anything else too. Or do you know someone who deserves a special feature? Use the Submit Your Story on our website www.theuncommonbox.com to write into us or email us at theuncommonbox@gmail.com.
This article is written by Preeti RoyChoudhury
This article is Curated by @frameshade. Follow him for his photography work
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