Bangkok Photo Rambles: Your photos have a dream-like quality to them. Do you specifically wait for a particular mood and lighting when you go out shooting?
Manish Sharma: I prefer going out shooting when the sun is going to set and the streets are busy at this time of the day. At such time we get a golden light, which I feel is good for taking photos as it creates a good atmosphere. It may also create a dreamlike quality to the photo. There are various other elements that make a photo dreamlike. These are effect of light, fog or foggy weather, blur, etc.
BPR: Your photos can be called "street photography:" depicting people in everyday settings. Is this your goal when you venture out to take photos?
MS: When I started taking an interest in photography, I used to take all sorts of photos from my mobile. Then gradually as I started posting on various internet groups, I realized the importance of street photography. My mentors told me about various aspects of photography and they also told me the importance of a real camera. As I learned more and more about photography, my interest in street photography increased, and I should tell all the young photographers that street photography is the most happening thing around the world, especially in Europe and America.
BPR: Is there a crossover between your photography and your teaching? Does one influence the other?
MS: I am not sure if there is influence of one on the other, but yes, all the events in the school are covered by me now. And being a teacher, I get a good amount of time for photography. My students are also getting interested in photography and they always try something new as a young mind. I think there is a lot of new things to learn in this field.
