Kishor Krishnamoorthi is a contemporary wedding and documentary photographer based in Hyderabad, India. He also publish Concorde Zine, a bimonthly printed publication showcasing photo stories from India. He almost covered more than 175 weddings in cities all over the globe, and he managed to stand out in the busy wedding market with my unique style of capturing special moments in a candid and unobtrusive way.
Thanks, Kishor for accepted our invite. Please read on..
Could you please introduce yourself?
I am Kishor Krishnamoorthi, a contemporary wedding photographer based in Hyderabad, India. I publish Concorde Zine which showcases documentary photo stories from India in print. I also founded Kiki store, where we sell comfortable designer camera straps made in India with handwoven cotton fabric.
Could you please share your childhood memories towards arts?
My earliest memory of photography was a point and shoot film camera that my father gave me when I was 7 or 8 years old. It was a dinky little plastic camera but it meant the world to me then. My first serious foray into photography was in my school days at HPS Begumpet when I carried a compact Sony camera (Sony T33) with me everywhere, taking photos of events, etc. I was eventually made the editor of the school newsletter which opened up more opportunities for photography in my school.
How did you develop the interest in photography?
My interest was further nurtured at the University of Essex in England where I did my BA Economics and Politics. In my 2nd year, I became the President of the Photo Society and the official photographer for the Students Union. These allowed me to learn film photography and practice working in a darkroom. Shooting for the Students’ Union led me to try out many different genres of photography and open up my horizons. The bubble environment of a University is a great place to experiment as you can try and fail without any real world repercussions.
Few words about your Wedding photography?
Weddings came to me by chance after I covered a friend’s wedding casually in 2012. They ended up being really happy with the photos and eventually I started getting requests from people to cover their weddings. It evolved into a full time profession and I have shot around 180 weddings over the past 5 years.
Mostly you are working with people, what is the secret behind to get a good expression or pose from them?
Some people are shy, some people are naturally expressive but everyone is different and it is important to realize that. There is no single formula that will work for everyone. I learn to read people and understand their personalities better so that I can work in their comfort zone and get the best expressions. Also, at times, it is important to blend yourself in the environment, become a fly on the wall and capture things as they happen.
Before you start a shoot, how will you prepare yourself?
Preparation work depends on the genre. For weddings, it can start months before the event, coordinating the timings, venues, meeting and understanding the preferences of the couple & families. For a fashion shoot, talking to the client and learning about the clothes, building a theme, etc is important.
What is your first paid assignment and what is your most memorable assignment?
I think my first paid assignment was at the University, can’t quite recall what it was but it most likely would have been to cover an event on campus. Most memorable is definitely a personal project that I had during the 2014 elections in India. More about that below.
When I checked your portfolio, you beautifully captured Hyderabad stories. Few words about this?
I have lived in Hyderabad for 20 years and share a lot of emotions with the city. I definitely feel that the city is not documented enough and it needs to be more done so I take the effort to go and capture images of people, places and traditions. I spent more than a week at a traditional Hyderabadi restaurant photographing the age old method of making Biryani. Photographing my city is a great way to connect with it and discover places that I normally would never see.
Few words about documentary series Indian Elections 2014 and Pushkar Camel Fair?
I was keen to showcase a unique perspective for the 2014 elections and spent more than a month in close quarters with Jay Galla, who was then a candidate for Parliament. Over the course of time, I connected with him and was able to capture his raw emotions, both joy and sorrow in the build up to the elections. Working in the peak of summer heat in Andhra Pradesh was intense but I still believe it is one of my best bodies of work. It took a lot of effort and patience but paid off in the end with a beautiful set of images.
Pushkar Camel Fair was very different – I went to the fair expecting something but was instead faced with endless photographers. I was frustrated and disappointed at the situation there and decided to turn my camera lens on the photographers and make them my subject. The images still elicit a laugh from everyone who sees them.
What does it take to produce a good picture for Kishor?
Planning, vision, good light and luck!
How do you keep yourself motivated and your photography fresh?
I constantly go through photobooks to keep myself updated with the world. I feel that social media is inundated with too many average photographers and it is easy to get distracted when scrolling through Facebook or Instagram. Books on the other hand are curated and come with a certain vision and clarity which inspires me.
Your favorite photographers?
This list changes regularly! Steve McCurry has always been and will be an idol of mine. I am fortunate to have met him once and get an autographed book from him. Sebastiao Salgado is another favourite, his work is truly impressive. The latest is Pete Souza, the official White House photographer during the Obama years. I have been following his work for a long time and recently picked up his photobook.
Your Gear?
Been shooting with Canon for 11 years now. Currently, use a Canon 5D Mk IV with various lenses.
What’s your personal motto?
Perfection is the goal. Excellence will be tolerated
Who is your real life heroes?
My father.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I’m too young to talk about greatest achievements! But since you ask, it was winning the elections at my University in England to become the President of the Students’ Union, becoming the first non European President of Essex.
What is Love?
Doing something and not expecting anything in return.
Who are your favorite authors?
Again, this list keeps changing. Roald Dahl has been a long time favourite.
Apart from photography tell me about your hobbies and interests?
Reading and traveling!
Any final thoughts and words of advice for your fans and our readers?
Don’t let social media disillusion you, have one serious goal every year and work towards it.
You can find Kishor Krishnamoorthi on the Web:
Copyrights:
All the pictures in this post are copyrighted Kishor Krishnamoorthi. Their reproduction, even in part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.
2 comments
great
great. liked the work