Bewitched by nature

One of the most celebrated photographers of the 20th Century, Ansel Adams, once said, “Sometimes I arrive just when God’s ready to have someone click the shutter.” Vikas Lamba too feels that he just gets lucky with his photos.

Sunset over mustard fields, Jaipur.

Hailing from the city of Rohtak in Haryana, Vikas is currently serving the paramilitary forces and feels that nature is the best muse. Having done no course in photography, Vikas says all that is required to click a good picture is to be at the right place at the right time. “I didn’t travel a lot as a kid. So, while I was posted in the Northeast, I started clicking pictures on my phone because I wanted to keep them as memories. The sunsets and sunrises there are very scenic and I feel any picture taken there is sure to be amazing. Nature inspires me to click pictures,” Vikas says, adding, “A friend of mine later gifted me a basic DSLR and I started using that to take pictures.” 

A Kashmiri man rowing his shikara in the backwaters of Dal Lake.

The 27-year-old photographer then started posting pictures on his social media account and received a lot of appreciation for his photography skills from netizens. Vikas shares, “I started posting the photos I clicked to share them with my friends and family, however many people liked them and appreciated me. Slowly the number of followers increased and that gave me the motivation.” 

A happy camel herder during the International Pushkar Camel fair.

Vikas has travelled to many northern and north-eastern states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Rajasthan, and captured many stunning photos. Talking about his favourite work so far, Vikas says, “There is this photo of a rising moon that I clicked while I was in Ladakh. I was with a group of friends and we were clicking sunset pictures when I noticed that from the other side of the mountain the moon was rising. Coincidentally, and luckily for me, it was a full moon. The moon looked so serene that from then it became my new muse.”

Arambol beach, Goa

Despite having a very demanding job, Vikas takes out time to explore new places and click as many pictures as he can. “I learnt a lot about photography from YouTube and also from the other photographers I meet during my expeditions. I love clicking portraits too, but that is only when I have a story to share. I try to take two to three trips a year and it’s mostly in the hilly areas. I love the mountains a lot. The sky in those regions is the perfect blue, and the lakes and the scenery is very beautiful as well. What’s more, the people of the mountains are warm and loving too,” he says.

Camping on Mt. Hanuman Tibba

2018 looks very promising for this young photographer. “I am prepping for an expedition to Mt. Kamet, where I would go in May or June. I would also be travelling to Himachal in the coming months. I hope to get some great photos there,” Vikas concludes.

A sunset over Pushkar lake, Rajasthan; Chittorgarh fort, Rajasthan.

Full moon rise over the Tso Pangong Lake.

NH1-D, Kargil-Leh Highway; (inset) Vikas Lamba.