World Beyond The STARS
For Tejas Soni, photography is more like a meditation; he believes in seeing with eyes closed.
A painter, sculptor, traveler and a great photographer, Tejas Soni is a multi-talented artiste hailing from Ahmedabad. One of the best photographers in the country, Tejas never limits himself to any genre of photography. Wildlife, macro photography, landscape photography, culture, portraits or street photography, Tejas is a master in it.
The celebrated photographer finds happiness in everything he does; that's what steers him forward. “The the most important quality of a photographer is to see with his eyes closed. That's my philosophy,” he says.
Predominantly a wildlife photographer, Tejas says one has to respect the subject he clicks. “Mother Nature is for everyone. For her, no one is special. But if you learn to synchronise with her, you will know the aspects to be taken care of. I strive to convince people not to disturb nature. I request amateur photographers to not disturb or approach any natural habitat, be it in wildlife or street photography. I try to combine nature, ecology and environment with the background of soft tender light or dark shadows. Patience is the key to being a photographer.”
Ask him what he’d like to achieve, Tejas surprisingly saying he has no big goals, “I do not have any big dreams in photography. Photography is not about reaching anywhere; one should enjoy the process.”
Quizzed about his work ethics, he goes on, “I believe in hard work. I do not plan to restrict myself. I try to grab every opportunity that comes my way.”
He finds time to spread knowledge with young photography enthusiasts through photo walks, workshops, tours and exhibitions. He also stresses that youngsters should find more platforms other than social media. “Social media helped me a lot to reach where I am now. But it is also important that there is room for ample opportunities outside social media. Rather than depending on just social media, we should be open and receptive to other platforms. Because I believe sitaron se aage jahan aur bhi hai (Beyond the stars is a world yet to explore).”