Highlights of 2023
As I sit and reflect on the last 365 days, my heart swells with gratitude! It has been a significant year professionally and personally. 2023 has been a rollercoaster of photographs, laughter, sunsets, time with friends and family. I was jotting down the highlights of 2023 as I rewind and scroll through the photos, month by month.
January: Whispers in the white, saw the ghost cat
The year kicked off with an absolute dream come true moment - saw the snow leopard in all its glory and was fortunate enough to photograph the elusive animal in its natural habitat. What a way to celebrate our first wedding anniversary - a successful snow leopard expedition in the majestic Himalayas, surviving the extreme weather conditions, and getting to see other winter wildlife. January became a dance with shadows, a ballet with the rare and magnificent ghost cat.
February: A decade at HomeFirst
A decade ago, I joined Home First Finance as a rookie, initially giving myself 10 months. Fast forward to today, the startup I joined is a publicly listed unicorn now! This journey, the longest of my career, is a testament to the dynamic and inclusive workplace created by my bosses and the amazing team. The stage is set for transitioning from good to great, and I'm as excited to go to work tomorrow as I was a decade ago! Cheers to the next 10 years and beyond!
April: Riding solo - Mumbai to Goa
I got the Ninja 1000 SX around the end of 2019. It was an adolescent dream to own a super sports bike and this machine has lived up to its reputation. As I live in Mumbai, a ride to Goa was on the cards, and long due. I had to right this wrong and choose the peak of summer to ride solo... Not great timing but what fun! A petriol head would know, how the Ninja flies and powers through the highway. I relished the lazy days, catching up with friends, eating, drinking, and sleeping by the beach.
June: Selling Prints and working on pet projects
Plan --> Travel --> Shoot --> Edit --> Post on social media or Print some work.
That was broadly my creative process for a while... But off late I realised the importance of publishing your art. I had no clue how to do it, and never quite enjoyed this part of the process. Anyway, in 2021 I did a calendar. It was a lot of work, but was an interesting project. But I wanted to create something with more shelf-life. Projects, Book, or Prints are probably better that way. June was kind - delighted to see several prints finding new homes. It's a surreal feeling to see your work adorning the walls of others, each frame whispering its own story to those who pause to gaze.
July: Above the Glacial Line - A Photographic Odyssey Begins
July marked the birth of a new project, 'Above the Glacial Line.' It will be a labor of love, a visual narrative of the frozen realms. A photo project. Where I want to document parts of the upper Himalayas that are less traveled. Hopefully, this would include unnamed peaks, unexplored landscapes, and alpine lakes. This year, we photographed some parts of the Kishtwar region. After a grueling trek near Mt Hagsho we came across two glacial lakes. Now they are called —lakes RT5 & RT3 (more about that in some other blog). The camera did capture the ethereal beauty of these untouched lands, reflecting the rugged peaks that stood guard. It was a revelation, a reminder that even in the vastness of nature, there are still secrets waiting to be uncovered.
September: Teaching at IIT Bombay
I was always an average student. And in India - average students don't dream of IITs! But life often surprises you and reality becomes better than you can ever think of... A friend of mine called me up and I was taking lectures in Bombay IIT trying to teach a bunch of IITians - How to take photos. Interacting with young, brilliant minds and getting to share a common interest always helps you understand different perspectives. This was great for kicks!
October: Darjeeling Diaries - A Family Affair
October is mostly about homecoming. Bengalis who stay away from their hometown tend to come home around Durga Pujo. It has become a sort of ritual for me as well since I moved out of Kolkata. After the Pujos, we went on a family vacation after ages. Spend some quality time at Darjeeling, outskirts of Kalimpong and Dooars. The quaint tea gardens, the mist-kissed hills, and the charming streets became a backdrop for perfect family fights. Sometimes, the most precious frames are the ones that capture the essence of togetherness.
December: Retro mood - Film scans
A few years back, I picked up a used Nikon FM2 on eBay. It's practically my age, if not a tad older! Anyway, started dabbling with it, and shooting films has been a great learning experience since then. The best part about an analog camera - No previews, no distractions! You must trust the process and keep shooting unless the film stock runs out. I had quite a few exposed rolls and finally got then developed and scanned. Met some amazing folks, who are still devoted to this craft. Long way to go!
As the curtain falls on this year-long odyssey, I want to extend my gratitude to each of you who shared this journey through the lens. May your 2024 be filled with new horizons, unexplored frames, and the thrill of discovery.
Cheers to another year of photographs and adventures!
@the.photoguy
Rajarshi Mitra
