A month Long Journey with Hindustan Times

Weekly Diary
(Four weeks that made a wonderful month full of experiences and mixed memories)

Week 1

The entire first week was to discover the whole self within. The first day the Ht office was simply superb!

It was unlike a typical first office day... It was just different... The environment at the photo section was amazingly cool and friendly. As I was waiting for the staff to arrive the very first thing I got was a cheerful smile from Raj sir (Mr. Raj K Raj) who is one of the finest assets Ht ever had! He has uncountable awards in his pockets and his pictures speak more than what we can understand.  He was the man I had to stay the most with and learnt the golden rules of photography and also things that move around at the work place. Exchange of a few greetings and in some time came in our boss (Mr. T Narayan) The person with absolute classic class. We’ll I’d confess it here. I was scared of him. No there was nothing like he was a typical boss like, rather he had lunch with us and unfailingly kept telling me to keep clicking pictures and learn from the mistakes. He even had called me up in his office to make sure if I felt comfortable at the office and if the environment was all right. He encouraged me for the entire week to mix up with the staff photographers. And above all made me stop over editing on my pictures and love the digital camera I carried (which wasn't a dslr but an advanced point and shoot). On the very first day the photographers asked a bunch of questions and even as I was answering all of them confidently, together they all pulled my leg. Which ofcourse was one way how I mixed up well with them.

As the day passed and the people left for assignment I was left in the office and it was then when I had my first words with Ronjoy (Mr. Ronjoy Gogoi) the friendly guy who took some of the greatest pictures for the "Brunch" and with whom I spent a lot of time questioning and challenging my own decisions as a photojournalist. Never before, I had encountered a strong person like him. He saw my previous captures and kept commenting on them. (He asked me shut my mouth when I was over expressing myself – His words were- “Let your work speak for itself” ! ) He was harsh; I felt bad at first but then understood by the end of the internship period.

The first day I was asked to read the entire newspaper and understand the kind of pictures that are taken daily and which story demands what kind of work. I received valuable suggestions, which i would never ever forget in my life.

On the second day I was sitting and talking to the photographers discussing my previous pictures and the errors in it. Just then Raj sir came in with a flash of his smile and asked to prepare myself for the shoot. I took permission and we headed towards South Avenue to cover the story of The FIFA Inaugural and after party with live FIFA game at The South African Ambassador's residence.

The very next day i was supposed to report early and then join Raj sir along with Vinus ma'am (the Editor of Brunch). We went to two places , first at the Rajokri farms where Mr. Gurpal Chwla had his luxury cars ready for shoot. Next we headed to Malcha Marg to shoot two Porche owned by Mr. Prateek Madan.

Next shoot was at Zakhir Hussain College for the rare books it displayed.

Week 2

Early morning itself left for Gym Khana Club to shoot for a single father and son story. The next day went to shoot for the Lamha movie promotion where Mr. Sanjay Dutt came with crew and spend some time with the school children. I was lucky to grab both the good pictures and a music cd that was launched that day. The same day afterwards along with Raj sir and another intern at the HT City we went to India gate to try and capture the summer heat .

Following day in the HT office Mrs. Suman came in and asked for a shoot for the kid's product for the Nanadan Magazine. 

I did the shoot and got the by-line in the following issue. Ronjoy being very helpful guided me along with the pictures. The next day Along with Jasjeet Plaha and Ronjoy Gogoi I went for a shoot to capture the Delhi heat ! AS i came back home i was totally tanned and tired off to the limits...Jasjeet di helped with editing the pictures I took the previous day at a temple celebration.

The following day as a usual routine necessity that came out of extreme summer heat we went out for clicking the summer heat pictures.. and then went to Taj Palace hotel to cover the story with Ronjoy of Colours channel for the media launch of India's got Talent. Being from Ht makes it a positive point and we got the opportunity to click the judges in person which was an amazing experience! First with Sajid Khan , then with Sonali Bendre and finally with Mrs. Kiron Kher . The two interns of the Ht City i.e. Malvika Rallan and Megha Unnikrishan were along with us.

As we were (all the three interns were coming back to office to report a dust storm hit and all the city was covered with dust all around. I took a few pictures at the India Gate. Ajay sir selected it but it failed to make space in the following day's newspaper.

But in all I was very happy that the pictures were finally worth being a part of the newspaper. The second week was full of excitements and some disappointments but that is how we learn. I took up the lessons and got ready for my next week.

Week 3 

Yes.. Well this was the week .. an absolute week to remember. Raj sir was back from his shoot at some Haryana district after three days and soon after the assignment was given we left to cover a story for the places that had been worked upon for the CWG in coming few weeks. The story demanded coverage of various places and for which I kept on tagging along with the photographers. Firstly it was close by places to office i.e. around the Cannaught Place. Then a shoot at Railway station. The shoot included site that had new instalments and beautification of the site. I worked with Raj sir, Jasjeet Di and Ronjoy all in one day. The day was tiring but worth every capture.

On the next day we worked upon the previous day pictures. By now i was aware of all the interesting possible shoots i could be part of . The exposure at work I was getting along with the responsibilities and working on myself to develop as a decent enough photographer  I worked day and night. And in among all this getting to meet people you never ever thought of was soo totally refreshing. The lil surprises that life gives are sometimes soo awesome that you can't really believe it at first if it ever happened. As i reached the office on a usual time, I was amazed to see the shoot that was being held at Hyatt firstly and the people we were shooting were none other than Imraan Khan and Sonam Kapoor. It was a personal shoot and it was amazing to click those beautiful people and even being clicked with them !! I got a few nice (Natural) shots of the two of them. Imaraan was his usual self just like he was in his movie (Jane Tu Ya Jaane Na) while Sonam was shy but yet very sweet as her movie (Aisha) .. well that one came later but I  can relate better since that's the only movie I saw. Sonam kept smiling for the rest of the day while Raj sir caught hold of Imraan and took him out for an exclusive picture for Hindustan Times. It was just then that Raj sir asked me to stand along with Imraan. Unaware and busy packing up with the studio setup equipment I just followed what he said. And I got a picture perfect with the Imraan. Well this is one thing I can write about for days in the weekly diary. But let't move a lil further and get to the other day's shoot.

P.s. We did the shoot at Hyatt while the world took the media conf of I Hate Love Stories at DLF mall. The awesome day was followed by birthday celebrations of one of the closest friend in group.

The next day was followed by absolutely no assignments. So i spent time with Jasjeet di learning and understanding the work. 

The next went out to cover a story of a broken divider along with Jasjeet di. A few pictures were selected and appreciated.

Week 4 

The last week. It kick started with Three shoots all on the same day. 

First was a morning conference based on the Kinetic energy at Lalit hotel with Jasjeet Di. The next shoot was at Vasnat Kunj with Ronjoy for a profile shoot of a writer who translated Mahabharat, Mr. Bibek Debjeet for a cover story to be published in Brunch. The next shoot was for Mr. Aasheesh Sharman on a story of weather predicting equipment developed. The profile shoot of Ms. Maju Mohan at IIT at the science campus. As i was returning back to office Aasheesh sir questioned me about everything I had leaned so far as an intern. On the same day as Ronjoy and I were on the way to Vasant Kunj Ronjoy had challenged my own decision which I am thankful to.

The following day I went out for a shoot for fire extinguisher demonstration with Vipin Sir ..waited there for an hour and then left with nothing being shot because it got cancelled..

The same day we went to Swagath restaurant for its food and interior shoot at the hotel Janpath. It was yet another good experience with Jasjeet Di.

Next we went to the passport office with Vipin sir for a story.

Went for covering a story at the New Delhi Railway Station for the newspaper Hindustan printed in Hindi. It got Published the next day along with the by-line.

The next day followed up with a shoot for the Nissan's first small car. Along With Jasjeet di the shoot was done at India Gate.

On the last day, the shoot was with Ronjoy and I met Veenu ma'am. The shoot was for Brunch and the models Akshit Brar and Meenakshi were present for Veenu ma'am Story.

Week four was unlike all the previous weeks. It was in my confusions. It was in this week that my personal view about photography and my own life which i had planned to dedicate to was challenged. Next week was a planned and much awaited trip with family. People at office were as deattached as they could be. not that it was negative in any way. As Zakhir sir and Sushil sir had told me. Every month a new intern comes and leaves. But that was not the issue. The question was what i did to stay in their memory.