We’ve partnered with experienced photographer, Jayanth Sharma, to inspire people to take on our challenge, share his unique perspectives and tell us how he pushes himself to create images that make people stop and think.
Jayanth Sharma
With a portfolio of awe-inspiring and thought-provoking photography and vast experience mentoring new talent, Jayanth Sharma is an ideal ambassador and judge for the ‘Challenge Your View’ campaign.
Having escaped the corporate world of IT 15 years ago, Jayanth now lives his dream photographing nature and wildlife all over the world. From tracking Pumas in South America, to following polar bears in the wilds of the Arctic, he travels far and wide to find the subjects of his shots, but much of his work has been produced closer to home in India.
What makes the perfect shot?
“For me, the perfect shot makes people stop, stare for a moment and wonder. Nothing speaks louder than a photograph. We have the power to raise awareness and ignite emotions with a single click. My work has made people happy, sad and even angry – but, whatever the response, the end goal was always the same: to promote the preservation of wildlife and nature.”
How far have you gone in the pursuit of ‘the shot’?
“I’ve travelled for over 40 hours to reach a location and sacrificed things like family time and lots of sleep, but when you get that perfect shot, it’s definitely worth it.”
What will you be looking for in the competition?
“The world is full of talented photographers, but to be great you need to stand out. I’ve always believed in seeing what everybody else is doing and shifting to something else, this is how you keep away from clichés. So often, you’ll find yourself shooting the same location or subject as many others, it takes creativity to see it from a new angle or bring a new idea to the table. I want to see that the photographer has put in this work, to see that they’ve pushed for a different perspective.”
Jayanth on the power of print
“Social media has made it very easy to share your work, but nothing beats seeing your images in print. Committed to a canvas, the images take on new life and are transformed. At this stage, quality is everything. Having worked so hard on the photo, you need to ensure the print does justice and captures every detail.”
