Everyone’s a traveller. Yes, we have heard this phrase enough and its corollary even more which goes “Life is a journey”. And no matter how clichéd it sounds, if you think of it strongly (or when you have downed a couple of drinks) the phrases do make sense. We undergo this journey by going through innumerable experiences, some routine, some strange. There are several pit stops across this journey – schooling, higher studies, career, looking for a prospective mate, getting married, settling down, retirement and god knows what else.
And these pit stops are very intriguing, because at every one of this juncture, we re-discover and re-invent ourselves. It could happen many times, or it could happen just once. But it’s these crossroads that eventually lead us to our destiny.
Today’s tale talks about one such turning point, in the journey of someone who seems very much like us. Today we talk about techie turned photojournalist and writer, Hema Narayanan. Hema took the travel writing workshop with iReboot long back, and has since begun her journey towards a whole different path-way. After several years, she stands an accomplished Photojournalist and writer with a huge fan following of her own.
We called Hema up for a cuppa chai and to have a conversation talking about how her journey has been. We strongly recommend you get yourself a hot cuppa too! It’s the monsoons and nothing beats a hearty conversation over chai.
- Tell me something about yourself before you made the switch. What did you do for a living?
I was in the Information Technology (IT) domain for more than a decade. With a Masters in Technology degree & many engineering thesis from IISc, IITs and ISRO in tow, I joined an IT company a decade ago. In here, I have dabbled with several technologies (core, being Telecommunications) and held different hi-cadre roles, both in TCS & Wipro Technologies. From being a Software Developer, I progressed the IT ladder fairly fast, from becoming a Tech Lead to a Project Manager to a Technical Manger to a Business Development Manager and finally came around to be an individual contributor in the form of a ‘Senior Technical Architect’ in the Consulting Division of Wipro Technologies. In my career, I had worked with blue-chip companies such as Cisco, Microsoft, Nortel, Santera, Sequent, Smiths Medical, EMC, Nissan, Sprint, Vodafone, and the likes across geographies.
This pretty much is what I did for a living! It was enriching, a learning experience with many takeaways, which I put to use in my next shift!
As of today, I do three things and am a Photojournalist, Writer and Technology Consultant.
- Did you understand how difficult it would be to change? What were the difficulties and how did you convince yourself?
Understanding difficulties was important because it is a practical problem. But telling myself that I must overcome these difficulties, regardless, was even more important. To chase what I wanted to do in an absolutely virgin territory, after being a post graduate in Engineering, took courage and self confidence. It is better to not think or over-analyze the difficulties. The approach I followed was to just solve them, as they arise. This is how one leads life, is it not? I applied the same rationale to my shift from being an IT Technology Consultant to a Photojournalist & Writer.
Convincing myself was not hard, because I realized that I was skilled in Photography and had been writing for quite a few years (in-frequently though). People around me, thought I was a fool to give up on a plush hi-paying, hi-comfort, high-travel-involved IT job for a venture that I was not even sure, where to start. I remained indifferent to these free opinions/advices and rather spent effort & time in getting myself better at my core skills w.r.t. the new domain.
Difficulties were several. The primary being, the realization, that there is no place to go (to work) from tomorrow! Where to start? How do I start? Whose doors do I knock? Who would respond? Why would they? How do I market myself? How shall I position myself? List goes on…
I resolved these gradually by answering three simple questions: (a) What were my key strengths? (b) What do I really want to do, each day morning? and (c) Did that something, line up or lead me to the eventual goal I had in mind? [Money was definitely never my goal, else would never give up IT, would I?]
- How did you break into Travel writing and photography? What have been the keys to your success?
Writing has been strength much earlier than Photography. I have always been a unique traveller – right from the past 15 plus years, as memory goes. Simply because I travelled differently compared to my friends or family. I observed more intently, I recorded things in some media or the other about local people, aspects, essence, I veered a little off the usual paths, collected souvenirs and maps and guidebooks every place I visited. Finally, no journey was complete, without a travelogue in my personal diary with pen and paper (no digital pads please!). And over the years, I realized that I had a story to narrate, each time with its right dosage of facts, humor, observations and authentic local information – very holistic!
Photography hitchhiked a ride with me 10-11 years ago when I travelled extensively, thanks to the IT company project requirements. Then there was no looking back. Having travelled to more than 10-12 countries, I realized that apart from expressing through words, I also started cherishing expressing through photographs. This is how I arrived at pursuing ‘Photojournalism (not Photography alone, mind you :)) and Writing’. I write Technology pieces as well.
Keys to Success: It is hard to attribute my path, to anything other than my unfluttered dedication and single-mind focus, perseverance, Improved quality of delivery, Attempting relentlessly and with absolute patience and importantly, acceptance of the fact that I am no longer in an IT job which takes care of everything for me.
I became my own Marketing & Business Development person, worked on my website (www.hemanarayanan.com) with a good friend, and became my own brand ambassador. This apart, I delivered as a Writer and a Photojournalist.
By now, I know that I had not anticipated 50% of the difficulties at the starting point. So it’s best to plunge in!
- What have been the highlights of your new career?
My biggest highlight has been: Never once have I been De-motivated, not once did I give up and never was I lured back into an IT job (though I get a few good ones)
On a moderate scale, the highlights have been:
– Today, I write for many newspapers today (The Hindu, Deccan, TOI, DNA), magazines (travel and couple of in-flight), Home & Interior Decor, Online blogs and Portals [ On a side note: I ensured my “first” piece of publication was for The Hindu since their editorial team is the hardest to impress. My first one was published in Dec 2007 [http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/12/16/stories/2007121650310800.htm]. Then there was no looking back]
– I undertake lot of photography assignments today, teach whole lot of photography genres to people of all age groups (youngest being 8 years) in Bangalore and work on photo-journalistic themes. The feedback I receive from my students suggests that I have come a long way in the skill that I have learnt (the hard way with perseverance!)
– I have registered a proprietorship firm, named ‘Wider Angles’
– I sell my photographs in different mediums, exhibit them in the city and license them with Image Stock Agencies [Ex: Getty]. I get invited on panels for judging photo contests and do travel writing for prestigious firms.
– Shortlisted as the Top 35 (worldwide) in the 2011 Travel Scholarship conducted by National Geographic & World Nomads
– Edinburgh International Festival 2011-12 used my photograph for their hoardings, banners, pamphlets and brochures, to depict the essence of Rajasthan (in all over Scotland)
– A photograph published in the 2011 Canon Calendar on the theme of Children and Celebrations
– Selected as one among the PRO Travel Photographers to critique Amateurs for GuruShots.com [http://www.gurushots.com/pro-p/hema-narayanan]
- Knowing what you do now, if you were to start from scratch today to become established as a travel writer, what steps would you take to ensure success?
It’s hard to put them in points. Remember I am not just a travel writer. I am a Photojournalist as well. So I have a double vision-mission statement making things more complicated. I want to excel on the “journalistic” part both thru writing and photography. Some of the things that one can do:
– Reach out to everyone (editorials) who you think would like travel pieces (knock on the door is more like it)
– Understanding the types of books, magazines and journals that are available today is important
– Work on a compact profile and market yourself in an interesting way
– Start doing articles pro bono a few times, THEN charge (but NEVER do free work apart from the first 2-3 pieces)
– Build on every step you achieve
- Finally, there are so many people who wish to try something new and even though they have all the info they have, they just cannot take the plunge. What advice would you give them?
– Like they say, the worst question is the one that is never asked. IMHO, the worst risk is the one that is never taken!
– Build a reasonable bank balance before venturing out (feels secure at times)
– Easier to Dream; Harder to Execute. Plunge, first, without over analysing the what-ifs
– Passion is a good term. But Perseverance is a better one. Passion without perseverance is non-consequential.
– Think of it as a Marathon Race – its easier to achieve your goal, if you start small, do small things, achieve smaller things and then build up. Avoid starting on a big scale with fuzzy visions.
[This is how I started: to me, thinking of 0.42 Kms was easier than 42 Kms!
Today, I am mid way and I know I will get where I have envisioned myself to be, sooner or later!]
Talking to Hema told us how important it is to follow our dream, and how glad one feels once you have walked enough miles tracing that dream! The journey truly seems worthwhile.
To talk about more inspiring stories like these, or to discover your own, contact iReboot on 9035789474 or contact.ireboot@gmail.com
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