Clement Pais
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Aug 11: In just a few short years mobile photography has reached a point where most devices are good enough to produce images for front pages of newspaper or to be used in a professional capacity at a wedding or to document major sporting events. Isthyaq Sherifff, an amateur photographer from Mangaluru, who is crazy about photography has taken mobile photography to an all new level. His photos even made it to the top 10 in International Mobile Photography Day in 2013 hosted by Nokia and he has his own collection of stunning photos in National Geographic website.
Sheriff was born in 1984 as the second child of Mohammad Sheriff and Noor Jahan in Anekere, Karkala. He graduated from Micro Business Management College in the year 2008. He began working for ABD Tours and Travels at Mangaluru Airport and currently runs a partnership business. The taste for mobile photography, which began in 2006 as a student with his Nokia 6630, has only grown over the years. Despite lack of support from his family, he has an unmatched spirit and passion towards mobile photography.
Speaking to daijiworld about his passion, Isthyaq says, "I like to travel to remote places and I have a passion for adventure. On these trips I get the chance to shoot many pictures. My favorite spot for photography is the Pilikula zoo and for bird photography I go to Muloor near Uchila.
"Many photographers do wildlife and nature photography, but the interest towards bird photography is very little, so I want to take up this challenge. Now, I am more focused on bird photography," he says.
About his collection on National Geographic website, he says, "While surfing the web, I came across a competition to select a mobile picture for the front page of the magazine. I have a profile and I submitted my photos. Many of them were liked by well-known photographers of the world.
He says his best moment was when in 2013, one of his photos was chosen among the top 10 on International Mobile Photography Day by Nokia.
Apart from this, he has also showcased his mobile photographs in exhibitions at Udupi beach festivals.
Asked he what made him take up mobile photography as a hobby, he says, "When I was a small boy, I was crazy about photography. I did not have any digital camera and began clicking pictures with the phone camera. For many years, I continued clicking photos and all editing was also done on the phone itself. My parents kept telling me I was wasting my time on photography. But I never stopped and wanted to take it up full time. However, I had no support so I set aside my passion and went on with my job at the airport. I used to travel long distance to office everyday, and despite this found time to click pictures.
"When I was in Udupi I had once attended a seminar of Press Club photographers. One of the organizers asked the audience to raise hands if they use cameras. Everyone raised their hands and I too did the same, though I only had a mobile phone camera. I was called on the stage and supported by the photographers. This gesture really inspired me and prompted me to take up photography seriously," he recalls.
His message to budding photographers: "Nowadays, mobile phones are used for selfies and chatting. But phones can also be used to capture good pictures and you can show your talent to the world through mobile photography."
Truly, Isthyaq's talent for mobile photography is rare.