Anyone who has seen Ravindra Racktoo’s photographs would agree that they are unconventional. And although he has been dabbling in photography for four years, it only became a profession a year ago.
When Ravindra first took up photography he began experimenting with landscape and nature photography among other genres but two years ago his interest shifted and now he has settled on doing portrait photography. Since then, he has leaned more towards photoshoots rather than event photography as shoots allow him to get more creative. Nevertheless, he has done event photography before and produced exceptional work.
Ravindra was never someone who was comfortable with expressing himself verbally, and so photography became the medium through which he was able to do so. This started some years ago while he was a student at Queen’s College. A quiet and disciplined student, Ravindra would sit in his classes drawing cars and landscapes. He was never undisturbed for long, because friends were always around taking in his work or asking him to draw them something. Often, they wanted him to create the cover pages for their assignments. It was during this time that he took up graphic design.
The second-year, full-time University of Guyana student is reading for a bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering. His photography is done on the weekend and because of this, he does not earn much. Whatever he earns, goes toward upgrading his photography equipment. Ravindra said he decided to undertake photography professionally, because it is an expensive hobby.
He said that what is still a hobby for him is motion pictures photography. This involves a series of still photographs taken over a period of time. This activity requires both effort and lots of time to be able to capture the changes of an area over a period of time. He said that this will polish his skills as he works towards becoming a small-time filmmaker. His mini films will be no longer than five minutes, and this is where his degree will come in handy because he will have a better idea as it regards landscapes and the earth’s structures. These films, he said, will target not only the art sector but the tourism sector also, both of which Guyana could use help with.
Another of his challenges, aside from figuring out which genre he wanted to work in, was finding the kind of look he wanted, whether rustic or colourful and this he explained does not happen in a day. It took lots of photos before he was sure what look he wanted to be identified with.
Yet another challenge, was getting to know his camera. “It was a very exciting feeling which quickly became overwhelming since I had never touched a tool like a SLR camera before and exploring menus where all the different settings are located just added to the overwhelming feeling,” he said. “But thinking that the path to bringing my ideas to life was behind mastering those settings, kept my excitement fueled.
“… It really does bring its own satisfaction and for me, the motivation to do photography is always there.”
Asked whether he sees himself doing it full time, after careful thought, he said, he did not see it working out as a career in Guyana so for him photography will always be a part-time job.
Almost all of his inspiration comes from Instagram and a look at his Instagram account will show not just beautiful photos but colour-coded rows. If one photo in a particular row is yellow, the rest of the row follows that theme until it eases into another lighter or darker row of yellow before changing to a different, but close colour.
Speaking of one of the riskiest things he ever did for a photo, Ravindra shared that he had wanted to take a photo of Stabroek Market from a different angle. He said he climbed a four-storey building which put him directly across from the Stabroek Market clock and he could also see Vreed-en-Hoop in the background. To get a better angle, he put one foot over on a tiny ledge. Ravindra revealed that he is afraid of heights and the idea of standing way up on a ledge that could support only part of his foot, should have had him reeling. But the view he beheld was so breathtaking that he did not notice much of anything else. He said he never posted that particular photo on social media, as people have stolen his photos in the past.
What is the best feeling of being a photographer? “It’s a really good feeling when your clients enjoy what it is you have created for them,” he said. “One of the best comments I got is from a young woman who said to me that I made her feel much more confident in herself. She said also that it was a joy working with me because I was really patient, which I try to do for people because I feel that it’s not an easy thing to be in the spotlight and it takes a lot of effort to be in front of the camera.
“A lot of people, especially women, struggle with low self-esteem because they don’t believe that they are beautiful but everybody, I believe, is beautiful in their own unique way. You are your own beautiful. You are your own person. You are unique. Sometimes when I realize someone is skeptical about what their photo would look like, I take the first shot and then show them it and let them know what I like about that photo. After that they are usually more relaxed, and it shows that in their photos.”
Ravindra is a self-taught photographer and when asked whether he intended obtaining a certificate in photography, he said that the certificate programmes being offered are for basic photography which he has long passed. It is time, he said, for Guyana to have an actual photography school instead of just a certificate programme.
At a recent exhibition where both traditional art (paintings) and digital art were exhibited, Ravindra said he realized that people do not understand digital art. Among his two digital pieces at that exhibition was his photo of Stabroek Market. According to the photographer, there were people who admired his pieces and commended him on his work but then there were also those, who, after realizing his piece was digital and not a traditional painting, lost interest. However, this has not discouraged him. For next year Ravindra has several projects he wants to do. He hoping to do a holiday and important occasions series which would include photos on Mashramani and Indigenous Heritage Month.
Photoshoot clients are usually asked to make appointments at least two weeks in advance. Photos take up to four days to be edited which is record time. To be able to finish photos that quickly, Ravindra would be up sometimes past midnight working on them.
Ravindra grew up at Cove and John, the youngest of three children. He attended Nabaclis Nursery, Swami Parmanand Primary and Queen’s College. A devout Hindu, Ravindra said his most important objective is to help people, something he does through even with his photography.
When he is not occupied with his studies or his photography, he plays video games. He is hoping to add working out and playing tennis. Back when he attended QC, he played tennis but stopped because of his studies.
His favourite dish is pizza with lots of jalapeno peppers.
Ravindra can be followed on Facebook as well as Instagram.
