Exclusive Interview With Journalist Raja Sarfaraz
Doozy is that in a heaven someone needs to capture its beauty including art, culture, heritage, nature and people with aesthetics, Anees Aijaz Bhat is a New Photography sensation self-made and technically sound to handle and play with lenses. In a Mission to promote local. The talent of Kashmir we found him so Incredible to know about his journey and had a Chat with him by Expert Raja Sarfaraz. He has not only captured Serenity and the splendid glamour of Kashmir but local talent also.
Tell Us About Yourself?
My name is Anees Aijaz Bhat, Known as Anees Bhat I am from Kashmir currently studying Electronic media at Kashmir University
and working/managing my startup as Anees Bhat Captures Studio In Kashmir.
How you started playing with the lens?
From my childhood I loved taking portraits and landscape photos from my mobile phone, In 2016 this thing came into my mind to startup my studio in Kashmir for Fashion/Portfolio/Business, As we don’t have many resources in Kashmir except weddings and events photography. So I thought why not do it on our own, For professional portfolio’s/Business shoots or our music videos for which we normally preferred going outside. I always dreamt of setting something here in Kashmir which Allhamdulilah became possible. I do shoot now professional portfolios & Business shoots, Music video poster shoots, I am awarding people about this with the hashtag #PakhPhotoTulav and I want people to get to know about this in Kashmir itself.
Tell us to struggle behind the camera
It isn’t easy to set up business in Kashmir, as we all know how the situation here goes. I started up my business I requested some of my friends to come and shoot with me, alhamdulillah I got an unexpected response, but not everyone is still aware of this. I wanted people to know about fashion shoots or business shoots here in Kashmir itself because due to pandemics everything is going digital so there is no need to hire photographers from outside Kashmir we can make here itself by own.
What are your plans?
I plan to make fashion portfolio shoots common in Kashmir no need to go out for CV portfolios or Music videos or shoots. I want to direct my own Kashmiri artist’s music videos and work for everyone to help them in their own business to digitalise their things, I want everyone to know about what a fashion portfolio is. I want youth to understand the importance of this kind of studio in Kashmir.
Kashmir is a beautiful place to shoot do you feel lucky to be in Kashmir always and what are your fav destinations?
Yes, it’s an absolute good feeling to be a proud Kashmiri, Kashmir has one of its uniqueness that has no comparison in beauty, I feel proud here to shoot on beautiful locations which Kashmir itself have. I have already shot in many locations in Kashmir my favourite place to shoot is our dal lake and houseboats placed on banks of dal lake, I am in love with every place which Kashmir have because of this is Kashmir and it will not be found anywhere else around the globe.
How can a youth interested to be a photographer make his career in Kashmir?
It is not necessary to hire high-end equipment for starting up, when I started I had purchased and still have that second-hand camera and budgeted two lights. Youth who are seriously passionate about photography should go into this profession. We have gained more here we have award-winning filmmakers here nowadays, as we are growing up and every one has its unique way to capture things so there is no restriction on becoming a photographer in Kashmir.
Who is your inspiration and tell us about the best part of your life so far and most struggling phase when and how so far?
I believe every new day is a new life and gives us new things to learn. I like the work of so many photographers like Rohan Shrestha, Dabbo Ratnani and Praveen Bhat. Getting appreciation for your work is always the best thing in any profession which is a highly motivational part for me these days.