Read how this 22-year-old photographer from Odisha is paying it forward

Pattnayak announces the date of his workshops and photo walks on his Facebook and Instagram pages
He has conducted more than ten photo walks till date
He has conducted more than ten photo walks till date

Debesh Kumar Pattnayak AKA DK Pattnayak has been clicking photos even before he knew what photography was about. Armed with a smartphone, he would spend hours capturing that perfect frame. It was only in class XII that his brother sat him down for a lesson on photography. And look where he is today! He's paying it forward by taking sessions on what photography means at institutions, most recently at the College of Engineering and Technology in Bhubaneswar. "Whatever I teach, I've learnt it myself," says the photographer from Nayagarh who cites Indian photographer Raghu Rai and American photographer Steve McCurry as his inspirations. 

While on his FB page he has more than 3,000 followers, on his Instagram (instagram.com/dkpattnayak/) page, he has more than 2,000 followers

And though he is just 22 years old, he has already won prestigious international photography awards like the Lensculture Street Photography Awards 2018 and 35Awards 2017. His photos have also been published in the National Geographic, Nat Geo Travel India and several other reputed journals. He has taken about five workshops at various institutes and conducts photo walks too. At all his workshops and photo walks, he ensures that he conveys one important message, "One needs to pursue photography as an artist. Art is everywhere. As an artist, you need to make sure that you capture that art and turn the ordinary into extraordinary." We sure are noting this mantra down! 

The passion for capturing that perfect photograph keeps me motivated

DK Pattnayak, Photographer

While Pattnayak, who bought his first camera — a Canon 700D — three years ago, enjoys every type of photography, street photography holds a special place in his heart. "I believe that street photography, in particular, is not about high-end cameras. It has more to do with the photographer rather than the equipment," says Pattnayak, who has studied Computer Programming and Applications at IGNOU. His photo walks are also usually around street photography as he takes aspiring photographers to picturesque and interesting locales like Old Town and the Lingraj Temple in Bhubaneswar. "I love communicating with people through my lens. I want to learn about their stories," he confesses. 

With most pictures that he shares on his Facebook page, he also adds a caption which tells the story behind the picture or the people in it

His series of three-hour-long street photography tours is named Street Sutra and though he organises it alone, he does call on board other photographers for help. During the walk, he asks participants to observe and be patient. "Sometimes, beginners keep clicking pictures by the dozen, but the thumb rule is to see the image in your mind before you click it," says Pattnayak. He also suggests that once you get that elusive 'perfect' picture, you must leave the place. All said and done, he says that till date, he too learns a thing or two from every photo walk and workshop he conducts. 

Looking to secure a job in the field he loves most, Pattnayak says that he is never satisfied with anything he clicks, "and I wish to stay hungry for the perfect shot." If that isn't motivation, I don't know what is.

Some of Pattnayak's work - 

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