My Story
Every journey has a beginning. Mine began with the quiet faith of my grandmother.
The Seed
Before there was a camera, there was Dhanabagyam - my grandmother. She was my first teacher, my greatest encourager, and the person who quietly changed the course of my life. When she noticed a little boy's fascination with photographs, she planted a seed that would continue to grow for the rest of my life.
The Roots
My roots lie in my mother's parents' home in Vettuvanam. I was born in the pooja room of that house, where stories, kindness, and curiosity shaped my childhood. The house no longer stands today, but every time I think about photography, my journey quietly returns there.
₹35
When I was about twelve years old, my grandmother returned from her Kasi pilgrimage carrying a small Agfa Click III camera. Many years later, after I had asked her several times, she finally told me its price. ₹35. It may have been the price of a camera, but to me, it was the first investment in my life's journey.
Delhi
I often wonder how she found that camera. During her pilgrimage, somewhere in Delhi, she somehow made a stranger understand that she wanted a camera for her grandson. She may not have known the English word "camera," but she knew exactly what her grandson loved. That quiet act of love has stayed with me for more than five decades.
One of my earliest photographs, made with the Agfa Click III.
A double exposure created entirely in-camera, long before digital photography.
A double exposure created entirely in-camera, long before digital photography.
The Journey Begins
That little Agfa Click III taught me my first lessons—not about cameras, but about observation, patience, and curiosity. Over the years, many cameras would accompany me, each becoming another chapter in the same journey. None of them changed the reason I first picked up a camera.
Waiting for Wings
As the years passed, my camera slowly turned toward nature. Birds taught me lessons that no classroom ever could. They asked for patience instead of speed, silence instead of noise, and respect instead of possession. In waiting for them, I discovered a quieter way of seeing life.
Why SilentWing?
Owls have always fascinated me. Their wings are designed to fly with extraordinary silence, disturbing neither the air nor the world around them. That quiet grace became the inspiration behind the name SilentWing Stories. I hope my photographs and stories carry the same spirit, observing patiently, respecting nature, and leaving behind only memories and stories.
Silentwing Stories
More than a collection of photographs.
Silentwing Stories is a place where memories, nature, and quiet moments come together. If these stories encourage even one person to pause a little longer, observe a little deeper, and appreciate the beauty around them..., then my journey has already found its purpose.
Silentwing Stories is a place where memories, nature, and quiet moments come together. If these stories encourage even one person to pause a little longer, observe a little deeper, and appreciate the beauty around them..., then my journey has already found its purpose.