Tribute to film rolls. .

A Beginning with Film

I begin this blog with a quiet tribute to film, and to those 24-exposure rolls that marked my first steps into photography. They taught me patience, restraint, and the value of every frame.

On 30th March 2004, I received my first SLR, a Nikon N75 with the MB-18 battery pack. It was a gift from my brother, Abhishek Kathuria, who is now a Senior Scientist. The camera came with a 28–105mm lens, and with it, a sense of possibility that I did not yet fully understand.

My earliest photographs were taken on Fuji Crystal ISO 400 film. They carried a certain grain, but at the time, all I could see was colour, vibrancy, and the magic of a captured moment. I was too new to notice imperfections. Everything felt exciting, and every image felt like a discovery.

 

The Search That Continues

Those first images were technically in focus, but something within me was still searching. I found myself moving across different genres, trying to understand what truly resonated with me. I was not just looking to take photographs. I was trying to find an image that felt honest, something that connected with me at a deeper level.

That search has now been going on for more than a decade. I am older, perhaps a little more aware, but still very much a student of photography. There is a restlessness that remains, a desire to keep exploring, questioning, and evolving.

 

An Open Invitation

Through this blog, I hope to share that journey. The moments of joy, the phases of doubt, and the questions that continue to shape my understanding.

If you find the time, I would love to hear from you. You can write to me at info@sumitphotography.com. Conversations, after all, are as important as images.

With warmth,
Sumit