By Lakhram Bhagirat
Pictures have a way of remembering and telling stories that we can’t put into words. Pictures have the ability to make us reminisce, extremely happy and even sad.
For the past five years, Narindra Shivnauth has been capturing those memories for his clients through the lens of his camera. The 25-year-old has always had a passion for photography so it’s only logical for him to follow up on it.
As a child, he enjoyed exploring and being adventurous.
“My childhood has been vibrant and adventurous. I was always busy doing something interesting and exploring with my friends in my neighborhood. Out of curiosity, we would open up old devices like radios and speakers to see what’s inside. Definitely one of my favorite childhood memories is playing cricket with my friends in the school compound after school was dismissed. The biggest challenge I’ve faced as a kid is that I wasn’t very lucky to have everything I needed but my parents would always work hard and find a way to make ends meet , ”Said the young man. 
He was always out exploring with his friends in the neighborhood and his curiosity fueled that effort to learn more about the world and explore. That same curiosity led to the world of photography.
During a trip to the United States, Shivnauth was exposed to what he described as “breathtaking sceneries” and then realized he wanted to be able to capture those scenes. He also wanted to play a role in preserving memories for the people in his life.
Armed with passion, he began scouring online and finding the work of photographers worldwide. He began to learn the tips and tricks they shared with followers and tried to implement them.
The young photographer first started in 2016 when he bought an iPhone and started taking pictures of the much simpler things like flowers and sunset. In June of the following year, he visited the US and his aunt gave him his first digital camera – a t600 from Nikon.
“I was excited to use my camera. I went on a tour of as many places as I could and photographed everything I could. I was really excited when I visited the Walt Disney World Resort with my family and saw all the different sceneries and sets. I had to capture all the moments I could possibly. At that moment I knew photography was something I really wanted to do since it became more of a hobby for me, ”he says.
He returned to Guyana and started saving in the hope of buying an upgraded camera to further his future ambitions of deeper research into the world of photography.
“In 2019 I traveled back in the US and bought a Sony a7ii camera which I still use today. I have invested in more camera lens and camera equipment to upgrade and improve my photography, ”he said.
Since embarking on his journey in photography, Shivnauth has been improving his skill to ensure the final product presented to his clients is of the highest quality.
For the young creative, seeing his clients happy with the end product given gives him the satisfaction of knowing he is doing something right. That his sacrifices along the way were worth it. He does the work to get his last picture looking the way he first envisioned.
He explained that extensive work was needed to capture the perfect pictures. He would have to make sure the lighting was accurate, the subject was well positioned and the lens captured the emotions correctly.
He enjoys all aspects of photography and does not focus on a particular type of photography.
“I am inspired by many photographers but some to name include Saajid Husain, Manny Ortiz, Jordi Koalitic, Northborders and many others who share photography tips to improve photography skills. My biggest challenge is definitely the working hours and getting around different locations to do my job. I do not have a vehicle and it is very difficult to travel with all my equipment at any hour of the day and night. I have to be afraid of being robbed of how things are going at the moment.
“Other challenges would be buying camera gears. These are very expensive and easy to damage. I didn’t have the best gears but I used what I had and produced my best work. Just a little while I try to buy my gear. I get there slowly but surely. In the next 5 years, I see myself as a more skilled and better photographer. I always dreamed of having my own photography studio and investing in a drone to capture more breathtaking moments, ”he says.
For Shivnauth, pursuing his dreams means he is shooting for the stars. He started small and has been working slowly to get where he is. His journey has just begun and he puts all the effort into work and never gives up. He is never afraid to ask for help.
