Self-taught photographer Narindra Shivnauth “shooting” for the stars

By Lakhram Bhagirat

Photos have a way of preserving a memory and telling stories we cannot actively put into words. Photos have the ability to make us reminisce, extremely happy and even sad.

For the past five years, Narindra Shivnauth has been actively 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 was only logical that he followed up on it.
As a child, he enjoyed exploring and being adventurous.
“My childhood has been lively and adventurous. I was always occupied with doing something interesting and exploring with my friends in my neighbourhood. Out of curiosity, we would open old devices such as radios and speakers to see what’s inside. One of my favourite childhood memories is definitely playing cricket with my friends in the school compound after school was dismissed. The biggest challenge I’ve faced as a child is that I wasn’t very fortunate of having everything I needed but my parents would always work hard and find a way to make ends meet,” the young man said.
He was always out exploring with his friends in the neighbourhood and his curiosity fuelled that drive to learn more about the world and explore. That same curiosity led him to the world of photography.
During a trip to the United States, Shivnauth was exposed to what he described as “breathtaking sceneries” and it was then he realised that he wanted to be able to capture those scenes. He wanted to also play a part in preserving memories for the people in his life.
Armed with passion, he began scouring online and found the work of photographers all over the world. He started to learn the tips and tricks they shared with followers and tried to implement them.
The young photographer first started in 2016 when he purchased an iPhone and began taking photos of the much simpler things like flowers and sunsets. In June the following year, he visited the US and his aunt gifted him his first digital camera – a Nikon p600.
“I was excited to use my camera. I toured as many places as I could and took pictures of everything that I could. I was most excited when I visited Walt Disney World Resort with my family and saw all the different amazing sceneries and set. I had to capture all the moments I possibly could. At that moment I knew photography was something I really wanted to do since it became more of a hobby of mine,” he recounted.
He returned to Guyana and started to save in the hope of buying an upgraded camera to facilitate his future ambitions of delving deeper into the world of photography.
“In 2019 I travelled back in the US and I bought a Sony a7ii camera which I’m still using today. I have invested in more camera lens and camera equipment to upgrade and improve my photography,” he said.
Since he started his journey in the world of photography, Shivnauth has been actively improving his skill to ensure that the final product delivered to his clients is top-notch.
For the young creative, seeing his clients happy with the final delivered product gives him the satisfaction of knowing that he is doing something right. That his sacrifices along the journey are worth it. He puts in the work to get his final photo looking the way he first envisioned.
He explained that capturing the perfect photos require extensive work. He would have to ensure that the lighting is correct, the subject is positioned well and the lens capture the emotions correctly.
He enjoys all aspects of photography and does not focus on a specific 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 to different locations to do my job. I have no vehicle and to travel with all my equipment at any hour of the day and night is very difficult. I have to be scared of being robbed with how things are going right now.
“Other challenges would be purchasing camera gears. These are very pricey and easily become damage. I didn’t have the best gears but I used what I had and produce my best work. Little by little I try to purchase my gears. I’m getting there slowly but surely. In the next 5 years, I see myself being a more skilled and improved photographer. I always dreamed of having my own photography studio and investing in a drone to capture more breathtaking moments,” he said.
For Shivnauth, following his dreams mean that he is shooting for the stars. He started small and has been working slowly to get where he is. His journey has just started and he is putting all the effort into the work and never giving up. He is also never afraid of asking for help.