The Art of Riyaaz
With digital, riyaaz is not expensive. But it is the ease of getting a ‘good looking’ photo that lulls people into thinking that each picture is a performance. Photograph/Dinesh Khanna
Dinesh Khanna speaks with Raj Lalwani about why you should not be enamoured by every photo you make. Treat each picture as a stepping stone to a larger goal.
Every time a singer sings, it is not for a performance. There is a lot of riyaaz involved—practising the same note over and over again. Similarly, you should shoot a lot and approach a subject from different viewpoints.
I became more sensitive to the idea of riyaaz when my wife took up kathak.
The Journey to Perfection is Endless
Of the 100 pictures you click, only one or two may be great. There is only one section of the riyaaz that may reach the perfect high note. Of course, I am not saying you should shoot indiscriminately. Every time you hum a tune, it is not riyaaz. Similarly, mindless shooting is nothing but bathroom singing.
About Dinesh Khanna
Dinesh Khanna’s career path veered from being a calculator salesman, a garment quality checker, a busboy in a New York bar and a client servicing executive, after which, he finally gave in to his desire to make images. He cofounded the Delhi Photo Festival and regularly conducts ‘addas’ in Delhi to encourage discussions on the medium.
