Guestagrammer of the Week: Uday Khambadkone

Momenta welcomes this week’s guestagrammer, Uday Khambadkone!

Age:
43

Current job:
Software Engineer

Current location:
Boston, MA

Connection to Momenta:

My dear friend Meryt Harding first told me about Momenta and how its vision of helping non profits aligned with my interest. I gave a call to Jamie Rose to talk about their upcoming non-profit workshop in Colombia. It was an instant bonding and chemistry that made me sign up. After completing this wonderful workshop I feel part of the Momenta family.

Tell us about your journey as an image-maker and how you got to where you are today.

© Uday Khambadkone

Though always interested in art, photography came to me accidentally through a darkroom college course in Texas. The magic of image making in the darkroom kindled a fire in me that has grown ever since.

After dabbling in every genre of photography, I was drawn more towards documentary for its storytelling aspect. To learn from the best I have taken part in several workshops geared towards documentary & journalism.

My first foray into documentary work for Non-Profit & Non-Government Organizations came when I participated in a photo workshop by “Truth With A Camera”. This workshop reinforced my belief in the power of an image and how a photo-essay can provide a voice to a community and individuals. I have also participated in the Kentucky Mountain Workshop which is intense and fun!

In 2014, I took a year break from my day job in the US and moved back to my motherland India. I wanted to rediscover my roots, hidden stories and make sense of the chaos through photography.

The Momenta family, especially Chris and Emanuel, helped hone my photo-essay skills further when I participated in their Project Colombia 2017 workshop this year.

© Uday Khambadkone

What stories or issues are you most passionate about covering?

I am always drawn towards human stories that touch a nerve, be it social, economic or cultural. From exploring the Romas in Zenica, Bosnia to Catarina doll making people of Capula, Mexico. From a shelter home for cancer kids in Mumbai, India to an NGO school for mentally disabled kids in Quito, Ecuador. The lens has allowed him to break stereotypes and be a cultural passport to the understand the world better.

© Uday Khambadkone

Where do you look for inspiration for your work: books, movies, authors, photographers, art, certain people?

Over the last 3-4 years I have been increasingly looking at Instagram for inspiration. I am following great number of photographers around the world and the image making is simply great! Here are some of my favorites: @vineet_vohra, @swaratghosh, @pbbphoto and @thecountrywithoutapostoffice.

Some of the Masters of Photography that I look up to are Larry Towell, James Nachtwey, Raghubir Singh and of course the God Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Movie cinematography is another visual aspect that I draw inspiration from. I love all movies by the great Akira Kurosawa.

© Uday Khambadkone

What social media or news feeds do you follow regularly?

The New York Times Lens Blog is one of my favorites.

© Uday Khambadkone

What is one passion you have outside of photography that might come as a surprise to our readers?

I enjoy listening to crime thrillers. My new fond fav is the “Harry Hole” series by Joe Nesbo.

What can we expect to see this week from your guestagramming on our Momenta Instagram account?

You will see glimpses from 6 of my photo-essays. These stories cover wide topics from Cultural stories from Mexico and India, to Non-Profit work in Colombia, India and Ecuador and the DC Womens March. I will also showcase a few of my Street photos.

#Seizethemomenta, and follow @momentaworkshops on Instagram to see this photography feature!

About the author…