FLASHBULBZZ - BEHIND THE LENS
A moment frozen in time, captured in mid-action evoking a myriad of emotions, a picture does that. It tells you stories of agony and ecstasy, compelling you to pause and notice, analyze and appreciate. They felt every time they captured a moment in time, stilled and frozen to eternity, making memories, telling stories. What started as a hobby turned into a passion that made the camera their life companion. This is their story behind the lens.
We all grow up and lead very different lives from what we planned with our friends in school, sometimes in other places from our friends and family. Yet our school and college friends hold an exceedingly special place in our hearts - most of them for a lifetime. However, the main pillars of this group teamed up not because they were childhood pals; instead, their passion for photography and shared vision brought them together. Everyone needs something fun to do and blow off steam and the strain from their day-to-day lives and careers. Although it all started as recreation, what photography provided them as a hobby was far more important than what a paycheck could. It gave them contentment and relaxation. They let the winds of liveliness sweep through them, and now it is an essential aspect of their life.
This happened much before mobile photography, and selfies were even heard of, let alone mainstream. It was sometime in 2004 that Anju met Karthik and Arun at her workplace. Karthik and Arun worked together in the same company and already knew each other. Karthik, the man of few words, and Arun, quite the opposite, both shared the same passion for photography, and the three bonded over their shared hobby. A few years later, Anju first tried taking pictures with a DSLR camera at an office meeting. Often when you pursue a hobby, you never realize how good you are at it. You enjoy it so much that excellence or self-evaluation doesn’t occur. This was the first time Anju got feedback from her friends and colleagues - that she had done a great job!
In 2010 Anju shifted to a new company, but it never meant there was no place for old hobbies. One fine day a friend, Venky, took her to meet the members of the Nike Running Club (NRC). That was the first time she tried her hand at photographing runners. The photos were liked by many, and this is when Arun, Karthik, and Anju together took the first step in their foray into sports photography. Around the same time, they were also introduced to Runners for Life, and another friend Sarath joined the group. All five began to venture out on photo walks, photograph, and occasionally photograph events such as the Kaveri Trail Marathon. This fantastic gang initially called themselves ‘Shutter Bugs.’
Bharath was introduced to ‘Shutter Bugs’ in 2011 during a cycling event, again through Venky. A cyclist & a runner himself, Bharath too, inclined to photography. Hence, it wasn’t long before he joined ‘Shutter bugs.’, Soon, however, Venky and Sarath soon had to part ways with the group due to work and family commitments. Passions have no finish lines, just pit stops, and this was just another pit stop for the gang in their journey. Srini, a colleague at the time and a photographer, heard of the group and showed interest in becoming part of them, and very soon was. It’s always a learning experience when as a group, you take pictures, especially when you don’t have much professional background or training. The outdoors is your learning area, and your teammates become your guides.
Archana, fondly known to all as ‘Archi,’ was already an enthusiastic photographer. She used to cover many cycling events and was a known photographer in the cycling arena. Archi and Anju met during just such an event, and each immediately recognized in the other a kindred spirit. Archi coming on board was a turning point because she brought in a lot of depth and experience to the group. Post a shoot for Oxfam, they both realized that their passion must now move to another level. They knew that the need of the hour was to give a more formal face to their hobby. Then started a marathon of group meetings and brainstorming at ‘Chai Patti’ in Indira Nagar, which became the hub of these meetings. After deliberation and numerous suggestions, Bharath’s idea for a name brought unanimous agreement, and the group was christened “Flashbulbzz.” Along came a tagline, ‘freezing your moments.
On 24th Feb 2013, Flashbulbzz Photography was born. As proud parents, our founders cheered the birth of their new company. “Applause” was the first event covered by Flashbulbzz and a more appropriate name and event the team could not have asked for. It was the first stepping stone in their growth, and they grew. Five years on and many sporting events later, Flashbulbzz Photography has grown to 23 members - all bound together by their passion and commitment to photography. Although their more mundane professions are elsewhere, "Flashbulbzz" is the home to which they return and where they belong. Today Flashbulbzz has many stories to tell with their clicks from the field, working with sportspersons, capturing the enduring spirit, the moments of victory, and sharing in the trials and tribulations on the journey to the finish line. They still have miles to go, but after a day of going the distance with the runners and the cyclists, experiencing and photographing their struggle, our intrepid group of photographers goes back with the satisfaction of a job well done and the will to come back another day to another event and another story.