Happy New Year 2021!

As we eagerly await the dawn of a new day, come 2021, while a terrifying year filled with intense fear and calamity, ebbs, and slowly comes to an end, I would like to thank all of you, who follow this blog for giving generously of your time, and following me on my journey of exploration into the natural world and its many wonders, through the eye and lens(es) of my trusty camera(s).

To say that 2020 has been a ‘tough year’, would be an understatement. Together, we braved a pandemic, and several, stringent (yet sadly, necessary) lockdowns, for the sheer privilege of living to see another day, in a time of great uncertainty, and tragedy. And we did it, day by day, and day after day, until we were able to push back at the dreaded new virus which has brought the world to a standstill.

And while the battle is far from over, our grit, perseverance and determination, not only allowed us to survive, but somewhere, somehow, also made us stronger. The adage, “No matter how great the tragedy, an individual can triumph.”, has never rang truer, or closer home.

Creative Focus (https://www.facebook.com/Creativefocus.in) – an initiative I started to help aspiring photographers gain a salient, concise understanding of the skills and techniques quintessential to the fine art of photography is still going strong; under this brilliant initiative, we have, over the past five years, conducted more than one hundred ‘hands-on’, as well as ‘one on one’ workshops, on several important subjects such as ‘Understanding Light’, ‘Post-processing using Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop’, ‘Macro photography’, ‘Panoramic & Slow Shutter Speed Capture of Landscapes’, ‘Astrophotography’, and ‘Non-studio & Studio Portrait Photography’, among others.

It also gave me immense pleasure, earlier this year, to associate with TGIS, Bangalore and attempt to conduct a few workshops for their benefit. Together, we braved through a course on ‘Understanding Light’, just before the pandemic (and the extensive lockdowns which soon followed suit) struck, thereby putting an end to any further ‘in-person’ interactions, for this year, at the very least.

In the meantime, I was able to conduct some of my very first online photography workshops, owing to a renewed surge of interest in time honoured art of painting with light, as more and more people sought to escape from the doom and gloom of Covid-19, and the fatalities it brought in its wake.

As our public health crisis slowly, but steadily improves, I am looking to expand the scope of my photography courses, in the form of full-day, hands-on, intimate workshops on over 30 specialized topics of interest, including ‘Astrophotography’, ‘Light painting’, and Food & Product Photography’, to name a few. I also look forward to conducting a long-term, one-on-one mentorship program, through live video, and interactive chat.

Starting 6th JAN, 2021, I will also be teaching a weekly ‘Basic Photography Foundation Course’ (exclusively online, with limited seats). A course on ‘Lightroom’ will soon follow suit.

Our free photo critique forum on Facebook, The Creative Focus Photo-critic Group (Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CFphotocritique/) has played host to several interesting, and scintillating discussions on the subject, and with the active, thriving participation of over 3,800 members, has rapidly evolved to become a learning hub of photography.

As we stand at the tail end of an unprecedented year, a year that has not been easy, and unlike any other, to say the very least, I cannot, but help feel that we have emerged stronger, and wiser than ever before. The pandemic has shown us the value of friendship, communities, and how, together, we can make a difference to people’s lives.

But I would like to thank you, most of all, dear constant reader, for your continued faith in me, and I look forward to working with you in 2021.

Be safe out there, look after yourself, and your loved ones.

Happy New Year 2021!

– Krishna Mohan