talkies
PHOTO April 2014
Issue 03
A Joint Initiative of Kunzum and ZEISS
LENS REVIEW ZEISS OTUS 1,4 / 55MM
BUNDI, RAJASTHAN Where Guest is God
THE MAGICAL DHANKAR LAKE The Vanishing Portraits of
APATANI TRIBALS
APPS
Nokia Refocus Here I Am
SAY HELLO TO THE TRIBES The world has not become homogeneous yet. Nor entirely modern. There are still many folks out there who are holding onto to their traditions, living as they have been for centuries. The Apatanis of Ziro Valley in the north-eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh are one such community. You get there after a half day bumpy ride from state capital Itanagar, but the effort is more than worth it. You will meet tribals here who continue to live in the same houses that have been home for generations, in villages that have retained much of their old character. In a landscape nothing short of breathtaking. Of course, almost no one on this planet is sheltered entirely from the winds of change. Neither are the Apatanis, or the countless other tribes in this part of the country. For travellers and those interested in people study, this is the time to say hello to these tribes. Before the portraits of old vanish entirely. And thus we figured it apt to feature these for the cover story of PhotoTalkies this month. We have added more features from this issue based on reader feedback. There is the pictorial travel bucket list to tease you and to tempt you. You can read about memorable travel stories from everyday travellers, book reviews and apps. All is all, it is an issue covering more features for everyone. Let’s keep clicking together. And sharing our stories. Pictorially. Shot with a ZEISS.
AJAY JAIN ajay@ajayjain.com
talkies
PHOTO A Joint Initiative of Kunzum and ZEISS
CONTENTS
The Vanishing Portraits of Apatani Tribals, Arunachal Pradesh
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LENS REVIEW: Otus 1,4 / 55mm: A New Byword for Professional Digital Photography
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Your Travel Bucket List
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Bundi, Rajasthan: Where Guest is God
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Finding, and Losing Myself, in the Himalayas
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Exploring Dhankar Lake and Monastery
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BOOKS Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten Dark Places
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APPS Nokia Refocus Here I Am
41 42
PHOTOTALKIES IS A MONTHLY DIGITAL MAGAZINE. AND IT’S FREE!! DOWNLOAD AND READ ON YOUR IPAD, IPHONE OR ANY OTHER TABLET, COMPUTER AND SMARTPHONE.
www.kunzum.com/phototalkies mail@kunzum.com
Want to contribute to PhotoTalkies? Ping us at mail@kunzum.com Disclaimer: All articles and photographs in this magazine are the opinions of the respective contributors. It is understood that they own the copyright to the same, or have the rights to offer the same under their bylines. ZEISS is not responsible for the authenticity of any of the articles and photographs, nor will be held liable for any disputes, claims and liabilities arising out of ownership or copyright issues of the content in the magazine.
The Vanishing Portraits of
TRIBAL Apatani Tribals TATTOOS
in Arunachal Pradesh, India
Change is all around us. And it is permeating even the remote and lesser developed regions of the world. If you are going to Arunachal Pradesh and expecting its ethnic population to be walking the streets in their traditional tribal dresses and accessories, be prepared to be disappointed.
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T
attooed faces, large nose plugs, brass ringed ear pieces and knotted hair - the Apatanis have traditionally sported these signs, distinguishing them from other tribes in the region. With the passing of the older generations just a matter of time now, these portraits may remain just images for us to see in the future. Living in the beautiful Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India, the Apatanis continue to live largely in the same habitats as they have for centuries with a touch of modernity and material goods thrown in for good measure. The younger generation pursue the best of education available, seek careers going beyond agriculture and have mostly shed their traditional dresses and ornaments in a bid to assimilate with the rest of the world. But their surviving parents and grandparents still keep the memories of the past alive.
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The Decorated Women
Women tattooed themselves with a black line running from the forehead to the tip of their nose, and five vertical lines on their chins. A horizontal line connected the five. These tattoos are called Tiipe. They wear two big black round nose plugs called the Yaping Pullo made of whole cane found in the jungles. Women also perforated their ear lobes and wore big pieces of hollowed bamboo ear plugs called Yaru Hukho to attach ear rings to. They also make 2-3 perforations in their ears to wear smaller Yaru Hukhos; these smaller perforations are known as Ruting and used for wearing Ruting Yarangs made of flat brass rings. Dark and prominent tattoos, big Yaping Hullos and Yaru Hukhos with ear rings and large Ruting Yarang were all seen to enhance the beauty of an Apatani Lady.
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The Decorated Men
Not to be left behind, men tattoo their chins in the form of a T. Big, deep and prominent tattoo on the chin with a good Piiding (knot of hair on forehead tied using a brass rod called Piiding Khotu measuring 12 inches) went on to enhance the handsomeness of an Apatani youth.
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Were Women Made to Spoil their Beauty?
The tattoos and jewelry on women were supposedly made to enhance their looks, but there is a theory that these were used to mar their beauty. Apatani women, famed for their beauty, would occasionally be abducted by neighbouring tribes; making them look lesser was seen as a defence against the poaching of the women. The ‘defacing’ would take place at puberty. Over time though, there has been no evidence to substantiate this theory and it remains just that.
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The Vanishing Portraits
Unfortunately, the last of these tattooed faces will vanish from this planet in a few years. As will the Apatani langauge. Make a trip to Ziro and say hello to the Apatanis. They will greet you warmly. Their hearts and souls are as beautiful as their looks. 14
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Otus 1,4/55mm:
A New Byword for Professional Digital Photography SUNDEEP BALI
Lens-based artist and Lens Ambassador, Carl Zeiss India
Background
Less than 15 years ago when film was around and showing no signs of slowing down despite the first integrated small digital cameras having been introduced, the golden standard for professional photographers was still a medium format camera. Quite a few of these medium format camera models were rendered modular by their manufacturers and could be used be with a digital back to capture digitally when required. Slowly but surely all that changed and many of the erstwhile medium format patrons shifted to small format full-frame DSLRs as more and more such models populated the market. Circa 2013: Medium-format digital cameras are now a super-expensive proposition and not necessarily a future-proof investment as technology leaps ahead.
Perspective
Zeiss has a long-history of manufacturing lenses for medium-format systems namely Hasselblad and Contax. When the idea of designing a new series of extremely high-performance SLR lenses was floated, the audience in mind were mid-career photographers who were familiar with the distinct advantages of a medium-format system over the small format and would covet a similar performance on a full-frame DSLR with a high-resolution sensor. The brief given to optical and mechanical engineers was to design a lens with no compromises at all on the performance. Concurrently all the limitations - of size, weight and price - were given a long break.
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A prototype was shown at Photokina in 2012 and I had the good fortune of handling one of these (albeit for only a night ) at the Photofair in Delhi in January 2013. A behemoth of a lens with edge-to-edge sharpness and high-contrast wide-open is all I could make out of it at that point of time. The filter diameter was bigger (82 mm) than the 77 mm that we see now in the final version and the rubberized grip on the focusing ring was also peculiar. To put all this into perspective, one needs a few lines about the current crop of high-resolution cameras. Full frame high-resolution sensors with pixel pitch of less than 5 microns (like Nikon D800 and Sony’s A7R (the world’s first full frame mirror-less camera) are pretty demanding on the lenses in front of them. In simple words, a lot of glass from the current line-up of lenses (both zooms and primes) of all manufacturers (including Zeiss) is not able to project images on a resolution or contrast that the sensor is capable of recording. So the camera ends up producing images where all the flaws of the lens (especially when used wide-open) are made more than visible by the extra pixels. Chromatic aberration and its elimination has been one of the priority areas with Zeiss and it has started reaching its zenith in SLR lenses with the introduction of Apo-Sonnar 2/135mm and now with Otus Apo-Distagon 1,4/55mm. ‘Apo’ refers to the ‘Apochromatic’ performance of the lens where the Chromatic Aberration is corrected by use of elements of special glass with anomalous partial dispersion. Left uncorrected, CA leads to color fringes in high-contrast areas and ultimately loss of perceived sharpness of an image. The mandate given to the optical engineers for the new lens included elimination of field curvature to the best possible extent as well as Spherical aberration. All this necessitated use of a complex retro-focus Distagon type lens-design instead of a Planar design normally used for standard focal lengths (as in Planar 1,4/50mm and Makro- Planar 2/50mm). Otus is a complex configuration 12 lenses in 10 groups with floating elements design. The rear element is a double-sided asphere that summarily reduces Spherical Aberration (and any focus shifts which is a real application issue with Planar 1,4/85mm or for that matter any fast lens of F1,4 or wider). The name OTUS is derived from a genus of owls and Zeiss had started the bird-naming convention with their Touit series of lenses for mirror-less cameras. Otus is a all metal design with a focussing ring sporting rubberized grip. The focus ring has bearings (as with cine-lenses) for ultra- smooth focussing which has to be handled to be believed . I have to add that I have not experienced such ‘grippy’ focussing with any other manual focus photo-lens till date. A large 248 degrees angle of rotation makes pin- point focussing a pleasure.
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Puppets by renowned puppeteer Dadi Pudumjee. Image made at F4,5.
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Impressions
I have put Otus to work to a variety of situations over the last two months or so - weddings, performance, portraiture and street. A jaw-dropping performance wide-open or near-wide open was given irrespective of whether I was shooting against annoying ceiling spotlights or in a discotheque with horrendous color casts.
Study at F1,4 . Next image is a crop of this that shows Otus’s high level of contrast and detailing wide-open. 19
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Otus seems to imbue portraits with a three-dimensional quality and sense of atmosphere that is difficult to describe. It’s a complex mix of sharpness and contrast that’s amplified by virtual absence of aberrations. 20
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Portrait at F1,4. The focus is on boy’s right eye (farther from the lens). Next image is a crop.
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A word of caution. Lenses like Otus could easily expose the shortcomings of the photographer especially those of focussing. And I have been on the facing side on a few occasions in the last few weeks. 22
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For video-shooters also Otus might be nothing less than a dream lens and it would get better once more lenses are released in the line-up. Zeiss has plans to next launch a 85mm focal length in the Otus line-up. What ‘Otus’ in all probability might end up heralding is a new era in photography. An era where professional photographers are able to again stand apart from the next guy with the same camera body on the basis of their ‘art’ and ‘craft’ of handling a demanding a lens like this and distilling their vision through images which are aesthetically appealing and technically brilliant.
Mannat’s portrait at F1,6. 23
(All images have been made through Otus 1,4/55mm on Nikon D800. All crops are 1200 x 1800 pixels and RAW files were processed through DxO Optics Pro8 with colour rendering on ‘Camera Body’ of ‘Nikon 800’ with only fine-tuning of White Balance / Hue and Exposure.)
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Bundi, Rajasthan
Where Guest is God PHILIPPA KAYE It is sometimes hard, especially as a western traveller in Indian towns, to see the good in people. Such is the way the travel industry has gone, that we are often left feeling that we are viewed merely as an opportunity, and it seems that locals are only interested in talking to us in order to drag us into the brother/cousin/uncles shop where they will endeavour to sell you something at vastly inflated prices. Tuk tuk and taxi drivers will invariably double or quadruple their prices due to the colour of our skin. No matter where you are - Delhi, Agra, Jaipur or Jodhpur - this is an inevitable part of travel. So, I was utterly charmed when venturing to a new-to-me town where one could wander at leisure without being bothered. I watched milkmen delivering urns to the paneer wallas (those who make cottage cheese), where it was poured into huge vats on the street and processed into delicious fresh produce. Dogs lazed around, waiting for spillage, and locals gathered on the streets, in traditional clothes, smoking beedis (unfiltered low cost Indian cigarettes) and catching up on the latest gossip. Ladies smiled shyly with a charming ‘namaste’ as they skipped past me prodding their children to school. The usual questions of ‘What is your good name?’ and ‘What is your country?’ were genuine questions and not pre-requisites to a sales pitch. Sauntering past shops, I was left to browse. 32
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GETTING TO BUNDI I paused at the shop of a miniature painter, apparently one of the most famous in the country, to admire his work, and within minutes I had an entire elephant painted on my thumbnail. He was mortified when I tried to pay. On hearing my attempts to communicate in Hindi, the chaiwalla (tea seller) across the street brought me a delicious brew; buffalo milk chai, scented with cardamom and ginger, again with no charge, and the three of us sat in companionable silence watching the world go by. You see, this was Bundi, and it is like a Rajasthan that time forgot, the Rajasthan I knew from 20 years ago. It is a stunning destination. The Taragarh Fort rises majestically over the town; the step wells are some of the most impressive in the country, the cenotaphs are rarely visited and the markets are still very traditional. It was one of the first destinations where Mr. Oberoi bought land and planned a hotel but, for some reason, it was never developed. Bundi is one of Rajasthan’s most impressive towns, yet it has remained undiscovered, undisturbed and unspoilt by mass tourism. This is truly a destination where one feels the Old Indian adage is true, ‘Guest is God.’ Visit now before it goes the way of other busier and more popular destinations. 33
By Air: Jaipur (21 0 kms) and Udaip ur (310 kms) By Train Golden Temple Ma il / Jan Shatabdi Direct Trains: Dehra dun Express / Mew ar Express By Road Jaipur: 210 kms Pushkar: 190 kms Kota: 39 kms. (con nected by rail too) Delhi: 465 kms (con nected by rail and air too) PhotoTalkies by Kunzum and ZEISS
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Finding, and Losing Myself, in the Himalayas APRAJITA VIRMANI
“Keep close to nature’s heart… Climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirits clean” -John Muir There are travels where you embark on a journey of exploration and discover true happiness and then there are journeys that help you discover your true love and know what is it that you would want to live for. This is one of those. I was off on my first ever camping trip in the Himalayas, a 4-day trek up to the Indrahaar Pass starting from Dharamkot near McLeodganj in Himachal Pradesh. It included traversing everything from meandering trails dotted with rhododendrons and hollyhocks till Triund, with rocky terrains and snow-laden expanses waiting further beyond. We crossed Triund on the first day and Ilaka Ghot on the second; the third day would take us past the Pass with the Lahesh caves falling enroute. The terrain transitioned from the snowline dotted with Deodars, to rising boulders, to an overarching expanse of snow stretching far and beyond. Whilst we stood soaking in this awe-inspiring sight, the snow started falling, slowly at first and then in heaps within a matter of 10 minutes. We pushed ahead, hoping to make it to Lahesh at least. I was thus initiated into trekking with sheets of never-ending snowfields below me. The going was tough on this day, testing my body and spirit like never before - but I kept moving, allowing the mind to win over any challenges.
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We reached an altitude on 3,500 metres but were forced to turn back just before the caves. As I stood transfixed munching a chocolate with the landscape before me, something changed within me. My soul embraced the outdoors and the mountains in a way I had not imagined; I was humbled in my submission to Nature and her vagaries. It is an experience we all need to go through. I returned home, but a part of me stayed behind. The mighty mountains now call me back again and again, and it is only when I go visiting that I become my whole self again.
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A Memorable Travel Moment That Will Stay With Me Forever SHAILZA SOOD DASGUPTA
High rocky mountains kissing the sky, muddy water streams cutting furiously through hills and small villages popping-up their stunning face every now and then - I succumbed to the magic of the Himalayas on a road from Delhi to Spiti, a high altitude region in Himachal Pradesh in India. The sights of the rough terrains of the mighty Himalayas during day and innumerable stars shining bright in pitch dark nights have been some of the most memorable experiences of my life, leaving me wondering about my tiny existence in the vast Universe. Spiti will stay with me forever: those drives over dangerous roads and visits to quaint old monasteries; looking at prayer flags fluttering in the wind and monks celebrating life in their ochre robes; the sights of scenic mountain villages perched on mountain crests. And there were the incredible stories by locals about a 500 years old mystical mummy discovered about 25 years back by an excavation team, the peak changing colors every hour of the day, and the painted caves where monks stayed some hundred years ago. Believe it or not. But clearly the longest lasting impressions were created at Dhankar.
Dhankar Monastery‌
The last on our list of monasteries in Spiti, Dhankar boasts a spectacular setting: it is set on a 300 metres high cliff overlooking the confluence of the Spiti and Pin Rivers. The monks had a surprising bit of information for us: there is a lake at an altitude of 4,136 metres (13,570 feet) on the other side of the mountain, a fact known to few. A well defined trails of 5 kms (3 miles) would take us there; it was recommended we start early the following morning for it. But we did not have the luxury of staying on for another day, and took it upon ourselves to head out right then and attempt to complete the two hour trek in half the time.
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Trekking to Dhankar Lake‌
The climb was steep, and not easy. Looking down, the Dhankar village, the monastery and the confluence of rivers looked amazing. The sun was close to setting when we reached the lake, and we were a bit disappointed with what we saw. The sky was dark and cloudy, the water in the lake was less than we expected and the landscape seemed dull. We decided to head right back to avoid wandering in the mountains in the dark.
The Magic Moment‌
The divine forces up there would not let our efforts end in an anti-climax. As if by the wave of her wand by a fairy, a magical moment happened. Just as we were about to start back leaving the grey landscape behind, a dash of evening light broke through the clouds turning the water deep blue, painting the surroundings with a golden hue. In a case of perfect timing, a shepherd appeared from nowhere with his flock of sheep, playing a flute to add to the atmosphere. It seemed we were transported into some mystical land. We wanted to spend more time, but the beautiful setting did not last long. But it was enough to leave an impression that would stay imprinted in my heart and mind forever.
Shailza Sood Dasgupta quit a 8-year long corporate career with Google and McKinsey to follow her heart and explore India. She also runs her travel venture Chaloletsgo! (http://chaloletsgo.com).
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Punjab – A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten Rajmohan Gandhi
Aleph Book Company
400pp Rs. 695 NIMISH DUBEY Few states in India have witnessed as much dramatic change, wealth and carnage over the past three centuries as the north Indian state of Punjab. And Rajmohan Gandhi, the man who gave us masterpieces like The Good Boatman and A Tale of Two Revolts, this time turns his attention to modern Punjab, or to be more accurate Punjab from towards the decline of the Mughal empire to the fall of the British one. No, we would be lying if we said that it was as brilliant a work as his books on his grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi. But that is also because we do have exceptionally high expectations of the author. Punjab: A History… is definitely one of the best books about the region in recent time, and while it lacks the effortless flow of The Good Boatman, it more than compensates with the wealth of detail about the state. The politics in the court of Ranjit Singh, the battles with the Afghans, the horrific events of Jallianwala Bagh or the bloody partition of the state – they are all there in this book. Do not expect a narrative style on the lines of William Dalrymple or Ramchandra Guha. No, Gandhi prefers being more of a historian than a storyteller here. And does an outstanding job. Laudable in particular are his efforts to highlight the acts of courage and kindness that have been generally overshadowed in the carnage of the partition that followed India’s independence. Pretty much a must read for anyone interested in the history of the Punjab.
Traveller’s Quotient We would rate this an excellent book for travellers who want to know more about the Punjab, beyond what tourist guide books have to offer. If you plan to visit the state, read this book, and every place will have a new and deeper meaning.
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Dark Places Gillian Flynn 448 pages
E-Book edition: Rs 246 Paperback: Rs 395 NIMISH DUBEY Gillian Flynn wrote ‘Dark Places’ before she attained worldwide fame with the brilliant ‘Gone Girl,’ but the book has been given a fresh coat of paint and is now being sold afresh, as it were. And well, if you loved ‘Gone Girl’ (we did!), there’s every chance you will love ‘Dark Places’ as well. Just as in ‘Gone Girl,’ Flynn narrates the story through the perspectives of different characters – Libby, her brother and her mother among them. And just like in that book, here too there are different timelines – Libby’s narration comes from the present, while that revolving around her brother and mother comes from the time leading up to the murder. So you actually have one narration dealing with the investigation of the murder and another leading up to it, and in the case of the latter, you know that one of the characters is going to die, allegedly at the hands of another.
Libby Day, a seven year old girl is the sole survivor of a massacre in which her mother and two sisters are killed. Her brother is accused of the crime and her own testimony lands him in jail. Twenty five years later, faced by penury, Linny agrees to meet a group called the Kill Club, which likes to investigate – on an amateur level – crimes in which they feel justice was not meted out. They believe her brother was not guilty, notwithstanding Libby’s own statement in the court to the contrary. Libby resists the idea initially, but – in return for some financial aid – begins to retrace what really happened that night, meeting people connected to the events of that night. And as she does so, she begins to have doubts about what really happened. Did she really see her brother killing her mother and two sisters in what was called a Satanic frenzy? Or was she persuaded into thinking she did? 40
It is a thrilling, chilling tale and Flynn tells it brilliantly. There are not quite as many gut-wrenching twists as in ‘Gone Girl’ and the canvas here is a little wider with more characters, but there is more than enough happening to keep you glued to ‘Dark Places.’ And yes, you will be surprised by what happens at the end. All of which makes us recommend ‘Dark Places’ as a must-read for all those who like a bit – or a lot – of thrill in their books. And ah, if you are the type with a slightly weak heart, don’t read it in dark places. Pun intended.
Traveller’s Quotient Very high. Yes, even if you do not like cars. The book is a collection of relatively small, independent pieces, so you can open it at any place, read a bit and laugh a lot. There are not too many books about which we can say that!
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Nokia Refocus
LYTRO PHOTOGRAPHY ON YOUR HANDSET NIMISH DUBEY
Of late, there has been a fair deal of interest in Lytro photography, amongst both professional and amateur photographers. For those who know it not, a Lytro camera is one that takes pictures in such a manner that you can move the focus across different parts of the image. So if you take a picture of say a bouquet of roses, you actually have the option of moving the focus from one rose to another, or even the ribbon that holds the roses together. This happens because the camera captures the entire light field around a picture instead of just a part of it. Of course you need a special camera to take such photographs (one of which is called Lytro, which is why this kind of photography is called Lytro photography). Or, of course, you could do it on your phone. Mind you, not just any phone - you would need a Lumia PureView phone (the type powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon processors). And you would need an app called Nokia Refocus. What Refocus does is take a number of pictures and stitches them together into a single large shot. And not just any large shot - you will be able to tap on any part of the photograph to shift focus to that part. In essence that means you can focus on any part of the final photograph, or if the inclination so strikes you - you can have everything in the photograph in focus, from something that is inches away from the camera to something that was a few feet away - try doing that on a DSLR if you can! As a neat touch, you can also add colours to specific spots - the remainder will be drained of all colour. All this in an app that is totally free. Yes, it is not as uncomplicated as we would have liked - taking a picture involves holding the camera dead steady for a few seconds while the app does its magic and sharing the image is highly unintuitive (the app saves the full picture on Skydrive, of all places, and sharing involves slapping a link on to Facebook). But on the whole, if you are the type that is interested in Lyto Photography, and have a PureView device handy (right now that means the Lumia 1020, Lumia 1520, Lumia 925 or Lumia 920), then this is an app that you ignore at your peril. Heck, it is an app you ignore at your peril if you like ANY sort of photography.
Download from: Windows Store (http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/ nokia-refocus/0b5cc26d-a723-4c69-8be3-66bbd9b2bed1)
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THE APP THAT SAYS
‘’Here I am”
NIMISH DUBEY
One of the joys of having GPS and navigation software on your device is the fact that you know exactly where you are. But what if you want to tell people where you are? Imagine going to a relatively unknown locality to meet a business acquaintance and well, getting a bit lost - the maps will not be of much help then as they will show you your location but you would not be able to derive much from it (you do know the locality, remember?). So what do you do? Well, you send your location to the person you meet to show them where you are. Or if that person seems to be not responding, send it to someone you know. If the receiver has a device that can access the Internet, they will get a link which will pinpoint your location on a map. You can even choose to keep sending details of your movements for a specific period of time. So if you are heading to the airport late at night, send a Glympse to someone you know (and preferably someone who cares) and hey will be able to see you on a map, moving towards your destination. No, the receiver does not need to install any software whatsoever - all they need is a device that can access the Internet and has a browser (every computer, smartphone and tablet has those). You can send your location via various methods - SMS, mail, Facebook and even Twitter. Making all this happen is an app called Glympse, which uses the location services on your device to pinpoint your location and then lets you share it with those whom you want to keep track of you. And if that is impressive, wait until we tell you the best parts - it is totally free and works on just about every smartphone platform out there (iOS, Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry). All you need is a phone with GPS and Internet connectivity to make it work. Yes, it can drain battery a bit but that is a small trade-off when you consider what you get with the app: the ability to tell those who care exactly where you are. A must-have not just for travellers, but for just about anyone with a smartphone, we think.
Available from: www.glympse.com Works with: iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone Price: Free 36
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About Ajay Jain
Ajay Jain is a full time writer and photographer, and has authored eight paperback books and over 30 e-books. He promotes his photography as collectible art, runs the popular Kunzum Travel Cafe in New Delhi and publishes e-magazines on travel and photography. He is also a regular speaker on Mindful Travel, Personal Branding, Photography and Business Networking. All his creative ideas came to the fore only after he started travelling - mindfully. He has pursued careers in Information Technology and Sports Management before he took up journalism and writing. He holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Business Management and Journalism.
More on Ajay Jain at http://ajayj ain.com. Connect with him at ajay@ajayja in.com +91.9910044476. Or call his offic e at +91.9650702777.
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