[cellphone ringing] TRUPAL: Hey!
MARIA [over the phone]: Hi Trupal, it's Maria from B&H!
I heard you were speaking at OPTIC-- TRUPAL: Hi Maria!
--this year, so I wanted to introduce you to the audience.
Do you have time for 21 questions?
TRUPAL: Yes, aboslutely. Let's do this! MARIA: Awesome!
[music]
MARIA: So, why don't we get right into it? TRUPAL: Go on! I'm ready!
MARIA: So, what do you do for a living?
I am a photographer. I...
Travel and shoot in indigenous communities around the world.
It has been a passion project that started as my thesis.
And now I have been shooting every... once or twice a year, I've been working on this project.
But otherwise, I am a full-time photographer too.
I have been working with brands around America and helping them create content.
MARIA: Cool! TRUPAL: So that's what I do!
MARIA: And, so, from the look of your portfolio, you mostly shoot portraits.
TRUPAL: That's correct. MARIA: But not your standard-style headshot, right?
Can you tell me a little bit more about what you do?
Right, so my work kind of falls between documentary, fine art and portraiture.
Um, I...
My primary objective is to travel, explore new cultures, meet new people and connect.
And once that happens, if the camera is part of my body...
you reach a point where we can make a portrait, then I make a portrait.
I try to photograph what, basically, is my observation for a minute, an hour or a day.
Into that photograph and translate that to my audience.
MARIA: You mentioned a lot of what you do is about traveling, so has this quarantine affected your workflow?
Yes and no. I was planning a trip to Papua New Guinea, so...
That got pushed back, so I was a little bummed about it.
But, on the other side, my creative agency, I have never been more busier.
Like it's--I've never been busier.
It's just, so...
Everyone wants to create content, wants to get online, so yes and no.
But, Papua New Guinea is going to happen soon.
MARIA: And, so, what even got you started in photography?
What got me into photography? Such an interesting question.
So, I grew up in India.
Um, extremely ambitious person.
Wanted to--I definitely had the fire in me that I wanted to do something.
I didn't know what to do, but I wanted to do something.
There was a lot in me which just had to come out. And, uh...
Being impatient really didn't help.
So, I grew up as a--I used to paint.
My mom used to encourage me a lot of painting.
I used to do that, but somehow I was not able to express enough.
Or probably needed a lot of skills to do it.
So, no, it didn't happen. I tried my hands in music.
Nope, it didn't happen.
And then I stumbled upon photography. And then I realized--at that time,
I thought that "Wow, this kind of gives me a very quick expression of what I'm thinking or what I want,
or what I want to communicate to the world."
It stuck to me, and I came to America to meet a friend.
And I was waiting under FIT, she went to FIT. And, uh...
I saw admissions, and I went up, and I said "Hey, do you guys teach photography"--
I had absolutely now idea how--anything.
I was here literally for a couple weeks.
And then they said "yes, we do"
And I applied and I was in FIT.
So that's how I got in to FIT!
MARIA: And do you remember the camera you were using to practice your skill?
Absolutely. It was a Nikon D3100... Yeah, that was the camera I started with.
MARIA: And once you started, kind of, getting into your photography skills and mastering what you do,
what got you so passionate and interested in indigenous communities?
So, coming to New York, kind of, meeting all these people from different parts of the world,
making friends with them, kind of fueled that.
I was introduced to works of Steve McCurry, Salgado, James Nachtwey.
I ended up interning with Steve McCurry for a year--6 months to a year.
And that, kind of just like, inspired me so much that
after, in my first year, in the summer break
I and my friend Alex kind of just decided "let's go to Ethiopia."
I decided that I'm gonna go every break, either winter or summer, I'm gonna go explore a new culture.
And come back with stories.
And, in the end, it just basically fed my soul
MARIA: And, is there a certain photo,
or maybe project or an experience that kind of helped you become more noticed?
Um... I think I recollect a couple of them.
The first one was a project about Aghoris in India, before I came to FIT.
Aghoris is basically a group of religious men in India,
who have given up their worldly desires and live a very different kind of lifestyle.
Um, so, and then, at that time--we're talking 10 years ago--approaching that subject was fairly taboo.
There was a lot of, like, you know superstition around the subject. There was a lot of, um...
"They can curse you. They can bless you. They're very dangerous. They eat human meat."
Like, there were a lot of misconceptions about it.
So... Uh, it was fairly a difficult subject, but I was somehow able to go and photograph...
them at a festival.
So that kind of was my initial, you know like people started knowing me as a photographer.
"Oh there's this guy who's doing this kind of photography, travel photography."
And again, there was no concept of like
"Hey, this is documentary photography. Hey, this is travel photography."
It was just a thing that teenage me, going out there and, you know, looking for adventure. Like, "I wanna do it!"
MARIA: Cool! And then I feel like lighting is kind of a puzzle piece in your photography style that really
makes you stick out. How did you master those lighting skills?
Um...
Lighting skills. I think I mastered my lighting skills with people like Cliff Hausner.
I met Clifford in...
In FIT when he was giving a presentation. And I...
And we became friends. And ever since we've been buddies.
And I assisted him a lot, I've been assisting people on sets. You learn a lot.
When you're pushed into corners, and when you're pushed into creating lighting
and in challenging situations, I think that's when you learn the most.
MARIA: That's great! And, so what is your go-to camera and lens?
Uh, my go-to camera and lens is, uh...
Well, iPhone, to start with it's in my pocket.
So, if I see something, my phone comes out first.
Uh, but, still recently I was shooting with a Nikon D800E.
But, I wanted to move to medium format, so...
I met FUJI.
I met someone from FUJI in PHOTOPLUS Expo last year.
And I was having a conversation with them.
And they were super awesome and super kind enough to send me their medium-format camera.
The GFX 50S.
And I have fallen--literally--fallen in love with it.
And it is a phenomenal camera.
And I've really only have had it for a couple of weeks.
But, it definitely is my go-to camera.
I walk around the streets with a medium format just like...
[Maria laughs]
It sounds ridiculous, but I cannot get over it. It's so beautiful.
MARIA: And, so you're speaking at this year's B&H's Virtual OPTIC.
Is teaching a big part of your career as well?
Well teaching, um, yes. I have always been interested in sharing the knowledge that I've gained.
And I've also learned...
[stammers] For some reason, I can kind of explain those things very easily. I can break them down.
I know lighting can be very... It can get--if you've never learned it, or if you don't what you're getting into--
it can be a little overwhelming.
So, a few years ago I came up with an idea for, like, teaching a workshop in Ethiopia,
or taking people with me to Ethiopia.
And then, similarly, taking people with me to India.
Uh, so I have been teaching a lot of workshops around the world, and even locally.
Um, then I was in India at a workshop as a student.
And ever since, every year after that for 5 years, I go back to teach lighting with Profoto.
And we go out with the students and help them get the image they want.
So yes, teaching has been a big part.
MARIA: Great! TRUPAL: And I really enjoy it.
I love to share the knowledge.
MARIA: And so, have you been teaching or watching any virtual workshops during this quarantine?
No, I haven't been teaching, but of course I have a group of people I constantly communicate with.
They kind of reach out for help and vice versa.
MARIA: And so, a lot of what you do is portraits, but do you dabble in other styles of photography as well?
Yep!
[stammers] I do tend to... I've been doing a lot of street lately.
Um, and I definitely feel like I'm diversifying my portfolio a lot more.
So, this 2020 has been the year of subconsciously I am putting more efforts into different genres.
MARIA: So, what are some tips for somebody looking to create portraits like yours?
Tips for creating portraits like I do. I think...
Um, the first and the foremost is try to be open. Don't judge.
Um...
Try and know someone before you, kind of, point the camera at their face.
Uh, it's important to slow down. It's important to...
connect. It's important to know the person you're photographing better, before you photography them.
If there's a dissonance from your side or their side.
You know, if you guys cannot meet each other,
at the same level, I don't think you'll be able to create a beautiful picture.
So, definitely, like slow down and try to connect before you, kind of, take a picture.
Use lights, don't use lights. I doesn't matter.
In my case, I use lights.
I use, normally use a... Profoto B10, B10 Plus or a B1.
And I use a 3' Octa
Or a 2' beauty dish, or a 3' Octa.
So, uh, basically... [stammers]
It's a pretty simple setup for me.
I have a light in the front.
Or a little above someone's head.
And then I have a light behind the person,
behind a white kind of screen.
So, the light behind the screen blows out the background.
It also works as a side light and backlight.
And the light in front will help me light the person's front.
So I think--I don't think I've ever shot with 3 lights. Two lights is my thing.
So I'm very comfortable with it. And also because I'm traveling so much...
I need my kit to be very small.
It has not been easy. I've finally reached this point in my life when...
I have been able to finalize my gear.
And I know exactly what I need.
So yeah, this is my go-to light. I think they're pretty cool.
Profoto does a good job!
MARIA: Great. And so, your friend Cliff from Profoto mentioned you're a vegetarian.
What's your favorite dish to eat?
I was wondering did you how find out the question [Maria laughs]
that I'm a vegetarian. I was really wondering, like "how did she figure out that I'm a vegetarian?"
Uh... So!
Uh, my favorite dish to eat is uh...
It's an Indian dish, of course!
And it's called Pav bhaji. It's basically a lot of vegetables boiled and spiced and...
Smashed together and you eat it with bread.
MARIA: And so you mentioned you weren't born in the US, you're from India.
And from traveling and installing yourself in different cultures,
has being from another culture helped you in your photography and your approach?
Oh! Absolutely! I think as we spoke about this earlier,
But uh, coming to...
Growing up in India definitely had a certain perspective about the world and how it functions and out it works.
But then coming to America, especially to New York City, when you are
in the middle of all this, like in a hot pot of cultures,
absolutely, like there is no question about it, that it helped me see things differently.
And especially, like in, coming to New York, that kind of like, go-getter attitude.
Your work ethic, your "solve the problem"
You know, like the "get the job done" kind of like that attitude.
MARIA: And so, you've traveled a lot. Do you have a favorite place to travel to?
Um...
Favorite place to travel to...
Uh, the first place that comes to my mind is Ethiopia.
I get this questions a lot. This "what's your favorite place to go?"
And it's definitely Ethiopia because...
I think the people, the food...
the love, the openness,
you know, the level of content,
the level of satisfaction in the communities.
Um...
You just realize that money is not everything and you...
You know, it's just different kind of vibe.
MARIA: And, is there a place that you haven't been to that you really want to go to?
Yeah! As I said, I was planning a trip to Papua New Guinea.
With a couple of people.
So I think that's on my list, but if you'd like my other list, I have a long list.
I want to go to Mali, I want to go to Namibia, I want to go to India,
do a few things. I think it's--I wanna photograph some cultures in America.
Sweden.
MARIA: And I'm sure this is a hard one to answer, but do you have a favorite photoshoot that you've done?
A favorite photoshoot I've done?
MARIA: Yeah.
Absolutely, the list goes on.
Um, but because all of these photos have so many stories around them,
which makes them close to my heart, but one which kind of jumps off.
Is um..
This-- I was photographing this person named Bali in Ethiopia.
He was a Hamer... Hamer tribe. He was a local tribal king.
Uh, and my guide and my friend said
"Hey, I have a friend. Let's go meet him.
"It's kind of a drive, like 4-5 hours, but I think it's gonna be cool.
"He lives on a hill. Just lives by himself with a family. I think you'll enjoy him."
So went there, we drove for 4-5 hours to get there.
Uh, and uh.... Bali met me when he was not sure who I was. I was a stranger in his house.
And uh... he said "no!"
Um, I mean, the conversation of "can I take a picture" did not come up.
I really wanted to, but it did just not reach a point where I could ask him to take a picture.
We ended up spending two days there, in that we camped there.
And then finally, Bali kind of agreed to take a picture.
And he's like "I'll let you take one picture, when I wake up in the morning.
"I'll step out of my hut. You take a picture. And that's it.
"And I want to make sure that nobody sees you taking a picture of me because I don't wanna lose my respect in the community."
And I totally respected that and I understood that.
And I was absolutely okay with not taking a picture, but he was fine.
[stammers]
And then I have one frame of that picture!
MARIA: And so, have you every thought what would you be if you weren't a photographer?
If I were not a photographer, I'd be an interior designer or architect.
MARIA: Aside from your camera, what's your favorite piece of gear?
Aside from my camera, my favorite piece of gear, I'll walk into my office.
Uh, because I have been lately trying a lot of FPV, like flying a drone.
A lot of FPVs...
So I think my favorite is Mobula 7.
So, I'm learning to be a pilot!
MARIA: And, what's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Best piece of advice I've ever received in my life.
In India they say, there's a saying, if I translate it, which basically means that.
Work, but do not work for a reward.
Or do not expect a reward, but put in the work.
MARIA: And if there were to be a movie about your life, who would play you?
Oh man, difficult question!
Uh, Bollywood has had a huge impact on me.
Uh I love the actor, his name is Piyush Mishra.
He's a poet, lyricist, actor, writer.
Uh, I absolutely connect to his philosophies.
And the way he thinks and his poems, and his... ideas, so...
Absolutely him. Yeah. No question.
MARIA: Great. And last question: who should we interview next?
Oh, Cliff! Please he, you have to kind of...
Get all that knowledge out of him, throw it out in the world.
Yeah, put it out there.
I think you should definitely.
MARIA: Cool, so we'll call him up. And thank you so much again for answering all my questions!
You can get back to your work, I won't bother you anymore!
[both laugh]
MARIA: Thank you so much!