Introduction

Ayaz is an award winning photographer with a deep commitment to bringing his unique vision to life whenever he lifts a camera to his inspired eye. Ayaz has been perfecting his artistic vision since the tender age of 10 years and…

And that’s a joke.

I can’t write this as if I'm some stuck up fine-art photographer.

I'm just a guy with a camera who lives in Bombay / Mumbai / Panchgani / Nashik / Raigad and sometimes, happens to be at the right place at the right time.

Most of the photos on this website have been shot on weekends in various parts of Maharashtra.

I shoot nature and the world around me, with a DSLR  before sunrise unless it’s raining... in which case I'm usually found sleeping at home... now that is a bit surprising because I've managed to shoot some of my favourite photographs when its pouring :)

I've also got some stock of black & white film that I use on mechanical film cameras from another era...though not as often as I'd like to.

Unlike what people think, photographers don’t just stroll over to view a sunset, take an award winning pic in a few seconds and go home….It takes a lot of planning, waiting and waiting – for that perfect light, that perfect moment when you get the shot you want and you feel it’s been worth it.

I've spent hours waiting, and have sometimes gone back home empty handed - But I've enjoyed every minute of it.

I don't like "photowalks" and avoid shooting with large groups - for some reason, my photographs just don't turn out all that good if there are too many people around! Maybe it's because you need to be in the right frame of mind and have the right focus (pun not intended) to get the image you want.

I  also shoot portraits, interiors and food but I don't share them online or on social media - it's mainly for clients who somehow managed to get in touch with me.

Most of my personal photography is spread across genres like landscapes, seascapes, travel, nature and street and that's some of the stuff that you can see on this website. I used to do some strobist work too a few years ago but haven't done that off late. Might just start again someday.

I'm not on twitter. Nor do I have a photography page on Facebook. No I'm not on  Instagram either. 

I don't do  contests / competitions or exhibitions.

Associations & Memberships

In the past, I've been a chief moderator at the Photography Club of India, a member of the Photographic Society and a part of various other groups like DCP Expeditions ever since I started taking photographs. Have found all of them to be a great bunch of people who've taught me a lot and its been a wonderful learning experience.

Somewhere down the road I managed to host a few photography award ceremonies, conducted some workshops on photography and wrote some photography related columns.

Equipment

I usually get asked this a lot - so here's a list of  cameras, lenses and stuff I've used to make the  photographs on this website

Digital Cameras:

Update 2020 - Moved back to Canon. Got bored. No other reason.

Nikon D700 (full frame): Some of my best photographs have been shot using the D700.

Nikon Df (full frame): I'm still turning all those knobs & dials to get the settings right while others have taken the shot and moved on...but I love this camera. I don't think I'll ever get another camera unless Nikon makes a better version of the Df.

Canon 1000D (crop sensor): This was the first digital SLR that I got my hands on

Nikon D90 (crop sensor): Used this one a lot when I hadn't upgraded to the D700.

Film Cameras:

Nikon F2, Nikon FM black, Nikon FM Silver, Nikon FG, Pentax Spotmatic, Zenit TTL, Zenit 12, Agfa Optima III, Yashica MG1, Rollei xf 35

Lenses:

Zenitar 16mm 2.8, Nikkor 18mm 3.5, Nikkor 28mm 2.8, Nikkor 200mm f4, Nikon 300mm, Nikkor 50mm 1.4, Nikkor 55mm 2.8 macro, Nikon 50mm 1.8, Sigma 10-20, Canon 10-18, Nikkor 70-210 f4 macro, Lensbaby, Helios 44 f2, Vivitar 200mm 3.5, Nikon 35-70, Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro, Super Takumar 35mm 3.5, Holga, Tamron 500mm, Tamron 150-600 etc

Filters & Misc equipment:

Most of my photos have been shot using GNDs, NDs, Polarizers, Achromats /Diopters, Extension tubes, Gorrilapods, Tripods, Monopods, etc