As one of the most recognised faces at a wedding in Goa
today, wedding photographer Edric George however admits to initially taking up
photography at Goa College of Art for a lark. “I specialised in photography in
the last two years of my five-year course. I remember I chose photography from
the other two options – audio/video and illustration, as it seemed the easier
option. I thought all it needed was the click of the shutter. I was under the
impression that I would be in advertising and not photography. Yet here I am
today, reaping the benefits of having learnt photography,” reveals this reputed
photographer who got hooked to the camera once he began to understand its finer
nuances. “Once I got into it, I realised there is so much to learn. Taking a
photograph is not easy; there’s a lot that goes into it.”
College provided the footstool for his unique and immensely
different style of photography, which he keeps reinventing every year. “In
college, we were taught the darkroom technology despite the fact that we are in
the digital age. Darkroom technology teaches one the basics of photography and
is hardly taught anywhere today. I have benefitted immensely from it,”
acknowledges Edric. Although a commercial photographer, he found wedding
photography a more viable option in Goa. His efforts paid off with the win at
Better Photography Magazine, Mumbai for best wedding photographer for 2011.
Much of Edric’s success today can be credited to his
willingness to work hard on the job and a professor that believed he could be
the best. “When I was in my final year in college, I contacted well-known
photographer Ronnie Sequeira in Mumbai and asked if I could work as his
assistant. He readily agreed and just two days after college, I took off to
Mumbai. The experience I gained during this time, especially in the latest
digital technology and lighting, stands me in good stead today in wedding
photography,” avers Edric. “Creativity and the willingness to work hard are the
main criteria, rather than just a mark sheet to get a job and stay in the
field,” he summarises.
His perception towards his job has been moulded by his
Professor, Anthony De Souza. “He taught us the darkroom techniques. He was
never like a teacher, but a friend who made the task look very easy and always
welcomed all our queries. There was no stress learning under him,” shares Edric
who today carries on the tradition, treating his staff as his colleagues.
With a calculated click today, Edric is indeed making the
best memories!
