The people who make up the photographic community are our eyes to the world. They help put the world around us in a broader context. Melroy Dsilva a Goan fine art photographer has been taking interesting photographs of the landscape of this wonderful state. And now his photograph “Rocky stretch” received an honorable mention in the “long exposure” category at the prestigious Minimalist Photography Awards 2021 (international). More than 3700 photographs from 39 countries were submitted this year with stiff competition showcasing the work of some great photographers from around the world.
The Minimalist Photography Awards is a non-profit association, powered by black & white Minimalism magazine and founded by Milad Safabakhsh, which aims to recognize, reward and expose talented photographers all around the world and introduce them to the professional photography industry.
For Melroy Dsilva it has been quite a journey from Abu Dhabhi where he grew up to his life as a photographer. In between he spends time in Mumbai earning his daily bread in the communication business. He was then not even a photographer. He was invited for a friend’s wedding in Sikkim. This was 2008 in December. He had purchased a camera in October of that year. He never felt the urge to switch it on and take a photograph. On reaching Sikkim, they had to travel to Darjeeling. He said “I had never seen mountains in my life. I saw Mount Kanchengunga and I was zapped. My knees started feeling weak. I started clicking photographs of what was around me. It was humbling. It was just awesome. I started then and I have never stopped.”
He returned to Mumbai but then went back to do some editing work, his friends there managed to get help from the state government. He stayed for a year and a half and did work and also took a lot of photographs. Melroy however had to return to Mumbai because he ran out of money. However on returning to Mumbai he decided to invest in his interest in photography. He picked up the gear and decided to return home, home meaning Goa.
Melroy said “I went over to Vagator in 2009, those days it was empty and there were just a couple of fishermen. It was brilliant then. The cloud designs, the seascape was just brilliant. Now of course it’s so crowded”. Over the years he has photographed the wetlands and the Khazan land. He said as the years passed, his approach to photography had changed. Melroy said “When I started off I was really quick at taking photographs. Now the entire process takes time. The process of setting up the equipment is like meditation now. I contemplate and think of the shot and then wait. I am very patient and wait for that moment. Just because I have a digital camera does not mean I should take photographs.”
He likes taking photographs of rocks; he loves the different shapes and sizes. When asked how he made money he said he did video editing. He also would set up pop up stalls and sell his prints. He said he clients were usually tourists and those who were settled here. It was going well till the pandemic struck, he said. The recognition he said was great and was good but he intended to continue working on finding his own personality in the years ahead.
One can only wish him all the very best and hope he creates a unique pathway for himself.
