For most of us, insects are creepy crawlies we want to swat away. But for S Venkataraaman, a sound-engineer-turned-photographer, they fuel his drive to take perfect shots with every click...or so he says in a chat with City Express
CHENNAI: S Venkataraaman is over the moon when we meet him because of his recent discovery of the word ‘entomophile’ — something he says he can finally use to accurately describe himself! “In fact…” he ponders, “…I’ll definitely have it printed on my next set of visiting cards!”
Venkataraaman, also known as ‘Poochi’ Venkat, is well-known in the city for his macro-photographs from the world of insects.
He will be in conversation at The Bliss Catchers, a monthly series curated by AVIS Viswanathan, but before that City Express caught up with him for a peek into the bug’s life.
From a sound engineer to a photographer who then specialised in insect photography, Venkat really has seen it all. “The type of work I do, there’s no particular name for it — usually entomologist is what you call someone with a scientific interest in insects!” he laughs. In fact, it was through a group of entomologists that he stumbled onto his calling.
“I was asked to reproduce shots of insects for a group of entomologists when I realised that despite being extremely captivating, these insects were being shot in a very un-creative manner — either their heads or legs only!” he laughs. “And surprisingly, the more un-creative the shot, the more they liked it! Instead, I decided to take shots of the same insects in my garden every day, but different from how they wanted it.” They were so impressed with the outcome that they offered him a field assignment at Chengalpet (1989-90) — that’s how it began.
He admits to not even knowing what to photograph the first time. “I didn’t even know how to recognise a dragonfly! It was only with the help of a local farmer that I learnt how to spot them, and shoot them in their natural habitat,” he says.
It was difficult, since those were the days when roll films were used. “I couldn’t waste a lot of rolls. In the process, I learnt how to take that one perfect shot before the insect
flies away!”
His expertise grew so good that it was put to use by the forest department. He trained the forest guides in spotting and identifying insects for field study. “That is also how they gave me the name ‘Poochi sir’ — something I am proud of even today!” he chuckles.
Venkat argues that he has always been at bliss following the adventures of his insect friends. “There’s much we can learn from them — they don’t do anything unnecessary; they have a proper lifestyle; they are focused on what they want,” he lists.
“People go through so much effort to frame and take shots of people to elicit a reaction — if I can elicit the same sense of wonder for the photographs of these insects, I’ll be the happiest!” To dispel the notion that they are ‘stinky and stingy’ as he says!
“Most people ask me how they stay still for me — I actually make sure to observe them first, ensure that I can be non-invasive before I come back and take shots,” he explains. Venkat is also bringing out a book of his photographs titled Insects: Guardians of Nature, which will be a bilingual in English and Tamil and out by June.
‘Poochi’ Venkat will be in conversation with AVIS Viswanathan at Bliss Catchers today, 7pm, at Odyssey Bookstore, Adyar