The key is in not spending time, but in investing it.” —Stephen R. Covey.
In our daily lives, there are so many instances when we feel like leaving our jobs and pursue our quest for passion. And thanks to inspirational quotes and movies, it's always high on our nerves. What stops us from doing the same is the burden of finances and a whole set of responsibilities. But does working full time as a professional in an office means you are neglecting your passion?
Well. If your answer is Yes, we are here to share a few counter arguments.According to a recent survey, more than 70 percent working professionals feel that enough time outside their legitimate working works to follow their passion.
"Balance is the key to Everything. What we do, say, eat, feel, they call require awareness and through this awareness we grow"-Koi Fresco
So, here's a list of 10 full time working professionals who have stitched a perfect balance between work and passion. Let's talk about how they eventually mastered the subtle art of balancing work, life and passion all together.
1. Sandipan Mukherjee
Sandipan Mukherjee is an accomplished travel photographer who is known for his extensive works on Nubra Valley. His coffee table book " On Broken Trails " was released last year along with a week long solo exhibition at ICCR. Let's understand how he manages to click inspite of his busy professional life.
Ci: Where are you working currently and what is your current designation? How many years are you working in the same workspace?
"I have been working as a Teacher in English in a Govt. Sponsored Higher Secondary School since February, 2001."
Ci: You are a travel photographer. Which means you have to spend weeks outside the city. How do you manage to do such long trips besides your work?
"It is difficult. My travels generally last days, and not weeks. Often I try to travel during the vacations, but as you understand, that's not always possible."
Ci: Doesn't your professional life stand as a hindrance to your passion? Or does it help you in anyway?
"Yes. To be honest it does. It took me 6 years to complete my book 'On Broken Trails'. But we can't control everything. Photography happened to me quite late in life... when I was already settled in my profession. I won't say chances to become a professional photographer didn't come my way. They did, especially when I was consistently participating in and winning international contests between 2008 and 2013. But being a married man with a child, I couldn't risk what I had and take the plunge. Can't complain now."
Ci: What advice would you like to give to a young professionals who are interested in travel photography?
"Few of us would be bold or foolish enough to hamper professional lives to indulge in our passion. As a result photography will suffer, undoubtedly. Still, if the passion is real, there's always a way. Even a short trip can yield several good photos provided one plans and prepares well. Moreover, one need not always travel far for a great travel photo. Your local market place can present excellent opportunities of a good travel photo as well."
2. Debiprasad Mukherjee
Debiprasad Mukherjee is a well-known documentary/street photographer based out of Calcutta. He is known for his exhaustive body of work on sensitive topics like "Mural World", " A Struggle called Childhood" and many others, none of which comes without proper research and execution. Let's Learn how he manages time out of work to plan for his projects, travel and research.
Ci: Which company are you currently working for and what is your current designation?
"I have been working with multinational IT consulting organisations as Business Architect since 2005 . Currently I am with Capegimini Consulting since Feb 2018."
Ci: You work on a lot of photo stories and documentation. How do you manage time besides work to research and execute your long term projects. What keeps you going?
"I love to work long-term with any social, political or economic issue as I believe that time is the key factor to understand and assimilate the situation and get attached to it. Unless you feel something from your heart and get connected to your so-called subjects, it can not bring the message out. To me, photography is a personal journey — for myself and my photographs are for the few, not the many. I believe If someone looks at my photos, and they can tell what kind of person I am — then I have achieved my job as a photographer.
Obviously background study and preparation are part of the entire story to get multiple dimension of the same issue and then it becomes easy to connect to the context. Work-Passion balance is not a big challenge as long as you love to do it. For me, photography is the fuel that drives my other perspectives."
Ci: How do you keep the balance between your professional commitments and your passion for photography?
"As I mentioned, your passion and dedication to photography and visual story telling will guide you how to find out time from daily busy schedule of work. I believe that not being a professional photographer is better for me as it gives me enough independence to exercise my own ideas and vision with out any influence of anybody else in the world."
Ci:What suggestions would you give to young professionals to want to take up long term projects and work on interesting photo stories and ideas?
"It is not necessary that everyone will be interested in long term projects and all type and genre has its own power of story telling. I like the long term works because it gives me enough time and space to communicate with the situation or person to understand and explore better and also to communicate that that back to my viewer. I want want my photographs to be looked into rather than looked at. So, I think all of us who are interested in long term projects should not have any short term goal and vision, and should have enough patience and dedication to go ahead with a story whose ending is not known to them. In fact many times it happens that the projects are required to be stopped or scrapped due to multiple reason - which must not disappoint you as a photographer. Rather, photographers with an idea of long term work should enjoy its journey."
3. Dipabrata Sur
A doctor by profession, Dipabrata Sur is an accomplished travel photographer. Currently a mentor of World's Largest Photography Group (WPF) and the former mentor of Camarena Academy, Dipabrata Sur has a collection of fantastic travel and landscape images to his name. Being a doctor, how does he take out time for exploration and travel ? Let us know it from the man himself.
CI: How many years have you been working as a doctor ?
"I have been practicing Homoeopathy medication for nearly 20 years now."
CI:How many days in a week are working for you? When do you click photographs?
"I work 6 days in a week and the off days are mostly dedicated either to my family or to photography . "
Ci:How do you keep the balance between your professional commitments and your passion for photography?
"I have a motto - when I practice , I dedicate my time towards my noble profession and when I hold my camera , I devote myself towards photography . I don't even touch my phone."
Ci:What suggestions would you give to young professionals to work efficiently yet keep up the passion?
"If you are dedicated towards your passion amidst profession , then automatically you find perfect balance between the two.
Only thing to young enthusiasts , do study and follow good works but never copy them and try to make a new frame by inducing your own creativity"
4. Abhraneel Malakar:
Abhraneel Malakar has been a common name in Fashion industry since years. He is currently the Brand Ambassador of two of the biggest brands in Photography, Nikon and GoDox. Abhraneel has worked on several projects and has conducted numerous workshops for the respective brands while working full time as an IT Professional. Let us learn how he manages to do all of it.
Ci: Which company are you working for now and what is your current designation? How many years have you been working?
"I am a system engineer at IBM. I have been working for 5 years."
Ci: You work as a fashion photographer and hence you need to spend long hours in a studio or in an outdoor environment. How do you manage to take out time to work on your projects besides your professional life?
"Most of the time I do outdoor shoots. I do prefer working in weekends. Besides that I have a great supporting team. But yesI utilise my free time to learn more and more."
Ci:You are currently a brand Ambassador of Nikon and GoDox. Which means you also need to work on several assignments for the brand. How do you manage to meet the brand's demands besides keeping up with your professional life.?
"Yes... I do workshops for them. Proper synchronisation of time and prioritisation of my work is the key."
Ci:What suggestions would you give to young professionals to want to take up fashion photography?
"Use of proper lights, dynamic composition creates the mood of a still image. Do learn new things everyday and try to implement them with ur own vision."
5. Debarshi Duttagupta
Working full time as a Managing Director at one of the biggest pharmaceuticals company, Debarshi Duttagupta emerged as the only Indian who won the Prestigious Nikon Grand Prix in 2010-11. A brilliant clouds-cape photographer and a passionate Storm-chaser, Debarshi Duttagupta is currently a FUJI FILM X- Photographer. Knowing from him how he takes out time besides work to pursue his passion of chasing and shooting clouds.
Ci: Which company are you currently working for and what is your current designation? How many years have you been working?
"I am.working with EAST INDIA PHARMACEUTICAL WORKS LTD and I am the Managing Director of the company. I have been working for 19 years and this is my 18th year in present company."
Ci: You are leading such a big company. You surely have lots to deliver every day. How do you manage time out of work to track the storms or clouds and get to the right point in clicking pictures?
"We have 1400 members in our organisation and serving them and making medicines for the society is a huge responsibility. After that comes family and then comes storm chasing. If you are passionate about something you will find out a way to pursue the same."
Ci: Doesn't your professional life stand as a hindrance to your passion? Or does it help you in anyway?
"Storm chasing and photographing storms are a huge stress buster for me. But i am equally passionate about making medicines and i enjoy my professional duties to the fullest."
Ci:You are currently a fuji film x photographer. And for that you have to work on assignments/ projects. How tough is it to maintain your personal projects as well as your brands demands?
"Maintaining both is quite a challenge but it is not impossible. I plan my Fuji film projects in advance and execute them as per schedule."
Ci:What advice would you like to give to a young professional who is interested in photography?
"My only advice will be to enjoy the experience of making images. Make good images and make good friends simultaneously."
6. Kallol Bhattacharjee
Kallol Bhattacharjee, a well known Street Photographer, is known for his interesting works on the Streets of Calcutta. Dedicated to capture the essence of Streets, Kallol Bhattacharjee has his works published in a beautiful coffee table book, " The temporary Calcuttan" and has been featured in several exhibitions across the city. Knowing it from him, how he manages to take out time besides work to pursue his art and quest for photography.
Ci: Which company are you currently working for and what is your designation?
" I'm working as an Area Sales Manager-East at Redington India Limited."
Ci: How many days in a week are you working ? When do you click photographs? You're in sales, so how do take out time for photography instead of long work hours?
"I work 5 days in a week. I do click photographs on weekends. Other than weekends I can't take time out to click photographs."
Ci:How do you keep the balance between your professional commitments and your passion for photography?
"I am working for 5 days in a week. I'm committed to my job and for rest of the days I try devote maximum possible time towards my passion"
Ci:What suggestions would you give to young professionals to work efficiently yet keep up the passion?
"Keep yourself healthy and fit enough to work 7 days in a week with the same enthusiasm"
7. Soumya N Ghosh
Soumya N Ghosh, an accomplished Travel and Landscape Photographer, has been a part of World Photographic Forum, one of the largest Photography Groups on Facebook. Besides being a full time Professional, Soumya N Ghosh has managed to travel to exotic locations and has been featured on numerous platforms like Tripotto community, Street Photography India , IPA magazine and many more. Knowing it from him, how he manages to take out time besides work to pursue his art and quest for photography.
Ci: Which company are you working for and what is your current designation?
"I am in service for 20 yrs . And 7 yrs in current positions at Renaissance Service SAOG , Oman. I am serving as Operations Head , Hospitality Services (oil and gas sector)"
Ci: You are a travel photographer. Which means you have to spend weeks outside the city. How do you manage to do such long trips besides your work?
"By default I had to travel a lot due to my nature of job. Plus whenever I had some breaks, I tried to explore places of my interest Not denying the fact that I was a bit lucky to get support from the organisation I work for ."
Ci: Has your professional life ever helped you in your passion?
" Coincidentally yes , as I mentioned , extensive travel is involved in the type of job I do and that which helps me a lot. Of course at times it was challenging to balance work pressure and explore photography and thats where you need to devote some quality time as well ."
Ci: What advice would you like to give to a young professionals who is interested in travel photography?
"If you have passion and urge to document places , I am sure every individual will find his way to explore . And if you are in love with photography and with travel ,then you must live it . Do what comes naturally. Do not try too hard to see what others are doing and develop your own vision of places you are in to capture and enjoy ."
8. Avik Ghosh
Besides being an accomplished Street Photographer, Avik Ghosh also holds the identity of a wedding Photographer these days. Avik Ghosh is known for his interesting body of works that include interesting documentaries and photo-stories like "A women's day" that went viral and got a lot of critical and public appreciations. And all these was done while working as a full time professional at an Insurance Company. How does he actually do all of it? Lets know it from the person himself.
Ci: Which company are you currently working for and what is your current designation?
"I am a financial advisor at LIC. I have been working here for 18 yrs."
Ci: How many days in a week are working for you? When do you click photographs?
"Actually I am in marketing so i have no particular work timing. It's easier for me to carry my camera and shoot anytime."
Ci: How do you keep the balance between your professional commitments and your passion for photography?
"Agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaaho to puri kayanat usey tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.”
Ci: What suggestions would you give to young professionals to work efficiently yet keep up their passion?
"Just love your passion and don't expect anything from it."
09. Debarshi Das
Debarshi Das, an accomplished travel and landscape photographer and an IT professional , is a winner of CAPA 2018, WPF top 20 Landscape , 35 Awards and has been published in NATGEO and Smart Photography. Let's know it from him, how he manages time out of work to travel to exotic locations and click such beautiful images.
Ci: Which company are you currently working for and what is your designation?
" My current employer is NTT Data Inc. I am working as a Senior Business Consultant (Business Intelligence & Data Warehouse Specialist). I have been associated with the IT industry since August 2010 with Accenture as my first employer."
Ci:How many days in a week are working for you? When do you click photographs?
"I work for about 5 days a week with flexible timing.
Clicking photographs almost every day has become a part of my day to day life. Since the power of imaging has revolutionised in recent times, my recent purchase of Huawei Mate 20 Pro has never stopped me to keep myself away from photography. However, I prefer my DSLR when I go for a planned long trip or planned weekend photo walk in my residing city."
Ci: How do you keep the balance between your professional commitments and your passion for photography?
"The flexible timing in my current role has provided me with loads of opportunities to balance my professional and photography life. For me, photography is kind of oxygen and when you love something so passionately you will surely find out ways whatever be the situation in your office. I have always been lucky to work under motivating business leads and senior managers who are aware of my affinity towards travel and photography. Also, my current employer has given me enough opportunities to travel in the last 2 years spanning from Tropics to the Arctic."
Ci:What suggestions would you give to young professionals to work efficiently yet keep up their passion?
"Stand in front of the mirror every morning and ask yourself what you want in your life. Try to learn something new every day, be it anything small or big."
10. Sarasij Dasgupta
Sarasij Dasgupta is a common name in the Street Photography scene of Calcutta. He has been associated with Camarena Academy as a mentor for years and has been featured in various esteemed platforms like Street photography- VMI, In-Street etc. Being in the time demanding Advertising Industry, Sarasij Dasgupta has managed to develop his art through his unique style of compositions. How does he actually do all of it? Let us know it from the man himself.
Ci: Which company are you working for and what is your current designation?
"I am working with Wunderman Thompson as a Senior Creative Director. I've been in advertising for more than 23 years. My stint with my present company is more than 13 years now."
Ci: How many days in a week are working for you? When do you click photographs?
"We have 5 working days in a week but often I end up working on Saturdays to clear backlogs."
Ci: How do you keep the balance between your professional commitments and your passion for photography?
"I shoot mostly on weekends walking the back alleys of Kolkata. I do carry my camera everyday and I shoot whenever I could steal a moment out of my busy schedule."
Ci: What suggestions would you give to young professionals to work efficiently yet keep up their passion?
"Do not mix passion with profession. It's a heady mix. Try and keep them separate. Finding a balance is important though. Remember passion can add multi dimension and world view to an otherwise uni-dimensional profession. So be true to both."
Hope You enjoyed reading the list. We sincerely hope that we could inspire you to follow your dreams and work towards building your life and career together. This blog has been proudly Curated and Authored by Calcutta Instagrammers .
Built with the motto of sharing the best of Bengal, ig_Calcutta brings to you the largest repository of Bengal images from numerous talented photographers who share their content with the hashtag #ig_calcutta on Instagram. Blessed with a following of more than 56k , Calcutta Instagrammers is currently the largest Instagram Community of Calcutta with over 500k+ uploads with the official hashtag. A fun fact to be stated. 4 out of 6 core members of #ig_Calcutta are full time working professionals and yet are they dedicated to bring to you the best of images from Bengal.
From the author's desk - What made me take up this topic? Well, here it is!
Follow us for More. Till then Keep Clicking, Keep Sharing. Special thanks to Shubhayu Dasgupta for putting this article together.
GOODBYE.
