Winning shot from the vivo Imagine Smartphone Photography Awards 2023, captured by Saikat Gupta

A picture is worth a thousand words. And in the digital world, a picture is worth a thousand pixels. If captured with perfection, a picture can tell a story and express emotions. Designed to celebrate and elevate the art of photography, vivo Imagine Smartphone Photography awards aim to provide a unique platform for photography enthusiasts to showcase their creativity and perspective through the lens of their smartphones.

From smartphone photography enthusiasts to award-winning artists. From perfecting their skills under the guidance of the jury to producing incredible photographs – vivo Imagine is a platform that celebrates the art of visual storytelling and the power of human imagination.

With the second season of vivo Imagine just round the corner, vivo Newsroom took the opportunity to interview the winner of last year. An animator by profession, and photographer by passion, Saikat Gupta shared his awards journey and how he managed to get that perfect shot. Not only was he a Category Winner, but a Jury Choice Winner too.

Q. Can you walk us through the moment when you captured your winning shot? What inspired you to take that photograph?

A. I’ve always been heavily inspired by Indian culture – the dances, artforms, various festivals – it’s all so rich and inspiring. Thankfully ‘Culture’ was also one of the themes for the awards and I knew this was my strong suit. For someone who lives in a culturally diverse city like Kolkata, there’s so much to capture. Before taking that winning shot, I took around 5-6 shots of Durga Puja pandals and huge installations of Durga Maa, but nothing was hitting the mark for me. And then one morning I happened to cross a Kushti Akhada and saw a three-year-old wrestling with his grandfather. That moment for me struck a chord. It was such a juxtaposition – how two generations of the same family are there competing against each other in the oldest sport of this nation. I mean if that doesn’t speak of culture, then I don’t know what does.

Q. How did you choose the subject and setting for your photograph? What was the story you wanted to convey?

A. The story behind my winning entry was one of culture, legacy and the true spirit of a sportsman. One of the days I went to Mallick Ghat in Kolkata, where this famous akhada is situated. What caught my attention was the dual going on – a three year old with his grandfather. The picture also has three other men in the background and if you look closer, their eyes shine with hope and optimism. Kushti, as you may know, is the oldest sport of this country but you seldom come across anybody talking about the sport as much. So, for these three men, what they were seeing in front of them was the hope that the kushti craze had not died down. And the younger generation will carry forward this legacy of their fathers and grandfathers, and continue making a mark in the sport itself. I wanted to show that the younger generation still carries and values their culture.

Saikat Gupta, winner of the Culture Category at vivo Imagine Smartphone Photography Awards 2023

Q. What challenges did you face while capturing that perfect shot, and how did you overcome them?

A. Typically, no photography is allowed inside the akhada because it is considered to be a sacred ground for the wrestlers there and photography is forbidden. In fact, I saw them taking away other people’s phones who were trying to take pictures. For me though, I knew this is what I wanted to capture and I somehow managed to sneak in some shots. It was a real challenge, to say the least. Not only did I have to wait for that intense moment, I also had to hide my phone behind the net and wait for over two hours to get the desired shot. From shutter speed, to setting the focus while making sure no one catches me, was both exhilarating and exhausting. I captured over 20 photos, until I found the perfect shot with my vivo V17 pro.

Q. How did participating in vivo Imagine impact your journey as a photographer?

A. I can say this for sure that participating in vivo Imagine has been one of the best coincidences of my life. I was scrolling through Instagram when I saw someone I know post about it and I happened to read further and give my entry. Right from participation, to the masterclass, to receiving the winning cheque by Zoya Akhtar – vivo Imagine has only enhanced my skill and photography. The masterclass by Vineet Vohra was such a gamechanger, it really helped understand the nuances of smartphone and DSLR photography. Very recently I attended one of the vivo photowalks in Kolkata, and I realised people know me now. I’m known for being a winner of the first edition of this initiative and I couldn’t be prouder.

Q. What did winning the vivo Imagine competition mean to you personally and professionally?

A. To be very candid, I never expected to win the competition. Let alone winning, I didn’t even expect to be shortlisted – but this competition gave me the confidence in my skills and talent as a photographer. It made me understand that you don’t necessarily have to be a professional to win a photography contest. Come to think of it, I won the competition out of 35,000 registrations and that in itself is just phenomenal. The exposure that I got during the process really shaped me as a person – and the praise that I received for the winning shot was beyond anything I could ever imagine. 

Q. Can you share your thoughts on vivo’s role in providing a platform for photographers like yourself?

A. See, even for photographers like myself, it’s not always easy for us to keep a professional camera handy, especially when you need it the most. So initiatives like this help us learn and grow as photographers too. Lets take my example only to understand this. While I was confident in capturing shots on camera, I didn’t really understand smartphone photography in-depth. But all thanks to vivo Imagine, I really do understand the various features of mobile cameras and the sharpness and detailing of vivo lenses. The competition really helped me unlock my potential and capture joy in the best form possible, just using my vivo smartphone. 

Q. What inspires your photography style, and how do you keep your creative process fresh and innovative? Are there any photographers or artists who have influenced your work?

A. Well, I’m completely a street and documentary photographer. I like to explore and capture situations and moments that photographers don’t usually tap into. I’ve always been eccentric while handling a camera and I click pictures that capture raw and intense moments.  Whether it is capturing intricate details of a festival or documenting everyday moments in a culturally rich place, I dig for that. So yes, my photography is heavily influenced by culture. Somewhere I believe this interest also stems from Steve McCurry – he’s a contemporary photographer and the real reason behind how I started my photography journey. Him and Vineet Vohra are my true idols and I really look up to their work.

Q. What advice would you give to aspiring photographers looking to participate in vivo Imagine 2.0?

A. I’ll keep this very simple – for anyone applying this year, don’t let the pressure of the competition get to your head. Instead, enjoy the process and explore yourself – your style of photography, your skills and your imagination. Only once you explore and trust the process, will you be able to get the desired result. Winning or not, comes in the end. But what’s most important is to keep your mind and eyes open and trust your potential. And to be honest, I’m very excited for this year’s competition as well – the categories and the entries, I’m sure it’s all worth the wait!