Forbes Listed Photographer Vicky Roy (Part 2)

While Vicky Roy is the fructification of the hard work of the ‘Salaam Baalak Trust’, Vicky himself has worked hard to become an excellent photographer. In this second part of Vicky Roy’s story, let’s find out how Vicky was mentored by British photographer Dixie Benjamin and renowned Delhi photographer Anay Mann and how Vicky himself tried his best. This third part is very important for those who want to do something in life or become a photographer.

There is a childhood memory of Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar. As a child, Lata Mangeshkar knocked on the doors of every recording studio in the town looking for work. She would be dejected and disappointed whenever rejection came her way thinking had her Baba (father) been alive this would never have happened. But, as she grew older and couldn’t move much out of the house – recalling her struggles she realized, the Almighty probably had to make her today’s Lata Mangeshkar and so he put so many obstacles in her path. Had her father been alive, she would have been married to a some highly placed Saraswat (a caste in Maharashtra) man and would have lived life like any other women – spending her time in household chores and children.

Which means, the Almighty knows what he must create and for that he designs circumstances and makes a stage for it. Same thing seems to have happened in case of Vicky Roy too, when he told the in-charge of the centre, “Mujhe photographer banana hain” (“I want to be a photographer”). During the same time in 2004, British photographer Dixie Benjamin was visiting India. Impressed with the work being done by the Salaam Baalak Trust, he visited the same centre where Vicky was lodged for a photo shoot. The centre in-charge introduced Vicky to Dixie Benjamin and told, “He wants to be a photographer. Can you teach him photography?” Dixie happily agreed to it.

Dixie would take Vicky along, with his heavy cameras hung round his neck and Vicky walking behind him with his tripod. Dixie would tell Vicky about what is shutter and shutter speed, how to focus lens etc. All this conversation would be in English and since Vicky did his school education in Hindi medium he would hardly understand anything. His answers would be monosyllables Oh…yes…. Etc. To find a solution to this, a friend from the centre who knew English language was made to accompany Vicky and Dixie. It was through this friend that Vicky would converse with Dixie. One day finally, he asked Dixie, “I do not understand English, yet can I learn photography?” On which Dixie replied, “People from Japan, China and Korea too do not know English language, yet they are some of the best photographers. You have an eye for photography, and the needed perspective too – which I have experienced. You should learn photography with determination and become a big photographer.”

It was as if destiny was playing her dice, the British photographer Dixie Benjamin arrived in Vicky’s life at just the right time. Vicky turned eighteen in 2005. As per rules, he ought to leave the Salaam Baalak Trust. While venturing into the outside world, these children are not only given utensils, and clothes but also a monthly expense till they become financially independent. Till now, Vicky had clicked photographs on a Kodak camera only, given to him by the Salaam Baalak Trust.

On the way out, Vicky avoided taking monthly expenses from Salaam Baalak Trust and instead asked for a loan to buy a new SLR camera. He bought Nikon’s F80, the latest camera at that time. Seeing this boy’s passion for photography and the quality of the photos he had clicked using simple Kodak camera, the Salaam Baalak Trust not only gave him a loan for the camera but also started paying him cost for two rolls every month and the cost of developing the film rolls.

In Delhi, Vicky met renowned photographer Anay Mann. He offered to hire Vicky as an assistant with one condition that he should work for atleast three years. What is the reason for that? On Vicky’s question, Anayji said, “After working with me for some time, name and fame goes into the heads of some young photographers like you and they quit this job. After that, using whatever skills they have gathered in a short span and using my name, they grab projects and jobs”. Giving instructions as to what would be the schedule for the training, Anay Mann told, “whenever there is work, you have to come to the studio for at least eight to ten days but you are free to do whatever you want in the remaining time and days. It was decided Vicky would get monthly salary of three thousand rupees, a cellphone and a bike. Vicky’s happiness had no bounds. Sometimes he would shoot for four-six days in a row at the studio. During that time, he would wear the same T-shirt every day. One day, Anay sir explained that the people they work with are very big people. Wearing the same clothes daily in front of them does not look good. So, Anay Sir gave him money to buy new clothes. And started giving an extra allowance of Rs 500 per month for laundry expenses, shaving and hair gel. Besides photography, Vicky was learning other skills like how to develop one’s overall personality.

But rupees three thousand a month was not enough for Vicky. His expenses included housing, food expenses, and camera installments of ₹500 per month. Besides, after the job hours, moving around taking photos with his beloved Nikon F80 and the expense incurred could not be covered by the salary he was paid. Vicky thought of another way to earn money. He started working as a waiter in big weddings, sometimes he would walk with Petromax lights on his head in the wedding processions. He was trying to balance both learning from Anay Sir’s and nurturing his own passion for photography.

While taking lessons in photography from Anay Sir, Vicky learned the technical and artistic aspects of photography. Due to his keen observation, Vicky had now mastered this art of shadow and light. Anay Sir used to take Vicky along for photography. Travelling through different parts of the country, staying in luxury hotels seemed like a dream to Vicky. His passion for travel was fulfilled in this way. Even if something went wrong, Anay sir would never scold him in front of clients. He would later explain the problem with a lot of patience. This experience was more pleasurable for Vicky than things he had experienced since childhood.

To be continued…

Pratod Karnik

Author is an Artist and Advertising Professional

Photo credit: All photographs in this article are by Vicky Roy.