Hey there!

I’m Drisya, and here’s something, well, more of a topic, that is close to my heart: image making. It’s a concept that’s evolved for me over years of working in various media, from painting and sketching to photography and design.

I believe this is transformative, and unique to each person, just like anything else, the opinion can be different according to what shaped you.

Oh, I did Start Off With Paintbrushes and Pencils.

I grew up in the high ranges of Northern Kerala, all I had were a lot of lovely people, hills to climb onto, paddy fields to run across, essentially all the goodness of a close-knit circle of people living close to nature and surrounded by traditions. Back then, image-making meant something tactile - I might have picked up a pencil or two and started sketching. I don’t remember all of it but I do recall the excitement I had each time when I created art, which still remains the same, transforming a blank space into a world of possibilities - well, this thing keeps me alive!

There’s something incredibly intimate about this process. You can’t rush it. It’s you, your tools, and a slice of time where everything else fades away.

Looking back, these early experiences laid the groundwork for my understanding of colours and compositions, what looks good and what doesn’t.

And How did you get into Architecture?

I knoow!

Well, you know how they ask you - what do you wanna be when you grow up?

I used to say, I wanna be a Civil engineer!

Wait, where’s that coming from? I don’t know, man, what did I know, I was a child, what, barely eight years old. I didn’t wanna be a doctor - oh I come from India:p - so I thought I’d rather be a Civil Engineer like my uncle and sit there and sign on all those papers they bring in. I was always intrigued by the idea of signatures!

What?

And years passed, I was home working on a watercolour painting and that’s when the life insurance uncle came to visit, and I happened to get the same question.

Nice painting! What do you wanna be when you grow up?

I wanna be a civil engineer, uncle!

Why do you wanna be a civil engineer, why can’t you be an architect, you’re such a great artist!

Oh. Is that so? I thought for a while.

Okay, that sounds fancier, I wanna be an architect then! :’)

Since that very day, I tell you, I was so focused on that very idea of being an architect, that even my passwords were all “beanarchitect” for a lot of years until I ended up bagging the first rank in the state-level architecture entrance exam and actually started attending my architecture classes. Phew!

I learned a lot of discipline over there. I was always this very lost kid constantly wondering about things that used to come up all the time, design principles, design thinking, concepts-concepts-concepts, oh and a millions of redos. I spent five good years in the world of designs, redesigns, and presentations.

Did I enjoy it? Well, let’s just say it was transformative. Those times directed me to a place where I’d eventually fit in.

What About Photography?

Did you know my dad used to be a photographer?

He had a photo lab like 40 years ago, where he spent a couple of years working as a photographer before all of these things even began to blow up! I find it so inspiring!

But was I inspired when I didn’t know a thing about photography? Absolutely not, I mean, again, what did I know?!

It’s like when people don’t know what exactly you do, they go like, oh we all thought you were the smart one but you ended up like this!

I mean, excuse me??!!!

So what happened to me was that I randomly attended a photography workshop in the college and happened to fall head over heels for this incredible machine called the camera! And my love for image-making took on a new form - photography! This medium offered a fresh set of challenges and rewards. It was faster and came with a set of fascinating technologies to be mastered, it was about being in the right place at the right time, and doing the right thing! It’s like a dance with light and shadow, a constant negotiation with time and space. Or putting it into better words, it was about being present, observant, and sometimes, just plain lucky.

I remember my first shoot with a DSLR in Trivandrum, I set up a tiny composition at my window and used a macro lens to shoot it manually, retouched it, added a cute logo of mine at the bottom right corner, and made it my Facebook cover picture - talk about achievement, people! :’)

The Art of Storytelling

One thing I’ve realized over the years is that image-making, regardless of the medium, is fundamentally about storytelling. Every image has a story, whether it’s a product that constantly evolved since the very moment it was conceived as an idea in someone’s head, or people who obviously have a story to tell or just any composition, they all have a defined purpose, even if they don’t know about it yet.

As an artist, my job is to find that purpose or the story and tell it in a way that resonates with people.

Shooting with amazing people in the industry like John Conley and Azadeh Zoraghi taught me the importance of narrative in commercial photography. John was the best teacher I could ask for to learn commercial photography from for he used to be so committed to what he did and his passion for storytelling and image-making was truly contagious! And Azadeh completed it by showing me storytelling was not enough, you have to also make sure it reaches your audience. That’s when it’s complete.

It’s not just about showcasing a product; it’s about weaving a story that connects with the audience on an emotional level. It’s like adding a secret ingredient to a recipe - it makes all the difference. 

What were the Learning Curves?

Okay. This is something I always talk about.

There are people who follow their passion, and then there are people who don’t. I have met so many people who talk so fondly about their own stories, the good stuff, the things they’re so proud of themselves. Some people wanted to do a lot of things but they did not, which is also fine. And then there are people who did not do what they wanted to do and then look at the people who did as if they have committed some crime for what they have done, as in, you might’ve heard them go like, but you have always had your dream life, you have lived your life anyway!

I mean, do you know the kind of risk they take to make things happen? They are genuinely willing to go to the other end no matter what. This means, there’s an enormous learning curve for everything you do! Either you can decide to learn everything in the beginning, try and keep yourself safe, and then do what you want to do. Or, you can jump right in with an open mind to learn more things on the way which makes stronger lessons.

Of course, not every moment in image-making is profound. There are plenty of funny, awkward, and downright bizarre moments too.

Like, I had this time when I was shooting a campaign and I ended up lying flat on the ground to capture the perfect angle, it was an outdoor set, I was freezing, people around me were freezing, and not to forget, the models were freezing, while the people who were watching the whole thing gave me dirty looks. And then the countless times I’ve struggled with those unexpectedly stubborn pieces of equipment,  and then I cursed myself - why isn’t this turning out the way I pictured it in my head!!!

These moments, frustrating as they can be, are also part of the charm, you learn so much from all of these for they’re all real-life struggles and not just theoretical fantasies. They remind me that art is a journey, not a destination. It’s about embracing the process, with all its highs and lows, and finding joy in the unexpected.

Bringing It All Together

When I think about image making, I can’t help but see it as this wonderful mix of my life’s quirks, skills, and those random concepts that occur to me at 2 AM. It’s amazing how there’s a bit of chaos, a lot of control, and a bit of “oops, that wasn’t supposed to happen?”

Whether I’m painting, doodling a portrait that looks suspiciously like my pup, or chasing a sunset all the way to the end of the horizon, the goal remains the same: to come up with a story that makes people go,

“Wow, that’s cool!”

So, to all the fellow image makers and storytellers out there - keep being your wonderfully weird selves, keep creating those moments of magic, and remember: the world is our canvas. So let’s make sure it’s not just another bland presentation but a story worth telling, with a bit, or maybe a lot, of humor and a whole lot of heart.

After all, every image you create is your identity - unique, sometimes unexpected, and always fascinating. And this, this very thing, makes you stand out.