Photographed by Caisii Mao. This photo won the first prize at the North East World Photography Day competition on August 19, 2011.
Dimapur | September 5 : Everybody has a dream job- some conventional, some innovative and some just downright bizarre. Some easily achieve their dream; while some let it slip through their fingers. But there are some who fight, struggle and defy odds to achieve their dreams. Likewise this young Naga photographer is someone who will not let his dream just slip away.
Caisii Mao was born in a village called Shajouba in Senapati district of Manipur. He studied up to class ten in his village and later attended Modern College in Kohima. He then shifted to Dimapur Public College of Commerce to pursue his B.Com studies. It was in 2006, during his final year in college he got to know that Eastern Projection, an Assam based news agency, was looking for a stringer photographer. He immediately applied for the job. “I had some interest in media so I applied,” Caisii said. He luckily got the job and bought his first digital camera. He loved his job and started contemplating on pursuing photography as a career. But his job at Eastern Projection would not last more than a year and he soon gave it up.
While in college, Caisii had given serious thoughts about joining the local media. His interest was in professional photo journalism- something that Nagas were not very familiar with at that time. With all the money he saved while working for Eastern Projection, Caisii bought his first professional Nikon D 60 camera. “Earlier I could not produce quality photos because I only had a digital camera,” he said, adding that his D 60 was his baby. He would carry it in a rucksack and wrap it carefully to protect the lens. It showed just how much he valued the gadget.
He started as an amateur freelance photographer; fiddling with his camera and brushing up his skills. In 2008 he joined The Morung Express. Eventually doors of opportunities started opening for him and soon got offers from the Press Trust of India (PTI) and Agence France-Presse (AFP). He is now a stringer for both news agencies. In spite of his associated with such renowned agencies, Caisii was more interested in the local environment. He started perfecting his skills- mostly capturing daily life images and Naga culture. The frequency of his offbeat pictures appearing in local newspapers and magazines was an indication that his work was being appreciated.
But Caisii’s ambition is not just confined to the media alone. He started taking part in various local, national and international photography competitions. He has made it to several finalist lists in some competitions. His first real taste with success came when he won the North East World Photography Day competition on August 19, 2011. His photograph beat nearly 500 others from across the country and abroad. “It feels good at the moment but I have a long way to go,” Caisii said humbly.
Caisii’s success has not come easy though. For this man who grew up in a village with parents who were (are) not supportive of his choice of career, Caisii is still struggling to make it big. Since photography is an expensive profession, he is still dreaming of a Nikon D 3X- the ultimate camera (for now). He still uses his D 60 and has been unable to upgrade his lenses. “I have to be financially sound to afford a camera like D 3X,” he says. But he doesn’t believe that a good camera alone can do the trick. “Of course one can bring out good pictures with a good camera. But it is more important that the photographer is good.” Creativity, focus and imagination are the key ingredients for making a good photographer, he said. Caisii also wants to travel all over the world so that he can capture the best pictures, but that dream will have to wait. For now his ultimate dream is to “win an internationally acclaimed photography competition.” And we are wishing him all the very best for that.
Caisii Mao was born in a village called Shajouba in Senapati district of Manipur. He studied up to class ten in his village and later attended Modern College in Kohima. He then shifted to Dimapur Public College of Commerce to pursue his B.Com studies. It was in 2006, during his final year in college he got to know that Eastern Projection, an Assam based news agency, was looking for a stringer photographer. He immediately applied for the job. “I had some interest in media so I applied,” Caisii said. He luckily got the job and bought his first digital camera. He loved his job and started contemplating on pursuing photography as a career. But his job at Eastern Projection would not last more than a year and he soon gave it up.
While in college, Caisii had given serious thoughts about joining the local media. His interest was in professional photo journalism- something that Nagas were not very familiar with at that time. With all the money he saved while working for Eastern Projection, Caisii bought his first professional Nikon D 60 camera. “Earlier I could not produce quality photos because I only had a digital camera,” he said, adding that his D 60 was his baby. He would carry it in a rucksack and wrap it carefully to protect the lens. It showed just how much he valued the gadget.
He started as an amateur freelance photographer; fiddling with his camera and brushing up his skills. In 2008 he joined The Morung Express. Eventually doors of opportunities started opening for him and soon got offers from the Press Trust of India (PTI) and Agence France-Presse (AFP). He is now a stringer for both news agencies. In spite of his associated with such renowned agencies, Caisii was more interested in the local environment. He started perfecting his skills- mostly capturing daily life images and Naga culture. The frequency of his offbeat pictures appearing in local newspapers and magazines was an indication that his work was being appreciated.
But Caisii’s ambition is not just confined to the media alone. He started taking part in various local, national and international photography competitions. He has made it to several finalist lists in some competitions. His first real taste with success came when he won the North East World Photography Day competition on August 19, 2011. His photograph beat nearly 500 others from across the country and abroad. “It feels good at the moment but I have a long way to go,” Caisii said humbly.
Caisii’s success has not come easy though. For this man who grew up in a village with parents who were (are) not supportive of his choice of career, Caisii is still struggling to make it big. Since photography is an expensive profession, he is still dreaming of a Nikon D 3X- the ultimate camera (for now). He still uses his D 60 and has been unable to upgrade his lenses. “I have to be financially sound to afford a camera like D 3X,” he says. But he doesn’t believe that a good camera alone can do the trick. “Of course one can bring out good pictures with a good camera. But it is more important that the photographer is good.” Creativity, focus and imagination are the key ingredients for making a good photographer, he said. Caisii also wants to travel all over the world so that he can capture the best pictures, but that dream will have to wait. For now his ultimate dream is to “win an internationally acclaimed photography competition.” And we are wishing him all the very best for that.
