Hema Narayanan
Professional Photographer, Mentor and Published Writer | Founder - Wider Angles
Consultant Photojournalist with a Non-profit
AFIAP, EFIP, QPSA, cMOL
Graduate in Photography & M.Tech
Engineer by Education (earning a Master’s Degree in engineering), Hema worked in the IT and software development for many years within her flourishing local tech industry. Often traveling for work, she began to pack a "Camera", on her professional journeys, keeping a personal photo documentation of the places she was going. Soon realising her underlying passion for camerawork and travelogues, she made a New Year’s resolution in 2009 to give up her IT career in pursuit of her true writing and photojournalistic passion. As an avid Traveler, she defined a Profession, that included Traveling and Photography.
Now, a 'Graduate of New York Institute of Photography (NYIP)', Hema is a known Photojournalist and frequently published Writer in renowned newspapers, portals and magazines, such as National Geographic Traveler India, Discover India, The Hindu and Deccan Herald. 'Licensed Artist' with GETTY Images and Shutterstock, her work is exhibited locally and in Salons (National/ International). She is also a Guest Expert Writer for NYIP's Blog. She was featured for Student Success Story at NYIP, in March 2016.
She currently is a 'Consultant Photojournalist' with Azim Premji Foundation, working on Chronicling Covid-19 in India documentary stories, in a few chosen states.
As an 'Entrepreneur and Founder' of the company, WIDER ANGLES, she dons several roles. She is a 'Photography Mentor'conducting Photo Workshops and Walks in the city. She leads her signature tours , "Experience INDIA" as a 'Photography Expedition Leader' for aspiring photographers pan-India and outside. She has been an external faculty/ photography mentor at The International School of Bangalore (TISB) since 2012 until Covid-19. She has done workshops, talks and panel discussions for many Corporates as an Employee HR Program or a Skill building exercise, at Colleges, Schools, National Galleries and at Forums.
She undertakes 'Commercial Photography' projects in areas of Urban Spaces, Architecture, Home Décor and Interiors, Lifestyle, Product, Food, Candid Portraits, Real Estate and Events (occasionally).
Invited to the Panel of Jury to judge Photo Competitions, she cherishes her speeches and invited expert talks and webinars at various Forums, Corporates, Photography Clubs (international and national) and Academic Institutions. Her participation in National and International Photography Salons/ Exhibitions since 2017 has won her awards and distinctions.
Social Changes and Issues are close to her heart; thus, in her free time she takes up 'Philanthropic work' on Children related issues, for CRY (Child Rights & You) - for generating photographic content for awareness building pan-India campaigns.
Photography Club Memberships: Youth Photographic Society, Bangalore (YPS), Federation of Indian Photography (FIP) and Photography Society of America (PSA).
She was the 'Star Ratings Director' (SRD) for the Photo Travel Division for Photographic Society of America, undertaking reviews and evaluation of applications for PSA Distinctions for 6 months in 2019.
Awards/ Recognitions:
Wider Angles
Founded in 2013
Featured as Giva DIVA by the brand, Giva and Avni Jewellery, Jan 2021
Featured as Game Changer - in the series with Honeycomb Creative, March 2020
Webinar on Architecture Photography - invited by Chiiz Digital, April 2020
Featured in the Chiiz Magazine, Dec 2019, Page 34-35
Picture of the Month - Karnataka Tourism Photo Contest, 'Performing Arts', October 2017
Certificate of Merit - Karnataka Tourism Photo Contest, 'Temples of Karnataka', February 2017
Shortlisted in worldwide Top 35 - Travel Scholarship by World Nomads & National Geographic, December 2011
Winner of EscapeContest - Jet Airways & National Geographic India, December 2016
Chosen for Canon Calendar - Canon yearly Calendar 2011
Poster Representative Image - Edinburgh International Festival, August 2011
Awards at Salons - National and International Photo Salons
Wider Angles was founded in 2013, with the aim of providing a wide range of offerings related to Photography & Writing. Wider Angles started with a four-fold vision:
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to empower Photographers to learn, travel and excel in Photography
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to undertake professional Photographic assignments
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to embark on Travel Writing and Blogging projects
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to enable an admirer, to 'Own or Gift a Photo Art'
Today, Wider Angles trains Photography enthusiasts of all age groups, Nationalities and expertise level through its 'Genre Based Photography Workshops', 'Subject based Experiential Photo Walks', 'Corporate Photography events' and 'Customised Tutorials'.
Experience INDIA! photography Journeys, offer a unique opportunity to Photographers with a three-fold focus, to experience, explore and experiment - on travels to parts of India and frame them in their images. These are carefully designed photo tours, enabling maximum avenues for photographers to make frames.
All the workshops, walks and corporate events are conducted by, Hema Narayanan. Wider Angles contracts external professional photographers, to work on commissioned projects, tours and photo shoots, as needed.
Photography Journeys, Professional Shoots , Commissioned Travel and Writing projects in different genres, are undertaken under the banner of Wider Angles.