Today we’d like to introduce you to India Pantin.
Hi India, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I remember one day in high school, my father asked me if I had a backup plan or plan B in case photography didn’t work out. I told him, “No because it would only be a distraction from plan A.” I can’t remember a time in my life when I wanted to be anything other than a photographer. I received my first camera in the 4th grade. It was a tiny blue Olympus point-and-shoot and I had no clue what I was doing with it. All I knew was how to click the shutter. I would take photos of absolutely everything. I still have that memory card, actually. Fast forward to the present day, I am a senior at UCF working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Photography.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say college has been some of the most challenging yet rewarding years of my life. I’ve been working multiple jobs, going to school full time, and still trying to keep photography the first priority since my freshman year of college and it has taken a toll on me a few times throughout the years but I’ve learned to take necessary breaks. I think that more artists should prioritize themselves more. In this day and age, it’s easy to get caught up in feeling like you always have to work and/or produce new art and to me, art is something that should come naturally and authentically from within no matter what art form it is and even though most artists produce the best work when they’re sad, I think I produce even better work when I’m in a good headspace.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a commercial still-life photographer. I specialize in photographing products and some food here and there. Until about two years ago, my focus was predominantly on documentary photography but the happiness and fulfillment I get out of being in the studio for hours on end and creating something out of nothing but a vision I created in my mind is something I never want to live without. However, documentary photography will always have a special place in my heart because I also enjoy creating beautiful photos with real subjects, adding new perspectives to the little moments we may not notice, and capturing a moment that will never happen again.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The COVID-19 crisis has taught me that there will always be a need for photography in the world, no matter what’s happening. Good photography, more specifically.
Contact Info:
- Email: Indiapantinphoto@yahoo.com
- Website: https://indiapantinphoto.format.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiapantinphoto/
Image Credits
India Pantin Photography High Hopes Photography
