“I have no son or daughter. When I die, no one will know the story of this land.”
These were the words of Kumar Kanne, a dear friend and extraordinary mountain guide who lost his life in the 2015 Nepal earthquake. His story remains untold, known only to me and my aunt. Meeting Kumar marked the beginning of my passion for photography.
I accompanied my aunt to Langtang, Nepal, to challenge myself in the Himalayas. Armed with a Sony A7s and no prior experience in photography, I crammed by watching YouTube tutorials the night before my flight. Throughout the trip, I overexposed almost every shot and battled the biting cold, trying not to succumb to hypothermia.
By the end of that month, I had gained more than just passable photography skills—I had met Kumar, who taught me the true value of storytelling and capturing the essence of the moment.
That was ten years ago, I still overexpose my photos sometimes. But his wisdom and spirit live on in the stories I continue to tell.
My background is in cinematography, fictional storytelling, and creating short and feature films. Yet something was always missing. The stories I told came from my imagination, but they lacked authenticity—they were still fantasies. I felt disconnected from the real world and, more importantly, from the people I wanted to reach with my stories.
After completing my studies in Australia, I left my career behind to travel, volunteer, and return to my roots—just me, a camera, and the present moment. Through my lens, I’ve witnessed injustice and hardship across the world. It felt as though I’d discovered a new kind of story—one where the plot is real, and the characters write their own narratives.
Without truth, art is meaningless, and without the right tools, artists cannot capture the truth. I was initially drawn to film cameras for their distinctive characteristics, and over time, they became my tools for capturing raw emotion. Black-and-white photography, in particular, allows me to convey depth and honesty in ways that color cannot.
People often say, “A picture paints a thousand words,” but sometimes, words are what’s needed. Writing allows me to amplify and share the voices of others, ensuring their truths are both seen and heard.
Today, I am a photojournalist based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where I collaborate with local publishers to document stories that matter to the community. My goal is to use my photography and storytelling skills to shed light on issues that often remain unseen, while empowering the voices of those who deserve to be heard.
By capturing the struggles, resilience, and beauty of the people around me, I hope to contribute to meaningful conversations within the local community. Whether documenting environmental challenges, cultural heritage, or social injustices. My lens will always focus on the truth. I believe in the power of stories to build understanding and foster change. Above all, I am committed to telling these stories with honesty, empathy, and respect.
So the stories of this land are told.
Kumar Kannes, a dear friend and an extraordinary mountain guide