Amateur Photographer - UK (2020-05-09)

36 9 May 2020 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113

M

anypeoplewith

variousphysical

andmental

challengesfind

photographya hugelybeneficial

andtherapeuticpursuit,a

subjectwehavecoveredwidely

inAP.Gettingpaidforyour

photographyis anothermatter.

So,we’rereallyhappytobe

celebratingtheremarkable

workofMohitAhuja,a former

advertisingcopywriterwhois

helpingtoturndisabledpeople

intopro-standardphotographers

inIndia– a societywhich,

whilechangingfast,stillhas

traditionallyconservative

attitudestodisability.

Mohitis a colourfulandbig-

heartedcharacterwhois as

passionateaboutmotorcycling

asheis abouthelpingdisabled

peoplereachtheirfullpotential

throughphotography.‘I started

photographybackincollege

witha point-and-shootcamera

borrowedfroma friend,’he

explains.‘Initiallyit wastoclick

anythingandeverythingand

we’djustposewithourbikesfor

oursocialmediaprofiles.But

then,a yearlater,wethought

ofshootinga calendarbefore

collegeended.Meandmyfriends

eithershotormodelledforthose

picturesandwhiletheylook

prettyamateurishtomenow,

backthenit wasonecoolthing

we’dpulledoff.Soon,I wastrying

PhotoshopandbeforeI knewit,I

washooked.’

Abikerforgood

Whileworkingasanadvertising

copywriterformajorglobal

agencyJ WalterThompson,

MohitsetupBikersforGood,a

motorcycleclubthatalsogot

involvedingoodworks.

‘I’dbeenridingmotorcyclesand

scooterssincemyschooldays,but

aroundtheageof24,I started

thinkingmotorcyclinghastobe

morethana lifestyleandjust

lookingcool.So,I organiseda

ridetohelpoutanNGO.The

organisationworksforthewelfare

ofthespecially-abled– andmy

eldestsister,a superhumanherself

[Mohitavoidstheterm‘disabled’]

alsogoesthere.It wasgreattosee

thenon-bikersideofthesociety

lovingusandembracingbikers.’

It wasthroughworking with

thisNGOandotherprojects that

Mohitdecidedtotrytouse

photographyasa wayof boosting

theskillsandopportunities for

thedisabledpeoplehemet.

‘In2015,afteralmosta decade

inadvertisinganda few awards, I

feltlikeI wantedtodomore than

justsitina cubicleandwrite

scriptsfordifferentbrands. I was

UNSUNG HERO

Mohit A huja

MohitAhujais a former
advertisingprofessional
basedin Indiawhosetup
KnowDisability.orgin 2015,
anorganisationwhich
helpsdisabledpeopleto
reachtheirfullpotential
throughphotography

INASSOCIATION

WITH

Foroursecondunsunghero,wecelebrateMohitAhuja,

abikerandentrepreneurwho’susingphotographyto

changeperceptionsofdisabilityinhisnativeIndia

Mohit, centre, with

some of the students

he’s trained at

KnowDisability.org

An image taken by one of the ‘superhumans’ for an exhibition Pallavi, a Bikers for Good shot taken by the ‘superhumans’

© KNOWDISABILIT Y.ORG

© KNOWDISABILIT Y.ORG

© KNOWDISABILIT Y.ORG

http://www.ripeinsurance.co.uk/

photography