Doha: Street photographer in Qatar garnered international recognition for an image depicting the country's preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Ajeesh Puthiyadath, an IT engineer by profession from the state of Kerala in India, pursued his passion for photography after he arrived in Qatar for work.
Photographer Ajeesh Puthiyadath
"Street photography connects something about life. It fills with emotion or gives us an insight, which excites me to capture unexpected moments from daily life to make an extraordinary image," he said.
Recently, Ajeesh was recognized in the Paris International Street Photo Awards (PISPA 2021) as the Grand Winner in the Street and Architecture Category.
"I'm overwhelmed with this achievement as I consider any recognition as the greatest motivator," he commented.
The photograph which has bagged the award in the international competition featured Qatar's capital, Doha. The photograph, titled "City on Shoulders", depicts the human workforce as a significant foundation in building phenomenal structures mostly found in the city.
"The image portrays the truth 'nothing have made in this world so far without human workforce'. All the structures around the city may not be built without the hard work of workers. And this image did absorb the soul," he explained.
Ajeesh has also received several recognitions in the past few years, including the Year of Culture Title granted by Qatar Museum in 2019 and multiple international awards in 2020. To date, his works has been exhibited in Qatar, Washington, New York, Minneapolis, and Delhi.
Speaking about his passion for his craft, Ajeesh said: "I approach the street without any plans. I used to roam around the city after my working hours and capture the candid moments in the streets which excites me a lot. This excitement is the main key to continue street photography."
