“For me, the relationship with people I photograph is very important” - GMB Akash

A fierce photojournalist, documentary photographer and writer based in Bangladesh, GMB Akash has not only been photographing social issues in his country, but also creating a positive impact by helping the marginalised section of the society become independent. Through his camera lens, he captures pictures that send a chill down the spine; not only forcing the viewers to pay attention, but also encouraging them to act. He is the recipient of over 100 international awards including the World Press Photo award. His work has been published in over 100 international publications, he has presided as a jury member on some of the most notable international photography competitions and his work has been exhibited in Bangladesh, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, the USA, Czech Republic as well as in Greece. We spoke to him about the start of his journey, his inspiration and how he manages to capture deep emotions with just a click. Excerpts:

- SANCHIT MISHRA

How did you become a photographer? Describe your path to where you are today.

Ans: I am a humanitarian photographer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, but I also cover stories in other South Asian and South East Asian countries as well as an occasional assignment elsewhere such as in Greece covering the Syrian refugee crisis when so many were arriving by rubber rafts from Turkey.

For the last 25 years, I have been a professional photographer. Although I did graduate studies in photography, later on, I more or less fell into photography while still deciding my future. I found an old camera at home; a Yashica fx3 that was my father’s and that camera changed my life completely. I learned how to operate that camera by myself with the help of the manual and started taking photos without knowing anything. I had no idea about photography or even that photography could be a profession. Knowing nothing, I started roaming around here and there taking photos.