Issue 07: Are You Opening Doors or Windows?
Some of the most pivotal moments in my photography journey came from decisions where I had no idea what to expect.
For the past week, I’ve been thinking about an idea Shaan Puri shared on the Modern Wisdom podcast called Windows vs. Doors. It made me realize how often my growth as a photographer came from choosing to open doors rather than windows.
Windows represent opportunities where we can see what’s on the other side. We know what we’re likely to gain, can predict the outcome, and understand how it fits into our plans.
Doors represent opportunities where we don’t know what’s waiting on the other side. We have to be willing to knock without knowing whether anyone will answer or what we’ll discover. Sometimes nothing happens. But occasionally, a door opens to possibilities we never could have imagined.
The first door I opened was signing up for my first photography workshop. My brother-in-law had noticed my growing interest in photography and decided to gift me a Muench Workshop.
I had no idea what to expect, but with my family's encouragement, I took the leap. I didn't know what a photography workshop involved. I didn't have the right gear. I'd never traveled with complete strangers before. Yet those six days changed me in ways I never could have anticipated.
I discovered how much I enjoyed being out in nature, how much I loved learning from other photographers, and that I could understand the technical side of photography. Most importantly, I realized I was capable of stepping outside my comfort zone.
In the four years since, that single decision has opened doors I never knew existed.
I've traveled to places like Death Valley and Antarctica
I became comfortable traveling solo
I found mentors I might never have met otherwise
I've grown more confident
I've started writing about my experiences
And I discovered just how much I want photography to be part of my life.
None of this was on my mind when I signed up for that first workshop. I simply opened a door without knowing where it would lead.
Looking back, I also realized that we don't always have to open these doors alone. Sometimes, all it takes is someone who believes in us enough to give us that first nudge.
Moving back to India was another door I opened. But if I’m being honest, I spent the first few months searching for nothing but windows. I had made a life-changing decision without knowing where it would lead, only to find myself seeking certainty and avoiding the very uncertainty I had embraced. It was as though I’d opened one big door, only to retreat into a world of windows.
Instead of going out to explore Delhi with my camera, I stayed home processing old photographs. I worked on my website, found reasons not to venture out, and convinced myself that life would never be the same. Even when I decided to print my work, I spent hours researching every technical detail I thought I needed to understand, rather than simply asking for help and having a conversation with a printer about my photographs.
I think part of me wanted reassurance that I'd made the right decision. After leaving behind a life I'd spent years building, I wanted to know that I could create something equally meaningful here. I was looking for evidence before giving myself a chance to experience what was possible.
Once again, it was the encouragement of others that helped me start opening doors. Over the past few months, I’ve slowly begun embracing uncertainty instead of avoiding it.
I booked a trip to Ladakh just days before leaving. That experience gave me the confidence to explore unfamiliar places in India and reminded me that I could find a meaningful connection with the landscapes here.
I ventured out to photograph Delhi’s flower markets at sunrise. It made me realize that exploring unfamiliar genres of photography might be exactly what I need to reignite my creativity.
I traveled to Kolkata to photograph Durga Puja, an experience that pushed me outside my creative comfort zone and showed me how many stories are waiting to be told across India.
What I've come to appreciate about opening doors is that their value isn't always obvious at first. Sometimes we discover something new about ourselves. Sometimes we meet people who change the direction of our lives. And sometimes, an experience simply helps us see our surroundings differently.
Opening doors has brought me back to a place of curiosity and gratitude. I still don't know where this next chapter will lead, but I'm beginning to appreciate everything I'm discovering along the way.
Durga Puja
This month I had the opportunity to photograph the Durga Puja, one of Bengal’s most celebrated festivals, honoring Goddess Durga and symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
The experience pushed me outside my creative comfort zone in the best possible way. Photographing in India feels very different. Even though I grew up here, the sheer amount of activity, movement, and energy around me can be overwhelming. I’m used to quiet mornings photographing nature and the long walks through Boston’s relatively empty streets, where I could slow down, observe, and take my time finding compositions. Here, there’s so much happening at once that I often don’t know where to direct my attention. It’s teaching me to trust my instincts and find moments of stillness amid the chaos.
This trip's gallery includes just 18 photographs. Not all of them are images I would consider portfolio-worthy, but I wanted to share them anyway. I want to invite you along as I explore new subjects, experiment with different approaches, and discover what inspires me here.
I don't know exactly where this exploration will lead, and that's part of what makes it exciting.
A Glimpse Into My Creative Process
If you’ve been enjoying this newsletter and would like a glimpse into the ideas I’m exploring between issues, I’d love for you to join me on Substack.
I share Notes in Progress, a collection of ideas that are still taking shape. These include questions I’m thinking about, observations from the field, creative experiments, and early thoughts that may eventually become full essays.
It’s a way to invite you into my creative process and share not just the finished ideas, but how they develop along the way.
And don’t worry, you won’t receive the same content in your inbox twice!
Occasionally, you’ll hear from me more often as I share posts that are a little different from what you’re used to seeing here.
You’ll find links to a few of those posts below if you’d like to explore!
I Asked an 8-Year-Old to Title My Images
The City That Shaped The Photographer I Became
If you prefer reading on Substack, you’ll also have access to the entire Vision Inside Out archive in one place.
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Until next time!
Drishti
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