Some people discover their purpose in classrooms. Some discover it on stages. Arun Kumar Nalimela discovered it in solitude. This is the tale of a self-made photographer from Telangana. The Prime Minister has admired his work. Times Square has featured it on its large screens. And he has won one of the world’s most prestigious photo competitions. However, as you will soon see, that is not where his story starts.
- A Childhood Among Villages, Forests and Rivers
- Missing His Brother, Finding His Camera
- The Sacrifices Behind the Photographs
- A Moment Featured in Mann Ki Baat
- Why He Says He Hasn’t Had His “Breakthrough” Yet
- His Advice: Don’t Wait for the Right Moment
- A Message for Young Dreamers
- The Bigger Lesson: Learning to Look Slowly
A Childhood Among Villages, Forests and Rivers
Arun comes from the present-day Jayashankar Bhupalpally district of Telangana state. His childhood was plain and unassuming, though not in the conventional sense. He grew up among the villages, forests, temples, river streams and coal mines. Little did he know back then how much the area he grew up in would have shaped him into who he was to become. Arun was always filled with curiosity as a child, he would spend hours watching people go about their business. He never thought in a million years that this simple act of observation would become the central theme of his life. The idea of art was there from the very beginning, inasmuch as his father was a photographer and painter. However, it would be much later in life that his own artistry would take shape.
Missing His Brother, Finding His Camera
This is where the story gets its emotional touch. The brother of Arun was equally passionate about photography and seeing his passion filled him with some kind of inspiration. After his brother relocated to Canada, thousands of miles were separating him from his brother. Arun started using a camera just to feel closer to his brother. In his view, every time he goes out and photographs anything, it was like he does it together with his brother. Something started from trying to ease his loneliness gradually transformed into something much deeper. Now he spends all his time discovering new locations, watching people and trying things with his camera. Without any dramatic moments in particular, at one point he understood that he really fell in love with photography. Arun doesn’t have any kind of formal education on this subject. It all comes from his own practice: making mistakes, looking at pictures of other photographers, reading and taking pictures.
The Sacrifices Behind the Photographs
However, pursuing any passion is not always cheap and Arun’s example is the living proof.
When Arun first started travelling in order to photograph some scenes, his father and his brother financially helped him. Arun never considered this fact trivial. He was so careful about the money spent on him that he would sometimes restrict himself to only eating once a day. This helped him to save money and stay one day more at his location to get one more chance to catch the required image. To Arun, one more day was always an opportunity. He would wait for days and hours for the perfect light or expression to appear. And if Arun got back home without getting anything, he would feel not only disappointed but guilty for spending all of his family’s money on something fruitless.
This feeling was not a discouraging one; on the contrary, it helped him develop patience and strive for something. The large religious gatherings such as Kumbh Mela, Shivaratri, Ganesh Visarjan, Dussehra and Dev Diwali made Arun understand this fact over and over again. Thousands of people, changing circumstances and no control over what was happening in front of the camera. Arun understood that one cannot force photography. One can do nothing but just be there.
A Moment Featured in Mann Ki Baat
But there is one memory Arun treasures more than any other. He captured an image at the festival of Dussehra in Kulasai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi admired the photograph and even featured it in “Mann Ki Baat,” his monthly radio address to the nation. Arun considers this memory something that has meant everything to him. This one image finally paid off all his travel, patience and sacrifice.
In the course of many years, Arun has been recognized by several organizations, including BBC Earth, National Geographic India, Apple and Sony Alpha. He received many awards and opportunities that he never thought he would have when he began his career. His greatest inspiration has always remained the same – India.
Why He Says He Hasn’t Had His “Breakthrough” Yet
One would think that a photographer with such accolades could regard it as a breakthrough. Not Arun, however. Getting the Travel category prize at the Smithsonian Photo Contest was an amazing experience. Displaying his pictures on those giant monitors in Times Square was something unique. Yet, both experiences did not transform his life dramatically. In fact, after winning the prize at Smithsonian, he faced all the problems and doubts just as before. It should be noted that not many of those surrounding him were aware of this accomplishment, hence, there was little opportunity to celebrate it.
What is his biggest achievement? Just making the journey and doing the work despite the fact that nothing happens overnight. Arun is convinced that his real breakthrough will come later. It will not be another award nor photograph published in some magazine or even on a billboard. It will be the day when his photography is able to provide for his living so that he does not have to think about the costs of his next trip.
His Advice: Don’t Wait for the Right Moment
Arun, if given a chance to talk to his younger self, what advice would he give? He would say, “Start early.” How many more places would Arun be able to visit and stories would he be able to tell if only he started taking pictures earlier. At a young age, he explains that one always feels that time will not run out. One waits for the right camera, the right situation, and the right time to begin but in reality none of that is necessary. Arun regrets not knowing that success does not come instantly even after being recognized by people because rejection and doubts do not simply go away. His piece of advice for everyone who dreams is, “Don’t wait. Start now. Start learning, traveling and making mistakes.”
What is the most satisfying thing about his job for Arun? It’s certainly not the accolades or the magazine cover stories. For him, the true success would be when someone looks at a photo someday and immediately recognizes it as being his, before even seeing his name on it. He wishes to develop a visual vocabulary which is unique enough for his photos to define who he is. Accolades and viral sensations are amazing things, but they are also fleeting things. The legacy of his art remains in the works that he creates over the years.
A Message for Young Dreamers
If there’s one thing that Arun advises everyone who thinks of taking an unconventional route in their careers, it is not making any more excuses. You needn’t have the best equipment and the biggest budget to begin. If you’re lacking in finances, then you must accept that difficulties will come your way, but you should still be prepared to make sacrifices. An unconventional career path is a tough road to travel. You’re going to face uncertainties, rejections, and difficult times financially. However, if you really love what you’re doing, then Arun believes that you’ll have to pay the price for this passion. You shouldn’t wait around for anything; you should just start with what you have.
The Bigger Lesson: Learning to Look Slowly
Photography has given Arun much more than technical skill. It has taught him to pause. To pay attention. In a world that’s always rushing, he notices the small things: a gesture, a ray of light, an ordinary moment others might walk past. Arun believes India still has countless stories waiting to be told. And you don’t need to travel far to find them. Sometimes, the most powerful stories are right in your own neighbourhood. Arun’s journey began with longing. He missed his brother, who had moved to another country. Photography became a bridge between them. Slowly, it grew into something more: a passion built on patience, sacrifice and years of self-study.
Over time, Arun earned real recognition. His photos have been celebrated by the Smithsonian, BBC Earth, National Geographic India, and even featured in the Prime Minister of India’s Mann Ki Baat. But Arun believes his true success is still ahead of him. It will come the day photography sustains him the way he has sustained it, all his life.
