My dad introduced me to photography when I was six, and I love taking photographs of animals and wildlife because I felt like I could stop time by taking sharp photos of fast-moving beings. Fully devoting my time to basketball and rugby at school, I only had the chance to take pictures when traveling. Still, I never had a strong passion for photography, not to mention pursuing a career in photography.

It was until a few years ago that a pure moment of serendipity changed my mind. I remember traveling through India at the age of fifteen. I had my camera dangling from my neck, snapping photos quickly. It was on the Himalayas mountain in Kashmir (Northern India); I came across a boy approximately the same age as me. My lens met his eyes, and I could tell that he had been watching me. He was leading the horse I just rode roaming on the frosty mountain paths, with the other hand in his trouser pocket, staring at me with no emotions. What was he thinking? Sharing the same age, he had to live in the cold, bringing tourists around and mucking out stables to help his family business, while I just came here for fun and relaxation before DSE. My finger on the shutter hesitated. This was the moment when I knew I wanted to become a photographer. Every time I look back at that photo, I can vividly remember the exact sensation I once had. Without the picture, it could have been just a long-lost memory over time.