On 30th June 2025, a friend shared a post about the Bonalu Photo Walk. It was my first time witnessing Bonalu in Hyderabad, and my first time joining a photo walk with fellow photographers. I was both nervous and excited to be a part of it.

I hopped on a bus from Warangal to Hyderabad. When I reached Golconda, I was greeted by a lane filled with photographers. I was completely taken aback by the number of people who had shown up.

Even though I didn’t know anyone, it never felt that way. There was a strong sense of community right from the beginning, and the founders of The Shutter Society.HYD made sure everyone felt welcomed and included.

Sometimes, all it takes is one invitation to discover a community that feels like it was waiting for you.

During the walk, I had the opportunity to meet one of the founders of The Shutter Society, Mr. Anvesh Patel, who was incredibly humble and energetic throughout the event. He was not only capturing photographs but also managing the entire walk and ensuring everyone had a great experience.

A special shout-out to Mr. Sai Thejeshwar and Mr. Cherry Mokka, who were incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the journey.

On that note, I want to sincerely thank The Shutter Society Hyderabad for creating a community that feels safe, secure, and supportive. It is truly a community created by photographers, for photographers.

How, where, and why it all started?

Hey fellow creators, I’m Akshitha, a self-taught filmmaker and photographer. My journey began during a National Throw ball tournament in 2022. I was travelling to Rajasthan with my teammates, holding a throw ball in one hand and my phone camera in the other.

Somewhere along that journey, I experienced a shift in the way I saw the world. It was in that moment that I truly understood what photography meant to me.

To me, photography is a universal language that can be understood and felt by anyone, from any corner of the world.

The mere thought of expressing oneself without words filled me with fascination.

Photography doesn’t tell; it shows.

Rajasthan: A Journey of Photos & Play

THE ECHOES OF PEOPLE

People and portraits :  a never-ending love story

While traveling across India, I was drawn to the people I met and the small stories in their everyday lives. Portraits became a way for me to capture those moments the expressions, the pauses, and everything in between.

Photography taught me to notice what I once overlooked.

HCU exhibit 2025

I had tried again and again to submit my photographs to photography competitions, but I never had any luck. One day, while my friend and I were walking in a park, I suddenly received an email saying that one of my photographs had been selected.

To be honest, I read the email twice, wondering if I was reading it correctly.

For any photographer, having their work displayed for the first time means the world, and it meant everything to me as well.

The thought of seeing my photograph hanging in a gallery, with people stopping to look at it, filled me with nothing but joy.

A heartfelt thank you to the Shutter Society Hyderabad and the University of Hyderabad for making that moment possible.

The image was selected for the display:
 Shot on iPhone Xs in Maharashtra

There were also photography workshops, and we all got to meet Mr. K K Senthil Kumar ( Famous DOP of movie like – Bhaubali’s, RRR). A day filled with displays of joy and laughter.

Filmmaking: The Art of moving images

It was a 50-hour filmmaking challenge called IFP. The prompt was revealed the night before, and we had just 50 hours to write, shoot, edit, and submit a short film. I remember that night vividly.

My cinematographer and I were bouncing around countless ideas, and there were moments when we looked at each other and wondered, “Will we be able to pull this off?”

It was my first time writing and directing a short film. From the moment I registered to the moment I clicked the submission button, a part of me felt like my heart was clicking at the speed of a fast shutter.

Fear was there, but the story had to be told.

I have loved cinema since I was a child, but I never imagined I would be on the other side of the screen, creating it. Photography became my way in. It held the door open as I stepped into an unknown world, a world of cinema.

We didn’t make the deadline. We made something we’re proud of.

In the end, we weren’t able to submit the film on time. But we had a short film in our hands, and for me, and for all of us, that was a win. A win that was only possible because of my incredible cast and crew. 

Be it filmmaking or photography, I’m always curious to Chase | Capture | Create.

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Email:- akshithaveeramalla@gmail.com