They say, “Versatility is like a white light where you need a prism to bring out the rainbow of your talent.” True to this saying, Imkongsenla, of Ungma village,a resident of Kumlong Ward, Mokokchung, embodies the meaning of it.
Asen, a dedicated teacher by profession, is a recipient of six awards in photography at the District, State and National levels. Apart from it, she is also a skilled baker, known by many through her Instagram account @bakers_basket.
Mokokchung Times takes you in for a closer look to understand the person behind this multi-talented persona.
MTNews: Thank you for taking out your time for us, Asen.
Asen: I am immensely grateful to Mokokchung Times for this opportunity.
MTNews: For sure, there’s a lot to unpack with you but kindly walk us through how you began your photography venture. What inspired you?
Asen: My love for Photography dates back to the early 2000’s, even before I owned a professional camera. I used to capture anything and everything with my phone camera. However, my passion for photography grew intense ever since my daddy passed away. I realized that the only way to relive my moments with my daddy was to go through the old pictures that I took while we visited places together. I realized it was not just a picture but a moment frozen in time, making it timeless. That’s how powerful photography is! To me, Photography is a time machine that takes people back to the moments they’ve lived: the happy moments, the sad, the silly, and the memorable. Photography is also a voice that requires no sound. It silently says everything. That realization became my inspiration and the compass that directed me to photograph, and the rest is history.
MTNews: You’re a recipient of many awards, six is a large number. Could you share with us about the kind of competitions you participated?
Asen: I won my first award in photography in the year 2014. I bagged 3rd prize in the National Level Photographic Competition on the theme’ Flora and Fauna of North Eastern States ‘ organized by the North Eastern Council. I was the winner of the 2017 ”Image of Mokokchung” photography competition organized by Tribal Lights Mkg in commemoration of World Photography Day. I was awarded 2nd prize in the “Women Empowerment for a Better Future” 2019 photography competition organized by the Office of the District Administration & District Level Centre for Women MSK& BBBP MKG. However, the year 2021 was a photography breakthrough for me, winning all three photography competitions such as:
* ‘Photographers Against AIDS Professional Photographers’ photography competition under the theme ‘Stigma & Discrimination’ organized by Nagaland State AIDS Control Society.
* Nagaland COVID-19 Safety Selfie Photography Competition organized by TAFMA and BASN
* ‘Enchanting Nagaland 2021′ photography competition organized by Nagaland Tourism.
MTNews: What does winning those competitions mean to you?
Asen: For me, my biggest competition has always been with myself. We are always in a state of becoming better and at every point of the competition I feel like I was being shaped.
MTNews: Do you think photography is a good career?
Asen: Yes, photography is a good career. Besides, any profession that keeps you happy is a good career.
MTNews: You’re also quite phenomenal in baking. How did you develop your interest in baking?
Asen: I ventured into baking with my siblings during the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020. We started off with the initial aim of helping out the Frontline workers. We baked a cake and 50 cupcakes for Mokokchung District Task Force COVID-19 as a sign of appreciation for their dedication towards public service. When the ward council volunteered to check the practice of SOPs in each ward boundaries, Bakers_basket (username of our baking page on Instagram) ventured out and donated a sum of money from the money we earned through baking. Once we realized that people appreciated and loved our baked items, we decided to take it to the next level and started taking more orders.
MTNews: Between Baking and Photography, which one would you choose?
Asen: Photography is my passion and baking is my hobby. Both photography and baking are form of arts and that’s what keeps me going. So, why not relax over a cup of coffee and a baked cheesecake after a day-long photoshoot than choose one over the other?
MTNews: Which technique of photography are you most comfortable with?
Asen: I don’t want to limit myself to a particular genre. I like capturing anything and everything. I’m inspired by life and I want my pictures to tell stories.
MTNews: Do you also cover weddings, music video and so on? How do we reach you if we wanted your photography services?
Asen: I have covered events like Weddings, Birthday, Engagement and Motorsports. I can be reached through my photography account on Instagram with the username imkongsen_photography.
MTNews: You’re a teacher, baker and a photographer by profession. How are you managing time for your personal space?
Asen: With my To-Do list, time management and setting my priorities straight!
Normally, I make a To-Do list of the order of tasks at hand. This makes me prepared for the next move. Time management is another key to a well-balanced life although I find it challenging at times. But a minute saved is a minute gained! Setting my priorities straight keeps me focused, resilient and consistent.
