Golf through a different lens: Do you know of Chiragh Kumar’s stellar photography?

This golfer may well have been a photographer. Delhi-based Chiragh Kumar has a real passion for photography, one he had nearly forgotten while focussing on professional golf. But in a serendipitous way, the sport itself has helped Kumar rekindle his interest and talent. “I have always been interested in photography but had given up a bit till a couple of years ago. The interest rekindled when I started travelling a lot and I wanted to capture all the great sights that I get to see sometimes in different places.”

Kumar travels to some of the best courses in the world, many of which are in South East Asia by scenic seasides or daunting mountains. He puts his camera or phone to use when his hands aren’t occupied by the golf clubs, which really means right early in the morning or by the dusk. Little wonder then he says “sunsets and Sunrises are my favourite subjects!”

It’s hard to get favourites when you are just a year or so into this Kumar insists. “Haven’t really found a favourite place and don’t think I will have a favourite place. I just like to capture what I like.” Most often for equipment he uses what’s handy – the phone. “A lot of times there is a great picture to be taken but one doesn’t have a good camera on hand. For me platforms like Instagram help me take the picture the way it actually looks. On a good camera/DSLR you would be able to make a few adjustments before taking the picture but it’s tough to do that on the phone.”

Chiragh Kumar earned his career breakthrough title when he won the 2015 Panasonic Open India at the Delhi Golf Club. The victory came after he finished joint runner-up at the Venetian Macao Open just weeks earlier. Also contended at the Hero Indian Open in 2011 before settling for second place which got him rights to play the Asian Tour. Kumar won a silver medal as an amateur at the 2006 Asian Games, before turning professional later that year and joining the Professional Golf Tour of India