Today we’d like to introduce you to Mo Shakhtra.
Hi Mo, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Mohammad Shakhtra. I go by Mo for short. I am a 25-year-old amateur photographer from Alliance, Ohio. I have been shooting for a little over 4 years. I have shot on Canon, Sony, & Nikon cameras, but my preferred brand is Canon. The majority of my shots come from random ideas and places I think or see. I rarely shoot more personal content about my life or where I’m at. I have always loved photography, and what got me into it was sharing my view on an area or object and showing others my perspective!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to get where I am now has been anything but smooth, and I’m confident the road ahead won’t be either, but that’s okay with me because doing something you love and wanting to be good at it doesn’t come easy. I was warned multiple times by my peers who were also photographers and began before me that it would be a struggle to jump into this work and that it would take a lot of practice and patience. My biggest obstacle was getting a good understanding of how each setting for the camera worked together to create the best image possible.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My mind now sees photography as a numbers game; anytime I go shoot an event, portraits for an individual, or a concept I set up myself, I spend a minute or two factoring in everything about the environment, from lights, shadows, and reflections. I think of what I wanna put my settings at to get the ideal image I have planned in my head, and then I spend time experimenting with test shots before being satisfied with the settings. And this is an obstacle I deal with every day and will continue to get better at.
How do you define success?
Success to me has always been a difficult topic. Before, it used to mean being as wealthy as humanly possible and being at the tip top of society. But in the past few years, that vision has changed drastically; success to me now means being content with every aspect of your life, your hobbies, your family, your work, and your lifestyle. Surrounding yourself with peace of mind simply is success to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: moshakhtra.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/eos.mo
