Blogging is a great way to develop your story telling skills: Gopal M S

Gopal M S is a photoblogger who currently lives in Mumbai. He used to live in Bangalore for 3 years until September 2009. During this time, he used to document Bangalore streets using photographs. In three years, he has built a vast collection of photographs that can be viewed at Which Main? What Cross? http://mainsandcrosses.blogspot.com

Photo by Gopal M S

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

• A: Thank you. I have been photoblogging for about 3 years now. It’s an offshoot of my photography hobby. It all started as fun. And it still remains fun.

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

• A: I started blogging with Which Main? What Cross? At http://mainsandcrosses.blogspot.com I used to click mostly Bangalore streets because I was living there at that time. Bangalore streets are named Main Roads and Cross Roads and since I click the streets, the name sounded apt. I used to click one picture a day on my way to work and posted it on the blog. It’s a solo project.

• I have moved to Mumbai in October 2009. And I now blog at http://mumbaipaused.blogspot.com
• I continue to click one picture a day. Same idea, different city. The blog is called Mumbai Paused.

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

• A: It is very important, but not essential. It depends on the blogger is he or she wishes to interact. It’s their personal choice. I try to respond to most of my messages, especially if there are questions.

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?

• A: I do not keep track of my visitors. I think that most people come by chance and there is no point it keeping track unless you are looking for advertising on your blog.

• From the comments, I believe that most of my visitors are people who have a nostalgia associated with Bangalore and now Mumbai. I click pictures of places or things that are very dear to them. And I’m one of them too.

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

• A: Photography is my hobby and passion. Blogging is just a great way to share the images I click. It does not earn me anything but I have made invaluable friends and well wishers and you cannot put a price to that. It’s beyond money.

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read frequently?

• A: There are hundreds of blogs out there that can give and are giving the best newspapers and magazines a run for their money. It’s tough to pick one among them. Among Indian Blogs, I feel that the best blogs are featured on Desipundit.

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

• If you have a story to share blogging is one great way to share it with the world.
• Blogging is a great way to develop your story telling skills.
• Blogging is not a shortcut to fame.

Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?

• A: I’m not sure. But it definitely has become a part of my identity. There are many who associate me with the work on my blog above other things.

Photo by Gopal M S

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

• A: I once had an exhibition of the photographs I posted on my blog in Bangalore. A few pictures were also published in magazines like Time Out Bangalore and one image was used to support a story about Kannada cinema in Tehelka Magazine.

• I don’t remember any gloomy moments.

Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why? Would you like to take someone along with you? If yes, whom?

• A: A city in the North East of India. A town in UP or Bihar. And Delhi. I will take my wife along and camera.

Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?

• A: I prefer Iranian and French movies. I also watch Hollywood and Indian films. Among my favourites are movies by Tim Burton and Spielberg. My favourite Hindi movie is Katha.

Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?

• A: It helped me discover and improve my photography. It helped me make a lot of friends.

Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?

• A: Too many to list here. But I’m working on it.

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

• A: Buddha

Q: Which is your favorite television show? Favorite songs?

• A: BBC Panorama. Songs: 80s and early 90s Pop and Heavy Metal.

Q: How much money do you have in your purse/wallet right now (including change)?

• A: 456 Rs

Q: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?

• A: Any South Indian

Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?

• A: Technology is as complicated as the people who use it. It’s how we use it that matters. I like technological advancement. Whatever we invent, we will ultimately use it to strengthen human relationships. From the mobile phone to a satellite in the sky. It works to bring people together, to create a network. We create technology for many things but we use it to strengthen the human bond. That’s my personal observation.

Q: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?

• A: It’s not. Blogging’s peak is over. It’s just one of them things on the internet. We will find new ways to express ourselves on the net.

Q: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?

• A: Be polite to each other online.