Jayanth Annadurai
Who Am I?
Hi! I’m Jay. I was born in India, moved to Canada when I was 4, and have been living in the U.S. since I was 9. But if you asked me where home is, I'd say right here in Zionsville, Indiana.
I’ve been in school pretty much my whole life, so I’d be remiss not to mention it. I'm a graduate student at IU Indianapolis, working toward my MS in Bioinformatics. What’s bioinformatics? Great question. I’ll let you know when I figure it out. Jokes aside, it’s a broad field that uses modern computing to tackle biological questions. If someone’s using code to make sense of biological data, that’s bioinformatics. During my undergrad I also studied neuroscience and molecular biology—so you could say I’ve always been drawn to the inner workings of things, whether they're compounds, cells, or code.
When I’m not on my computer for school, I’m on my computer for fun. If I’m not working, I’m probably playing a game or diving into some new piece of tech. Fun fact, my interest in photography mostly spiraled from a fascination with camera technology! For my more analog side, I collect watches and fountain pens. I’ve always been drawn to things that are well made and full of character—and I’ll happily talk your ear off about either.
As for me, I’m curious, introverted, and a classic INTP. I love deep conversations, fine details, and learning for the sake of learning. I like taking my time to figure things out, and I’m happiest when I’m distracted by something that's caught my curiosity. PS, if you couldn't figure it out, my favorite color is black =)
How Did I get started in Photography?
My interest in photography began in the summer of 2019, just before the world changed. My family was preparing for our first real vacation, and in the excitement, I asked for a DSLR. My parents bought me a Nikon D7500 from Costco! I definitely had my fun taking snapshots during that trip but I think the real spark was when I came across a series of breathtaking, wall-sized landscape prints from a photographer— it would be more apt to describe these as portals into foreign worlds just like the fantasy books I love reading. I wish I had paid closer attention to that artist, because those prints stuck with me.
But at that time, I lacked the drive to improve. Looking back, most of my early images were snapshots that could have been taken on a phone. Most of my early images didn’t move me—except for a few close-up shots of flowers. The textures and details in these pictures left a lasting impression on me, but I eventually forgot about them.
African Iris - Nikon D7500
Orange Rose - Nikon D7500
In 2022, I finally had the chance to purchase my dream camera: the Sony A7R IV, known for its extraordinary ability to capture fine detail. I imagined I, too, could create the kinds of immersive prints that had inspired me years earlier. But I quickly learned that a flagship camera doesn’t guarantee magic—you need skill, good (read: not cheap) glass, and, of course, to be at the right time in the right place. And I also realized something else: I’m a homebody. I rarely stray far from central Indiana. Jaw-dropping landscapes aren’t always right outside my door.
So remembering the flower pictures I cherished, I decided to invest in the Sigma 105mm Art Macro lens and began searching for wonder in the small things. Macro photography revealed entire hidden worlds in plain sight— intricate textures, alien-like structures, delicate forms invisible to the naked eye. These weren’t a compromise— they were their own kind of escape, and I fell in love with them. Nevertheless, you can only take so many images of the flowers in your backyard before you tire of them. I could feel myself plateauing; my images were sterile and weren't improving.
Then, in the winter of 2023, I traveled to Slovakia—and it was there that I discovered something unexpected: photographing people moved me. I used to think portraits were simple, maybe even a little dull. You just point and shoot, I thought. I assumed they aged quickly, lacked meaning, and couldn’t hold the same timeless quality as landscapes or macros— I was wrong. Capturing a genuinely nice and authentic portrait is anything but easy. It means watching for genuine emotion, working with light, building trust, and guiding the moment without controlling it. This is also when I realized that lighting and composition aren't exclusive to portraits, in photography, it's universal!
While I did pause my photography during the following year as I wrapped up my bachelor’s degree in Informatics, I'm ready to pick up where I left off and to keep learning and improving— hopefully with you!