When Sebin Francis was just 11 years old, he received a Kodak Instamatic 50 camera as a gift from his paternal uncle, Fr. Dr. Varghese Thomas Puthenpurayil. Like the biblical parable of the talents, the youngster turned that one camera into an extraordinary collection of 311 over the years.

As a child, he knew little about photography and was more fascinated by the thrill of firing the flash than by capturing images. But what began as innocent play soon grew into a deep love for photography. His world, whether hobby, study or work, started revolving around the camera.

Even today, at 25, Sebin’s passion for cameras hasn’t dimmed. And it’s not just the art of photography that excites him as he is equally fascinated by the technology and mechanics of cameras. He often sought out collectors with rare pieces and frequented shops selling vintage models, spending both time and money to steadily grow his collection. His most recent addition is a classic Rolleiflex 4x4 Baby Grey camera.

After completing his Plus Two, Sebin pursued a BA in Visual Arts at St. Joseph’s College of Communication in Changanassery. He is currently in his third semester of the Diploma in Elementary Education at St. Thomas TTI, Thiruvalla.

 Alongside academics, he has directed several short films and one of them, Dinavrithantham, won awards.He has also directed around 10 music videos.Sebin now dreams of directing feature films. He also harbours another, equally ambitious dream; to expand his camera collection from 311 to 611.

“The cameras I now own are ones that have captured the emotions of countless people I have never met,” Sebin reflects. “They are cameras once cherished by photographers long before I was even born. In their reels lie countless stories of joy, sorrow, and dreams.”