In fact, the discipline he trained in as a shooter still shapes the way he frames the world.
“Shooting has taught me discipline, calmness, and the ability to be still. Those skills are very useful when I am behind the camera. But photography also opened up a new side of me – it encouraged me to look outward, to explore stories and to see the world with curiosity. So shooting gave me the foundation, but photography gave me a way to expand beyond sport.”
If shooting was Narang’s pursuit of perfection, photography has become his pursuit of peace.
“For me, photography is both a stress buster and a source of peace. Competing at the highest level comes with immense pressure, and photography helped me find balance. Now, when I am in the wild or even at a sporting event with my camera, I feel fully immersed. It is almost meditative, and it allows me to reset and recharge and immerse myself in the best moments of the game.”
Gagan’s favourite frames
Some of Narang’s favourite photographs are steeped in meaning. At the Asian Games (Guangzhou 2010), during an India vs Pakistan hockey match, he captured a moment that he still holds close to his heart.
“I captured the moment when athletes from both countries stood side by side for the national anthem. The atmosphere was electric, yet deeply emotional, and that image reminded me how sport can unite even the fiercest rivals, if only for a moment. It is a picture that goes far beyond competition – it speaks to the spirit of respect and togetherness,” he recalls.
Beyond stadiums, the wild calls to him with equal force. In Kanha, he waited hours to photograph a tigress named Neelima.
“I spent hours tracking her movements before she emerged from the forest. The power and grace she carried in that moment left a lasting impression on me. That photograph is a favourite because it reflects both the unpredictability and the majesty of wildlife, and the patience it demands from a photographer.”