How did your journey into photography begin?
I was born and brought up in Udaipur, the beautiful "City of Lakes." My connection to photography traces back to the very year I was born, 1993, when my father brought home our family’s first camera—a Yashica—while returning from an official trip to Germany. For the longest time, I mostly remained in front of the lens. Growing up, my family spent countless hours sitting beside the lakes or admiring the vast landscapes of the Aravali range, which naturally instilled in me a deep appreciation for the visual world. The shift to behind the camera happened during my late school days, when my aunt gifted our family a Canon camera, marking the first time I held a camera of my own to explore the craft.
My formal introduction to the depth of the medium happened during my early engineering years. I crossed paths with a few local bird photographers and conservationists; interacting with them sparked a profound interest in photography, particularly in capturing nature. Seeing my growing passion, my father lent me his office Sony point-and-shoot camera for a few days, giving me the perfect head start to experiment. Later, when I moved to Ahmedabad to pursue my MBA, I joined the campus photography club. Interacting with fellow student enthusiasts, participating in workshops, and shooting in and around the college campus allowed me to truly understand and master the fundamental technicalities of the craft.
The real turning point came when I moved to Hyderabad for work. That was when I finally bought my first professional DSLR, a Nikon D5600. Eager to grow, I joined a local photography club, which opened my eyes to the vibrant world of street photography. There was no turning back after that. Recently, my journey received the ultimate boost when my wife gifted me a Nikon Z5 II, providing me with the advanced technology I need to take my passion to the next level.
What was the first moment you knew you wanted to pursue street and travel photography?
The wonderful moments of the streets of Hyderabad. I used to visit Charminar and surrounding areas early in the morning for photowalks led by Mr. Naveen. His teachings about street photography helped me learn and take up this genre.
How has your photography style evolved over the years?
Born and brought up in Udaipur, introduced me to nature and hence the nature photography. Lately, I was introduced to streets of Hyderabad and took up street photography which helped me get to the very core of photography which is framing, composition and exposure triangle. Recently, I have joined 2 Delhi based photography clubs, 1 is into wildlife and other into street photography. So, a mix of nature, travel and off-course the most important one for me which is street photography.
What or who has been your biggest inspiration in photography?
Mr. Vineet Vohra is truly an inspiration. His street photography has taught me a lot, the perspective, the moment, framing etc. Juxtaposition is not an easy thing but his pictures make it appear so simple. Lot to learn from him.
I also follow Mr. Manohar Jha for streets, he is also leading several photowalks in Delhi and I join to learn from him.
Similarly, I follow lots of other photographers online across the world.
What photo best captures your style as a street photographer?
It was a beautiful morning in Chandni Chowk and the street had started showing activities. People were gathering near this handpump to wash their face and drink water. This gave me the perfect moment and the story behind the same.
What photo from your favorite travel destination would you like to share?
As the sun dipped below the horizon in the Thar desert, the fading light offered the perfect canvas to tell a story. The brilliant sunset, the distinct outline of a camel, and the figures of the local people—all coming together as striking silhouettes in a single frame.
What photo was technically challenging to capture?
Panning shots aren't that easy. First, you will have to shut the camera's auto-focus so that you can manually focus on the subject's motion the way you want. The full frame cameras also have in-built image stabilisation which needs to be shut off so that camera doesn't compensate for the blur. Next, the shutter speed is decided based on moving object's speed. After that, getting the subject move into the frame at the exact required position and then hitting the shutter without missing that moment is not that easy.
Can you show us a before-and-after edit of one of your photos?
I don't believe in excess editing but basics! What do I want my audience to see, what's the story behind it. So, here are the points: 1. Frame. Crop to get the focus on subject and required environment. 2. Colour vs BW: Monochrome is good when colour is disturbing. If the picture has enough texture but not the perfect colours, that's where I decide to use black and white. 3. Contrast, highlight, saturation, shadow, exposure: play around these to show what you want.
What candid shot did you take without planning?
I was just standing on the Lodhi Art district along with some fellow photographers. This was when I suddenly observed that 2 of them just moved into the frame and it appeared as if the wall itself is speaking.
Contact and Follow
Email: anshulmittal232@gmail.com
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