Editorial Team at WallMag Updated on Jun 20, 2026 5 min read

Landscapes Through the Lens: An Interview with Photographer Bavanchikar Sai Rakesh

How did your journey into photography begin?

It all started as a hobby during the 2021 lockdown, with just a mobile phone. I found myself feeling relaxed while capturing images, and even editing was done on my phone. I used a Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, iPhone 13, and Samsung S22 Ultra to explore my passion.

What was the first moment you knew landscape photography was your passion?

I discovered my passion for landscape photography when I noticed a shift from simply taking pictures of places to feeling compelled to capture the light, mood, and stories in nature. I found myself noticing greenery, clouds, birds, fields, mountains, and even buildings in a new light.

How has your photography style evolved over the years?

It started as just a hobby, which evolved into a great passion. My style shifted from capturing a scene to telling a story, using heartfelt captions, and paying greater attention to mood and colors. I became more confident with simplicity and started blending photography with visual communication, environmental storytelling, and social media design.

What motivates you to keep exploring and capturing landscapes?

The chase for good lighting, building a connection to nature, and the satisfaction of creating something beautiful drive me. Transforming an ordinary field, sky, or hill into an image that evokes emotion is incredibly rewarding. Every new place holds the possibility of an unexpected photograph. I'm also very interested in what a landscape means, not just what it looks like.

What are some of your most iconic landscape shots, and what makes them special?

These are all my favorite shots, focusing mainly on camera angles, clouds, surroundings, and nature. Editing plays a crucial role in every picture—saturation, vignette effects, hue, image brightening, detailing, color grading, and lighting are all key aspects for me.

What makes a golden hour shot special to you?

I don't think golden hour is special just because the light is pretty—it's special because it changes the feeling of the landscape. It turns ordinary scenes into meaningful ones, like a symbol of new beginnings or a story about growth. It rewards patience as you wait for the light and watch the scene change minute by minute. It reveals details others overlook, such as layers in clouds or shapes in trees and hills, and creates an emotional connection through warmth, nostalgia, peace, and optimism.

Can you walk us through a unique composition or perspective you use?

I often use the rule of thirds by dividing the frame into a 3x3 grid and placing key subjects along the lines or intersections. Leading lines like roads, rivers, or pathways guide the viewer's eye. I also use natural framing with tree branches or archways, foreground interest to add depth, negative space for simplicity, and sometimes fill the frame for detail. Lighting and diagonal composition play a key role in my work.

What does your editing process look like for a typical photo?

First, I adjust exposure by increasing or decreasing brightness according to the main subject. Then I work on saturation, color grading, and improving image quality by applying presets in Lightroom if necessary. I fine-tune tint, vibrance, and lighting on the subject, and elevate the image with a slight vignette effect for a cinematic look.

What adjustments did you make in your before-and-after comparisons?

I increased brightness on the main subject and darkened the surroundings to elevate the object. I also adjusted saturation, vibrance, and greenery, with a little improvement in the sky and a vignette effect wherever necessary.