How did your journey in photography begin?
My journey into photography began long before I ever picked up a camera. As a child, I was always drawn to creative pursuits such as drawing and art, which gradually evolved into an interest in digital art, composition, and photo editing through Photoshop. Growing up, I was also influenced by my father, who is passionate about birdwatching and bird photography. One day, I tried photographing with his camera and realized it was something I genuinely enjoyed. However, my passion truly took shape when I got my iPhone 13 and became fascinated by its camera capabilities. I started capturing moments wherever I went, experimenting with composition and storytelling, and eventually created an Instagram page to share my work. What began as curiosity soon grew into a meaningful creative journey that continues to inspire me today.
What was the first moment that made you realize photography was your passion?
The first moment I realized photography was more than just a hobby was when I started using my iPhone 13 to capture everyday moments and found myself constantly looking at the world through a creative lens. I became fascinated by how a simple scene could be transformed through composition, light, and perspective. What began as casual photography soon turned into hours of learning, practicing, and sharing my work online. Seeing my images connect with people and realizing how much joy the process brought me made me understand that photography was something I was truly passionate about.
How has your photographic style evolved over the years?
My style has evolved from simply capturing eye-catching images to focusing on composition, lighting, and storytelling. Over the years, I mastered Lightroom and Photoshop, studied color theory, and developed a warm, cinematic editing style that has become part of my work. Upgrading to my own camera and experimenting with aerial perspectives using my father's drone also helped me expand my creativity and create more impactful photographs.
What draws you to landscape, wildlife, and street photography specifically?
Landscape photography attracts me because of its visual contrast, minimalism, patterns, and the way light transforms a scene. It captures the vastness of the world and reminds us how small we are in comparison. Wildlife photography fascinates me because it showcases the incredible beauty and uniqueness of nature. I love capturing animals in their natural environment and witnessing their true character and behavior. Street photography challenges me to find unique perspectives in ordinary scenes. It encourages creativity in everyday life while allowing me to explore places and uncover the countless stories happening around us.
What landscape photo best represents your work, and what makes it special?
This photo captures the ethereal beauty of a mountain stream through Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir, India. What truly distinguishes this photograph is its deliberate long exposure, which I used to create a dreamy, painterly effect on the water. I had specifically traveled to this region to execute a long-exposure shot like this, as it had been on my creative bucket list for quite some time. The magic came from the perfect confluence of elements: the soft, diffused lighting and stable weather conditions during my shoot were ideal for achieving that silky smooth water texture. Unlike a conventional frozen-in-time photograph, this approach emphasized the water's continuous flow and movement, providing a peaceful, almost meditative contrast to the solid, static boulders lining the bank. Every element simply matched up to capture this beautiful moment as I had envisioned it.
Tell us the story behind your wildlife photo – where and when was it taken?
The creation of this image was a moment of pure serendipity. While traveling through rural Jammu, India, for a zoo trip with my 600mm lens, I caught this striking candid view of a peacock. This photograph stands out for its crisp clarity and rich, contrasty colors, making the brilliant blues of the plumage vividly pop. What truly elevates the shot is the "frame within a frame" composition. By shooting through the delicate overhanging leaves, the foliage naturally shelves the background and isolates the peacock, drawing the viewer's eye straight into its sharp expression and detailed crest.
What was the story or emotion you were trying to capture in that street photo?
The story behind this photo is one of adrenaline, chance, and the raw energy of local nightlife. I had envisioned capturing a long exposure of this carnival giant wheel for a long time. When the night finally arrived, I went to the site, but right as I set up, it suddenly started raining. In a state of panic to protect my gear, I hurriedly clicked a few rushed long exposures before running for cover. Checking the camera's mini screen in the downpour, I realized the sudden rain had created a perfect puddle reflection anchoring the spinning, vibrant wheel of light. We got completely drenched on the way home, but the sheer chaos and excitement of that exact moment made it completely worth it.
Walk us through the editing choices you made in your before-and-after example.
My primary goal when transforming a raw image into the final product is to inject a distinct cinematic ambience and structural contrast into the landscape. For color grading and mood, I shifted the overall palette toward a complementary teal and orange color profile. As a personal touch, I pulled the blues toward deep teals and infused the greens with a warmer, golden hue, giving the entire scene a richer, more inviting atmosphere. Subject isolation is a critical cornerstone of my workflow. To separate the central temple and its immediate surroundings from the rest of the frame, I utilized a combination of complex masking techniques, layering linear gradients and radial adjustments. This allowed me to meticulously control the light and focus, sculpting the final ambience without making the edits look unnatural.
How did you approach capturing that photo despite the difficult conditions?
Capturing this image was a race against the elements. The midday sunlight was incredibly harsh, and the moment I launched my drone, sudden aggressive winds picked up, threatening flight stability and framing. To overcome this, I had to rely heavily on piloting experience I've built up over time. I executed a rapid ascent to altitude to lock in the top-down composition before the wind could drift the aircraft. Knowing the harsh light would blow out highlights and muddy the shadows, I quickly dialed in precise conservative exposure settings designed explicitly to preserve data. This allowed me to safely maximize the dynamic range in the RAW file, giving me the exact latitude I needed to push the rich details and deep textures back out during post-processing.
Why do you think this photo deserves more attention?
While this click of mine has received appreciation, I consider it underrated because a quick glance doesn't capture the immense personal satisfaction of nailing this fleeting, unscripted moment. It holds a deeply special place in my heart for the pure comedy and storytelling within the frame. The photo strikes a perfect balance between the inherent cuteness of the animal and its hilariously bossy attitude, lounging casually with a twig angled exactly like a cigarette. What elevates the shot visually is its deliberate minimalist composition. By placing the subject centrally within a vast clean expanse of green, it eliminates all distractions and forces the viewer to focus entirely on the monkey's expressive posture. This isolation creates a beautiful color contrast and harmony, letting the warm tones of the fur pop naturally against the uniform green background, turning a lucky wildlife encounter into a striking, balanced piece of art.
Contact and Follow
Email: archits757@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archit.clickinated_?igsh=MWx2czhzcWVvc2dicg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Archit33573
Portfolio: archits757.myportfolio.com
