Nomita Jeswani, Mumbai Uncensored:
Mumbai, with all the hustle and bustle of people might lose its beauty sometime but it has some stunning streets and landscapes by the shore that might be missed by the visitors but not by the creative photographers that lie in that city.
We believe pictures can speak when words can’t and these artists have an exceptional eye for capturing the essence of this dynamic city and its people, as well as the beauty of its natural surroundings. They find happiness in capturing high-quality photos and showcasing their love for photography.
In this article, we will be exploring the top 10 photographers of Mumbai who have made their mark in the industry with their unique perspective and artistic vision. Check it out!
Akshay Kanade
Akshay Kanade, a certified drone pilot and photographer based in Mumbai. Akshay is an engineer by profession, but an avid traveller and photographer at heart. Photography has always been a passion for him, but it was owning a drone that helped him turn it into a profession.
With the help of his drone, Akshay is able to explore the bird’s eye view of places in and around Mumbai. He was so captivated by this perspective that he decided to quit his 9-5 job and fully train himself as a drone pilot.
Akshay started training himself by watching YouTube videos and then self-practiced on his drone. He started capturing the scenery around his place and eventually started getting real estate projects and some wedding shoots.
Akshay’s work attracted followers on social media and started posting his photos and videos on his social media handles as well as his YouTube channel, The Candyology. His work was appreciated by various social media accounts and was featured on many travel Instagram handles, such as Incredible India, Tourism of India, and Maharashtra Tourism. Akshay even got invited to exhibit his work at Indore.
One of Akshay’s greatest inspirations is Rakesh Pulapa, one of the finest drone photographers. He came across Rakesh’s profile and was awestruck by his work. Recently, Akshay has started posting drone tutorial videos on his YouTube channel. He hopes to inspire and train others who are interested in drone photography and videography. Akshay is a true inspiration to all those who want to pursue their passions and make them their career. His dedication and hard work have led him to turn his passion into a fulfilling profession.
Ameya Sapre
Ameya Sapre is an audio engineer who has always had a fascination with photography, particularly of sunsets and skies. He even took up astronomy and began taking pictures of the cosmos by attaching his phone to a telescope’s eyepiece. In addition to nature, he also takes aesthetically framed shots and is exploring minimalism in his work. Although he still clicks photographs using his phone, he is saving for a professional dslr with few lenses specially to click astro shots.
Ameya is a movie enthusiast and learns from different directors and cinematographers by observing how they have shot a particular scene or used a specific color grading. Among his favourite directors are Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan, Stanley Kubrick, Quentin Tarantino, Anurag Kashyap, RGV, and Wes Anderson. He is particularly inspired by the work of cinematographer Roger Deakins.
He had his work featured on the official Instagram pages of Maharashtra Tourism, Mumbai Indians, and Oneplus Global. Many Mumbai-related pages have collaborated with him, which has given him a morale boost and encouraged him to invest in photography gear and take his work more seriously.
Ameya is motivated to improve his work so that it can reach the right audience. His passion for photography and commitment to learning and growing in the field are evident in his work and dedication to his craft.
Misbah Azam Khan
Misbah Azam Khan, from Mumbai, is a multi-talented creative professional who is skilled in photography, front-end development, and graphic design. With over ten years of experience in her field, Misbah has been devoted to mobile photography, specializing in landscape, macro, street, and food photography.
Misbah’s commitment to learning and growing in her craft is evident in her daily practice and dedication to capturing beautiful and meaningful moments. She believes in staying true to her style and vision while constantly striving to do better.
Misbah’s work has been recognized by Samsung with Galaxy, with her photos being featured eight times on Samsung Mobile South Africa, Samsung Malaysia, and Mumbai Indians’ Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.
Misbah continues to explore new avenues in her work and push the boundaries of what’s possible, creating stunning imagery that resonates with her audience.
Vaspaan Shroff
Vaspaan Shroff has been in the world of photography from quite a long time now. At the age of 28, he has already made a name for himself as a professional photographer. His passion for photography has been his driving force for the past 14 years, and he has been working professionally as a photographer for the past five years.
Vaspaan was an introvert since childhood. However, he found solace in the art of photography. His first basic class in photography, 12 years ago, was all it took for him to realize that he was hooked, and he knew that he wanted to pursue it as a career.
He owes a lot of his success to his supportive parents, twin brother Urvaksh Shroff, and closest friends who have always been pillars of support for him, both emotionally and professionally. They have encouraged him to better his skills at every point, and he has always listened to their advice.
Breaking into the photography world as a working professional was easy for him. The competition in this field is fierce, but he persevered and never lost faith in his skills. He believes that patience and self-belief are the keys to success. He also makes effort to do a lot of personal shoots, which help him learn new techniques and further improve his portfolio.
Vaspaan Shroff is a prime example of what can be achieved through passion, hard work, and self-belief. His journey has been one of perseverance and determination, and his success proves that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
Debasish Parida
Debasish Parida, a Mumbai-based fashion photographer showcases a very captivating work. Although being born and brought up in Odisha, his passion for photography has led him to pursue his dreams in the fashion capital of India.
From a young age, Debasish had an interest towards photography. He started by capturing images of nature and landscapes with his phone, but soon realized his love for portraits. He explored street photography and began taking more portraits, which ultimately led him to the world of fashion and portrait photography.
Despite his love for photography, Debasish faced challenges in pursuing it professionally. It took over a year to convince his parents to support his decision to move to Mumbai and study photography. But he persevered, and eventually convinced them to let him follow his passion.
Debasish draws inspiration from renowned photographers such as Colston Julian, Lindsay Adler, Varun Patel, and Suresh Natrajan. Their work in fashion photography inspired him to pursue this genre further.
At Fx School in Mumbai, Debasish completed his Diploma in Photography with a specialization in Fashion Photography. It was an enriching experience, where he learned a lot about photography industry. He also got an opportunity to shoot a TV actor and actress, as well as participate in high fashion and beauty photography shoots.
Debasish’s work can be seen on his Instagram page, @devashphotography, and on his website, www.devashphotography.com. His passion and dedication towards photography is an inspiration to many.
Rajendra S Pawanarkar
Rajendra S Pawanarkar, a 47-year-old government employee, has a unique passion for Mumbai’s local trains, trains, and locomotives, as well as urban landscapes, street photography, and portraits. He has been practicing photography for over 10 years and completed a basic photography course and photoshop editing course from the National Institute of Photography, Dadar, in 2013.
Starting with just his mobile phone, he then upgraded to professional cameras, Rajendra has recently taken up a 365-day photography challenge, where he uploads a photo daily on his Instagram page. This challenge has helped him develop his photography skills and creativity by forcing him to see light, colours, and symmetrical patterns every day.
As a passionate photographer, Rajendra believes that photography is all about light. He has learned a lot about composition rules, ISO, shutter speed, and the importance of light through Instagram and technical knowledge from his courses.
Rajendra has been fortunate enough to receive comments and likes on his work from famous photographers like @ompsyram and @harshalnikale. He has also been inspired by renowned photographers like Yusuf Karsh, Vivian Maier, Steve Maccury, and Allan Schaller. Additionally, Rajendra takes inspiration from other photographers’ work on Instagram, including @haramkhor, @roshagulla, @ompsyram, @harshalnikale, and @audiphotography.
For aspiring photographers, Rajendra advises them to take technical and professional knowledge about photography and editing. To improve their skills, they should observe light, lines, symmetry, and colors in their daily lives, which will help them naturally compose their photos. Rajendra encourages everyone to pick up their camera or mobile phone and start clicking away.
Rushikesh Chaubal
Rushikesh Chaubal is an IT professional who found his true passion in photography. His childhood love for fine arts took a backseat due to personal situations, but the pandemic gave him a chance to revive his creative spirit. Although working in an IT firm for a decade, it didn’t give his satisfaction and wanted to do something creative. He discovered his love for photography after going through some photos clicked by his cousin and was immediately drawn towards it. Rushikesh then joined an applied art academy to learn the basics of product photography and lighting.
During the course, he met many creative individuals with whom he went on photowalks in Mumbai and polished his skills further. Rushikesh draws inspiration from his cousin and has not worked with any big names in the industry yet. However, his message to aspiring photographers is to keep practicing, shoot more, and enjoy the entire process. For him, photography has helped him bounce back from personal losses and live in the moment.
Rushikesh’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your passion. Even after years of working in a different field, one can still discover their true calling and find fulfilment in it. Rushikesh’s journey shows that with perseverance and dedication, one can evolve their skills and create their own path in life.
Rohan Shinde
Rohan is a young and dynamic cinematographer and photographer, who has been pursuing his passion for the last 6-7 years. Rohan’s love for photography began when he stumbled upon the works of Ganesh Vanare, a renowned street photographer. Being inspired by his work, Rohan decided to take up street photography himself and started capturing the streets of his city.
But Rohan’s journey didn’t stop at street photography. In 2019, he was introduced to motion filmmaking by a friend, and that opened a whole new world of possibilities for him. He started watching films and learnt a lot about framing, rules, directions and colour corrections. This ignited a spark in him, and he started shooting and editing his own reels.
For Rohan, photography and cinematography are not just hobbies or professions but a way of life. He is constantly pushing himself to learn and grow, experimenting with new techniques. With his eye for detail, creativity, and dedication to his craft, he is sure to exceed your expectations and capture moments that you will cherish for a lifetime.
Rushabh Mody
Meet Rushabh Mody, a 29-year-old Gujarati entrepreneur hailing from the bustling city of Mumbai. As a second-generation business owner in the jewelry industry, Rushabh’s entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds. However, his creativity extends beyond the glittering world of gems and precious metals.
Besides, he is also the proud founder of Raw Sauce Co., an unconventional online store that offers a delightful range of quirky stationery and accessories. Through this venture, he seeks to infuse everyday objects with a touch of whimsy and personality.
But Rushabh’s journey towards creative expression doesn’t end there. During his early college days, he discovered a hidden passion for photography, particularly capturing the ethereal beauty of sunsets. Inspired by the captivating hues and breathtaking landscapes, he picked up a basic DSLR camera, which remains his trusted companion to this day.
Ever since that moment, Rushabh’s photography skills have blossomed, continually reaching new heights. Being a travel lover, he finds immense joy in sharing his journey and scenic beauty, and thus, his Instagram feed serves as a visual chronicle of his adventures behind the lens.
With an entrepreneurial spirit, an eye for capturing captivating moments, and a zest for sharing his experiences, Rushabh Mody embodies the essence of a modern creative soul. Whether he’s crafting bespoke jewellery, curating quirky accessories, or freezing moments in time, Rushabh’s passion and artistic flair shine through in all his endeavours.