An Interview with Bobby Joshi - Amazing Nature Photographer from Bangalore

A world traveler and nature admirer; he photographs like he has been unanimously reserved by nature on the day of his birth as its official beauty propagator.  Follow Bobby on Facebook  and Instagram.

What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

I wish I had great courses on photography and post processing. Back then a lot of this was self learning and a formal guidance and courses would've had a big impact on my learning time. 

Why do you take photos? What inspires you?

I am a serial traveler. And when I travel, I avoid the touristy and crowded place and prefer to visit places of great natural beauty. Traveling and photography go hand in hand. Photography is a therapeutic experience for me. It not only allows me to connect with nature and its beauty but also helps me to recuperate and de-stress. 

Every time I am on photography and travel websites, I look at the work of other fellow photographers and it always leaves be super inspired. 

Which photographers influenced you, and how did they influence your thinking, photographing, and career path?

I have grown up admiring the work of Art Wolfe, Ansel Adams, Micheal Kenna. The technical aspect of their photography is very strong and based on solid foundations. Everytime I see a great piece of Photography there are 3 questions I ask myself:

1. What do I like most about this image

2. What do I like least about this image

3. What could I do differently if I had to shoot the same image

Doing this allows me to soak up the work of the photographers I like and then derive my own unique perspective to it. 

What do you want to say with your photographs, and how do you actually get your photographs to do that?

I try and create a visual experience of what I feel and see when I come upon a scene. I pay a lot of attention to my emotions of how a place makes me feel. I think every place has its own unique vibes that touch and affects us. I try and translate that into my image. 

The way I do that is by understanding what mood I want to capture a place in and then I spend time in capturing it in the right light, right time of the day, the right color balance that best describes the same etc. 

What technology/software/camera gear do you use?

I use Nikon camera and lens system along with Lee filter system. I use Photoshop to process my image. I have tried Photolemur and I had to admit it does an amazing job in processing RAW files with great dynamic range and contrast. 

How do you choose what you are going to shoot?

I spend a lot of time doing research on the places I plan to shoot. Days of research studying the photographs of the place, speaking with fellow photographers, marking GPS co-ordinate, connecting with local guides are all the steps that I follow in choosing what to shoot next. 

Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why?

I have enjoyed shooting the beautiful landscapes of Bali. Photography in Bali requires you to drive out far and wide on a daily basis, surviving on 3-4 hours of sleep. The landscape is stunning, people are very friendly and food is great. Once is not enough in Bali. It has a high of its own.  

Three new things (names, places), you learned in the past year about the photograph?

3 new places I visited last year includes Mu Cang Chai and Sapa in Vietnam, Mauritius and Pushkar in India :-)