"From Canvas to Camera: Aman Mishra’s Artistic Journey Through Photography"
Showcase is an effort by 58Miles to bring beautiful journeys of some of the amazing photographers of India & aboard . You will read about their journey , techniques , style and can see the outcome of their art in stunning frames. We asked them some questions to deep dive in to space and here we are....
Introducing 58Miles showcase photographer Aman Mishra from Delhi
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in photography?
My name is Aman Mishra, born in 2000, and I’m a photographer based in Delhi. My journey into the world of art began long before I ever picked up a camera. As a child, I was deeply into painting and sketching, often losing myself in the details of cartoon characters I would draw. I always had an eye for art, a passion that drove me to create something unique, whether it was on paper or through any other medium I could find.
It wasn’t until a close friend introduced me to photography that I realized there was another way to express my creativity. I was fascinated by the way he captured moments, freezing them in time, and I found myself constantly asking, 'How does he do it?' To find the answer, I picked up my smartphone and started shooting everything that caught my eye. What began as a simple curiosity soon turned into an obsession.
In 2021, my father recognized my growing passion and bought me my first camera. That moment was a turning point in my journey—it was the beginning of a deeper exploration into the art of photography. With a camera in hand, I felt like I was truly painting with light, telling stories through images. Since then, photography has become more than just a hobby; it’s a part of who I am, and it's been an incredible journey of learning and growth ever since.
As a street photographer, I find inspiration in the raw, unfiltered moments that unfold around us every day. The streets are my canvas now, just as blank sheets of paper were when I was a child. Back then, I would lose myself in drawing stories with each line. Today, I use my camera to capture the narratives that unfold around me, continuing the same creative journey with a different medium. Also My inspiration comes by reading the works of masters like Josef Koudelka, Harry Gruyaert, Alex Webb and Trent Parke. Their ability to capture the soul of a scene, to find meaning in the mundane, has profoundly influenced my approach.
But there’s another layer to my work. My photography is deeply intertwined with my personal journey, particularly my experience with anxiety. When those feelings of unease start to rise, I find solace in the streets, camera in hand and it might sound cliche but Photography has become my therapy—a way to transform those emotions into something tangible and beautiful.
For me choosing my subjects or themes is an intuitive process. I don’t go out with a predetermined plan or a checklist of what to capture. Instead, I let the streets speak to me. I walk through them with an open heart and mind, waiting for something to resonate on a deeper level. Sometimes, it’s a fleeting expression on someone’s face, a shadow cast at just the right angle, or a quiet moment of connection between strangers.
One of the most memorable photography projects I've ever worked on is my ongoing series titled "Childhood Odyssey." This project holds a special place in my heart because it’s deeply personal and cathartic. Back in my school days, I faced significant challenges due to bullying and ragging from my classmates. These incidents left a lasting impact on my perception of childhood, overshadowing what should have been a time of joy and carefree exploration. When I discovered photography, I found solace and a way to process these feelings ."Childhood Odyssey" emerged from this desire to reconnect with the parts of my youth that I felt were lost or stolen. Through my lens, I seek to capture the pure, unfiltered joy of children at play—the kind of fun and freedom that I missed out on. This project isn’t just about taking pictures; it’s about finding a piece of myself in the images I create.