Manan Patel: From Businessman to Celebrated Photographer - A Journey Through Wildlife and Weddings

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 Manan Patel from Valsad 

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in photography?

So my father is a businessman and my mother is a homemaker. I was also involved in my father's business for some years while I was doing wildlife photography. I started wildlife in 2011 and before that I was in London for my further studies. I bought my first DSLR camera from my first salary, It was a Sony Alpha a90. Post that, I came back to India and joined my father's business but i always wanted to make my career into photography. Eventually, I tested my skillset in wedding photography and got my first project in 2014 and it turned out to be a big success for me, which led me to start my own wedding photography firm, "Infinity Photography & Films"

What inspires your photography, and how do you choose your subjects or themes?

For me it is simple, I aim to make sure that each photograph that I take is in some way better than the one I took before. I try to use photography to show people the way in which I see the world, not just the visuals of a scene before me, but the feelings that I have, the emotion and the spirit as well.

Since I have this innate love for Photography, I was clicking anything and everything around me and I discovered that I enjoyed clicking landscape, people, streets and animals. Soon, I'd come to the realisation that I enjoy clicking birds more which led me to start one series exclusively on flamingos and I also got offered one project from EPSON. My flamingo clicks were featured in EPSON's yearly calendar.

What has been your most memorable photography project or shoot, or any inspiring story around it, and why?

For me it is simple, I aim to make sure that each photograph that I take is in some way better than the one I took before. I try to use photography to show people the way in which I see the world, not just the visuals of a scene before me, but the feelings that I have, the emotion and the spirit as well.
Since I have this innate love for Photography, I was clicking anything and everything around me and I discovered that I enjoyed clicking landscape, people, streets and animals. Soon, I'd come to the realisation that I enjoy clicking birds more which led me to start one series exclusively on flamingos and I also got offered one project from EPSON. My flamingo clicks were featured in EPSON's yearly calendar.

What is your photography kit ? or we would say, what is in your camera bag?

Sony a7rm5
Sony 50mm 1.8
Sony Gmaster 85mm 1.4
Sony 35mm 1.8
Bag - vanguard select veo 55bt

What advice would you give to photographers who are just starting out and looking to make a name for themselves?

- Take lots of pictures in a variety of different situations. Get out of your comfort zone. Every new situation you shoot has the potential to make you better.
- Learn to accept criticism and use it to better your work.
- Be curious about life. There’s something worth photographing just about everywhere you go – you just have to look for it.
- Look at photos thoughtfully. When you find another photographer whose work you admire, take time with their images to figure out what makes them tick.

You can find Manan Patel on:

Instagram : imackoffical , teamipf