MY INDIA

INTERVIEW

May 10, 2021

Photography by Ritik Agrawal
Interview by Melanie Meggs

Deeply immersed in a world of business analytics, Ritik Agrawal never imagined his life taking such an unexpected turn. A few years ago, the Indian street photographer found himself bonding with his city and its people in a way he had never experienced before – through the lens of his camera. During the 2019 Kumbh pilgrimage in Prayagraj, his home town, Ritik’s photographs were appreciated by many, pushing him to explore the genre of street photography further.

It was through this exploration that Ritik discovered his passion – to capture the stillness and emotions of the people around him, especially those from less privileged backgrounds who have more to express despite their lack of resources. In a world that has become increasingly materialistic, he strives to document genuine emotions that are often overlooked. Ritik Agrawal is now an inspiring photographer who is passionate about capturing life’s most precious moments and preserving them for generations to come.

“I was born in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, but currently I'm living in Noida. In 2019, Kumbh was held at Prayagraj, where I took several photographs and those were appreciated by many, and hence I started to get interested in photography.”

IN CONVERSATION WITH RITIK AGRAWAL

THE PICTORIAL LIST: Where do you find inspiration?

RITIK AGRAWAL: I find my inspiration in each an every photograph, paintings, movies I see.

TPL: Do you have any favourite artists and photographers?

RA: I'm very inspired by some of the great photographers like Steve McCurry and Raghu Rai.

TPL: Do you have a favourite place to go photograph?

RA: Sangam Ghat at Prayagraj, as I get all sort of people over there indulging in various expressions...happy, sad, mourning or enjoying there time with loved ones.

TPL: What happens when you go out with your camera? Do people respond positively to you, or do you sometimes get negative reactions? If yes, how do you handle it?

RA: Usually it's mix of both, mostly it is positive one. People out there ask a lot of questions. I try to answer them honestly.

I want to express stillness and emotions of people, especially the positive ones. People with less resources have more emotions than us. We have become materialistic, so I try to capture original emotions.

TPL: When you take pictures, do you usually have a concept in mind of what you want to shoot, or do you let the images just "come to you", or is it both?

RA: Mostly I let the images come to me. Sometimes I interact with people, get to know their stories and then try to capture the similar concept through my lenses while taking portraits. Otherwise I just capture the beauty of the nature, whether it's in people or any place.

TPL: Does the equipment you use help you in achieving your vision in your photography? What camera do you use? Do you have a preferred lens/focal length?

RA: Yes it's helpful but not every time because I have a basic camera that is Nikon D3400. I prefer 18-55mm and f1.8 35mm lens most of the time.