Dilip Bhatia, an alumnus of the Brooks Institute of Photography, has freelanced for all the top advertising agencies in India and shot the very best from the Indian film industry over the last 17 years. He has several awards to his name which includes being listed among the top ten finalists in the editorial category of Hasselblad’s prestigious “Master of Photography 2009” award and the top honours in the Institutional category of the Communication Arts photography competition.

How old were you when you first picked up a camera?
I was 27 years ‘young’ when I first took to photography.

What inspired you to take up photography as a career?
The sheer joy I got from being behind the camera led me to take up photography as a career.

Read more: I enjoy all genres of photography

Deanne Fitzmaurice is a multi-award winning photojournalist who strives for honesty and authenticity in her stories. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 2005 for her sensitive photo essay about Saleh, an Iraqi boy who came to America for medical treatment. After working for the San Francisco Chronicle for 18 years, she now works as an independent photographer and has had her photographs published in renowned publications like Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. Fitzmaurice is also a frequent lecturer on photojournalism and multimedia and has been a guest speaker at PhotoPlus in NY 2009 and Imaging USA in Florida 2008.

Read more: I’m a storyteller at heart

A self taught photographer, Adam Burton is one of UK’s leading landscape photographers. His informal training in photography has helped him develop a unique style which has caught the eye of prestigious organizations like National Geographic and The Times. He has photographed five of the seven continents but is especially fond of shooting the stunning landscapes of Southwest England. He has authored three books so far and plans to publish two more in the next couple of years.

How did you teach yourself photography?
When I purchased my first SLR I initially took pictures on full auto mode, feeling apprehensive to experiment. But after reading photography books and magazines I started to practice with manual, recording the details of every exposure in a little notepad I carried around with me. Apart from reading magazines, and looking at other pictures on internet sites like Ephotozine.com I spent a great deal of time on location taking pictures, and then reviewing the results once the films were developed. For me this really was the best way to learn, as I was photographing the subject matter that inspired me the most and really enjoying myself in the outdoors at the same time. To this day, I pretty much solely photograph landscapes; being outdoors at dawn or dusk is a tremendously enriching experience that for me beats all others.

Read more: I have little interest in other genres of photography

Rafique Sayed chose the field of fashion photography to beckon his arrival but has expanded his portfolio from nature to still life photography over the years. He has worked with some of the biggest name in the industry and his distinct style has earned him respect from his peers and admiration from his fans. Yet, he believes his canvas is empty, waiting to be filled with creative, meaningful and extraordinary work.

You came into professional photography more by chance and than by choice. Can you please elaborate on this point?
Life opens up many options for you but ultimately you choose the path. I’ve never repented choosing this path as I’ve never had to work because work became my passion.

Read more: I see in Black and White