Jitu Savlani is an accidental photographer as he puts it. In a chat with Fotoflock he explains how he became a photographer. He talks about his mentor Dabboo Ratnani, the new studio and of course photography.

How did you start photography?
I am an accidental photographer. Now when I think back, I see a few signs that might have been early pointers. Throughout my college days, I used to collect any and every image that I found interesting. I had a collection of scrap books. I used these to make collages for my friends. I never really thought twice why I had this urge to store these paper cuttings, pictures and other such things.

I was working with Damania Shipping at the time the shutter bug bit me. I had a four months monsoon break and I wanted to do something fun and interesting. I also had a leather shop of my own and I had met Dabboo Ratnani a couple of times who was a regular customer at our shop. I had seen his work and I loved what he did. So during this particular monsoon break, since I was so eager to do something, I asked Dabboo if I could assist him. He agreed and I had an amazing time assisting him. He was also in his initial phases then and had just started to expand.

After this four month stint, for an entire year, I continued to return to assist him in every break. He also, was very accommodating of me. Not that I ever realised that I continued with so much enthusiasm because I wanted to become a photographer but just because I enjoyed what I did.

Later, I started to miss photography whenever I was away on ship. I didn’t have a camera back then. Later, after I invested in one I started taking my camera on the ship and started shooting the crew members, and everything else! And when I came back to Bombay, I used to discuss my photos with Dabboo and get tips from him and this is how I gradually grew in photography. A pat on the back was always encouraging.

I loved what Dabboo was doing and I realise that I did not get into photography for the money but for the pure thrill of it. If it hadn’t been for Dabboo’s openness, I would have never been a photographer. I have always believed that shooting requires you to know the basic technicalities involved, rest all depends on how you present it. Visualisation makes people different and each photographer’s images reflect his own inner moods.

Have you had any formal education in the field?
Not at all! I have learned all my lessons from assisting Dabboo and from shooting. The angle, the framing, I have understood photography through observing his. Initially, when I started solo many people would see my work and suspect if it was Dabboo who shot it. It was surely a compliment for me and no doubt since I had learned photography from him my style was largely influenced by his. But as I continued to shoot I developed my own style of shooting.

I loved cameras and I have had basic knowledge in building strong compositions since I was a kid so it was easier for me to understand quite a lot of things. If I didn’t understand anything while I was reading I always had Dabboo to refer to.

There is not much that goes in to learning photography. One just has to be at the right place at the right time. I have moved ahead observing my own work and I believe it is only your work that can keep you on track. I have learned from my mistakes. I also believe photography is like art and painting, just like a painting reflects the artist’s moods a photograph reflects the photographer’s moods. I like to reinvent myself and I am never grumpy when people call me for outdoor shoots. I like starting early and having the evenings to myself.

When was your first big break? And what did you learn from it?
While I was assisting Dabboo he was the official photographer for The Times of India. I had met Pradeep Guha through him. At the time they were looking for a new photographer for the Femina Miss India pageant (1999) and they offered me the job after seeing my work. I went up to Dabboo and told him what had happened and asked if he had a problem if I went ahead with this? Dabboo was very open about it and that was my first big break.

I shot my first editorial for the pageant in Hyderabad… I did not feel prepared and so I had read up a few books and borrowed a camera from a friend. After seeing my work for this editorial they offered me the Filmfare as well. He had even offered me a job, however, I refused to join as a regular and this was just after two years of assisting Dabboo.

What has been that one moment when shooting that convinced you that you are on the right track?When I saw my own pictures, in fact every time I see my pictures I am convinced. I am a big critic of my work and I can always tell when people are showering me with false praise, I would rather listen to positive criticism than false praise.

When I see someone genuinely praise my work it really means a lot to me. A girl I knew was going through a bad break-up with her boyfriend who was also a model. It was not an easy one as they had parted ways on a very bitter note and he had said a number of nasty things to her which I found out only eventually. One day she came to me wanting to take a few pictures and she was thrilled to see the images later.

I later found out that she wanted to click pictures to make her ex jealous and prove to him that she is nothing less that a pretty butterfly. She thanked me deeply and said that you have made me a butterfly. These are the times that count. When you are on the right track all the things fall in place for you. In fact all my photographer friends are accidentally in to the profession just like me.

I keep changing my shooting style as per my moods and the state of my mind. Now, I want to present the different facets of humans to the world. I am tired of making people look pretty; I am on to doing something new now. I think I see myself directing well.

What according to you is the difference between shooting for work and shooting for leisure?
It is the freedom to do whatever you want that marks the difference I would say. Most clients come with their own ideas and no doubt they have also agreed on your style of photography before putting you on the job.

When I am shooting for a client I have to continue with a certain fixed idea in my mind. But when I am shooting for leisure I am only representing me and I am answerable to no person other than myself.

There are times when I am travelling and I don’t carry my camera. I like to shoot candid images. In fact once when I was on a shoot the people on the sets had started to take my case and each one wanted a picture of himself. So, to make them all feel sorry for harassing me like that I clicked nasty pictures of everyone on the shoot.

What is the one thing you look at or how do you compose your photos?
The first thing on my mind is obviously the requirement of the job. While deciding on the angle or the lighting I normally look at what makes the model look the best. There are certain angles at which some models can look fabulous. For example if I have hired a car for a shoot I must know how much importance will it hold in the final image and place it accordingly and concentrate on the required angle, lighting, etc.

It is said that photography is an extension of the eye, your comments.
I completely agree with this statement. But, I’d rather say that photography is an extension of your mood. Each one will have a unique point of view. No two men will ever look at the same thing through the same set of eyes. Different things mean different things to different people. So, it is not just about what you see but also about what you feel.

How do you maintain a work life balance?
I really enjoy what I do. I have friends who are from the same profession as mine. I land up having dinners, watching movies and doing other things normally with whoever I am shooting. I also like to take a “ME” time-out. I never really feel like I am working. For me it is like a hobby that is paying off well.

I like to watch films in the cinema theatres and even a quick chat session with a friend over a cup of coffee is refreshing for me.

Which photographers have inspired you?
I can get impressed even by an amateur photographer. I have been inspired by many images and many people. Sometimes I see wonderful images and I set out on a search for that. For example I have recently been inspired to do wildlife photography after seeing the work of a neighbouring fellow just a month ago. He has a studio and shoots for a hobby on a regular basis. He has showed me his work on a number of occasions and I really liked it.

A great shot impresses me. There are so many faces around and with those there are so many stories to tell! People inspire me!

You are going to set up your own studio soon… how do you feel about that?
Although, I really like my last studio, which was also rented like the new one, I am pretty excited about the new one. The new place will be my studio for the next five years. I am currently working on the interiors and the only thing on my mind is that I don’t want it to look or feel like a work place. Many people who have visited the place say they receive positive vibes from it and I am happy about the fact because I like the space too. It’s actually a studio apartment and I might even be living there at times!

Have you held any exhibitions of your work?
I plan to hold an exhibition in the next six months. The basic concept and idea behind it will of course be people. The work will represent an extension of my thoughts on things I love.

What camera model are you using currently?
I am using the Canon 1DS MarkII

What are your thoughts on printing in photography?
It is an essential step in photography. It is the tail end process and should be done with care. A bad print can mar the efforts taken for an assignment. A lot of jobs have been wasted because of poor printing. The selection of the right colour calibration or correction is possible with printers. I don’t print my own images though they are best left with the printing experts.

Photos by Jitu Savlani | Fotosocial