Capturing emotions

In 2001, when Sanket Khuntale was introduced to a basic camera, little did he know that he would go on to make photography his second profession, capturing beauty in the mundane things around him. It was  his passion for photography that led him to win a sponsored trip to Nepal, after his picture of a boy diving into water secured the first place at a national photography competition.

“I used to tell myself that if a single image could bring me so much happiness and strength, what would it be like spending my lifetime making more of these,” says Sanket, who, after his first trip to Nepal, never looked back. In spite of becoming an academic scholar, he preferred to dive into photography.

Bharatnatyam dancer placed against chaotic environment and ambiances near the Gateway of India

A freelance photographer and Karate champion, Sanket hails from Karad – a small town in Satara district of Maharashtra. Just like any other child, he too was expected to pursue MBBS or engineering, but Sanket picked his own path and moved to Mumbai. “It was never too difficult for me to convince my parents to let me pursue the things I love. I have been lucky that I can make my life choices,” shares the photographer.

A group of families and friends during Ganpati visarjan in Girgoan Chowpatty in Mumbai

A graphic designer and photographer, Sanket combines both the skill sets in his photography. He tries to capture the true emotions in harmony with the basic principles of design. “I make sure that the composition, golden ratio, colour, breathing space, light, and the shadow are complementing my subject in every possible way. I always try to make things look better than they really are,” he explains, adding that human emotions from different cultures and places inspire him to take pictures.

A mother and the kitten resting inside an inverted chair

In addition, the photographer tries to capture the soul of the subject rather than the outer texture. “I try to show what I am, rather than what the subject is. This is the thought that has made me evolve, and it’s a never ending process,” he says.

Tiny chicks under the wings of their Mother

When asked about his idea of photography, Sanket retorts that he is trying to answer the question himself. “I am still evolving to find answer for this. I want to be happy and photography makes me happy,” he muses.

The photographer believes that to use one’s imagination, you need a strong object to work on. “You are lucky if you have both things on your plate at any given time. But when there is no scope for imagination or no interesting subject, making a good picture is the biggest challenge for any photographer,” he concludes.