Dubai-based photographer Immanuel Abraham Mathew has captured some awe-inspiring images since he first became interested in the art form four years ago. But his recent trip to India for Holi (a two-day Hindu festival of colors celebrating the coming of Spring) may be some of his best work yet. We sat down with Mathew to chat about his travel experiences, shooting process and to see a collection of his favorite shots.
“One of the many attractions during Holi festival is during Sabah. We waited five hours to get this shot as there were many other photographers in the area and it was really crowded.”
The Holi festival looks like a unique and interesting festival. But with all of that flying chalk, it also looks a nightmare for an expensive camera.
Yes, it really is unique! I have always wanted to photograph Holi so I decided to head towards Uttar Pradhesh (in India) with a group of like-minded photographers from Dubai. First things first, I had to take care of my camera. I covered it with a rain cover and sealed the front element of the lens with a tape to ensure safety. It was difficult for me to shoot during the initial stages since it wasn’t that easy to shoot with rain-cover. It was one of the most amazing experiences and I will cherish the memories for the rest of my life. The photographic results are worth all the pain I went through.
What was your favorite part of the festival?
The best moment in Holi is called the Sabah, which happens at the temple in Barsana and Nandgaon. It is a gathering where all the devotees sing prayers in praise of Lord Krishna, all while colors are exploding all around them. To me, that’s the best time to photograph Holi.
“Getting this particular frame was difficult as there were many other people and photographers around that area celebrating Holi. I had to crop it like crazy to get the frame I wanted.”
“When Holi celebrations reach their peak level, you witness this magic. Devotees throw Holi powder to each other while I did my best to shoot and make sure my camera was taken care of.”
“Taken near the Aarti Ghat Temple at Vrindavan, these kids were so playful around evening time after finishing their hectic work (selling flowers for the pooja). They told me to take a few images of them and we all became great friends, indeed. Sometimes small happy moments like these can make big changes in your personal life as well.”
“The celebration of Holi at its peak level with these devotees singing praise to Lord Krishna. Even though I had to wait for hours to click this photograph, the framing was indeed magical.”
“An old man takes a smoke break during Holi festivities.”
You have been to some incredible locations and seen some amazing things. Do you still find inspiration from others??
Anything that excites me definitely inspires me. I always find time to look at other amazing photographers’ work to get inspiration and learn technique as well. Another form of inspiration would be traveling to unknown places and being with like-minded souls to talk about photography.
What is your shooting process before arriving at a new location?
1) Check the weather forecast.
2) I Google a few images to get an idea about the location.
3) I check the sunrise and sunset time.
4) I like to camp at the location to shoot night photography and to capture the morning sunrise. If I love the place, I will wait to capture the sunset as well.
4) I walk around and try to pre-visualize how I can get the final shot.
5) I make sure to try different compositions and learn from my mistakes.
“I loved the natural light that came through the right side of the frame and those people rushing towards the festival area. Holi is all about capturing these amazing moments.”
“On our way to Taj Mahal during the last day of our trip, we stopped at a Dhobi-Ghat (a place where many washers are present) and a few kids were playing nearby. I started photographing and this girl was so happy being clicked. Such a great display of colors in this photograph.”
Do you have any suggestions for other aspiring travel photographers?
“Never stop learning. This is the shortest yet best advice I can give to any photographer. Finding your passion and learning the craft of your passion is really important. Make sure you spend some time learning something new every day.”
Check out a few more of Mathew’s favorite shots from around the world below.
“This photograph is the most difficult one I’ve taken in terms of reaching the destination. Two photographers and I got up around 2:30 AM and we head to a location called ATUH HILL (it’s actually a cliff) and from that cliff we needed to get down to the beach to reach this amazing location. The paths to reach this destination was not easy because the steps are uneven and a small slip from the path could put your life in danger as well. But when passion strikes us, we forget all these factors. After almost 1.5hr of walking down from the cliff, we managed to reach this destination and I was really amazed to see this great location with this amazing rock formation.”
“My friends and I went to Al Qudra Lake (in Dubai). It was really foggy in the morning with the temperature down to almost nine degrees outside. Though it was freezing cold, I had to keep shooting these amazing birds. It was such an exciting moment to capture and get the shots I always wanted. Bird photography is all about being patient and really observing the birds to get that perfect and exciting shot.”
“I got to witness one of the best weather conditions in Dubai with these amazing clouds next to this unique architecture. It gives an ever-lasting impression to the viewer. I had to pre-visualize the end result to get the shot I had in mind.”
“This photograph was taken during Al Dhafra Camel Festival in Abu Dhabi. I had to pre-visualize of what I needed for the final result. I waited patiently for almost 45 minutes for the camels and their caretaker to walk in the center of the frame. This photograph will always be on my favorite list.”
“I woke up early in the morning to catch this beautiful sunrise just a 15-minute walk from our hotel in Bali. The early morning colors behind a great subject and an amazing reflection was a good way to shoot this amazing landscape. I would love to go back to Bali someday. Such an awesome place to photograph.”
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