Today we’d like to introduce you to Abhinav Joshi
Abhinav, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
At the tender age of 12, a young aspiring artist found himself captivated by the world of photography. His uncle, recognizing a spark of creativity, handed him a Nikon DSLR, and from that moment, the boy was hooked. Photography wasn’t just a hobby; it was a passion that ran in the family. His father, too, had an eye for capturing the world through a lens, and together, they spent countless hours exploring the art form.
I am delighted to introduce myself, Abhinav Joshi—a visual storyteller.
As I grew, so did my ambition. I participated in photography competitions, sought out Nikon workshops to master the intricate workings of my camera, and embarked on numerous photowalks—each experience broadening my perspective. Whether I was capturing the hustle of a busy street, the elegance of fashion, or the raw beauty of wildlife, photography became my medium of expression, thanks to the unwavering support of my parents.
A defining moment came during a workshop in Bharatpur with the acclaimed wildlife photographer, Mr. Sudhir Shivaram. His guidance opened my eyes to the art of patience and observation in wildlife photography, and for the first time, I felt the true power of visual storytelling. The thrill of capturing life in its most candid form left an indelible mark on me.
But it wasn’t until 2016, while watching Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, that I experienced a profound shift in my understanding of visual art. The film’s powerful imagery conveyed emotions and narratives with an intensity that dialogue alone could not achieve. This realization ignited a passion for cinematography—a field where I could blend my love for visuals with the depth of storytelling.
Determined to pursue this new passion, I enrolled in Whistling Woods International in Mumbai, where I specialized in cinematography. My sojourn there was transformative! I immersed myself in the world of filmmaking, from pre-production to post-production, learning to craft narratives that resonated with audiences on an emotional level. My thesis project, which earned a finalist spot at the Shorted India Film Festival, was a testament to the skills and vision I had developed.
Yet, I knew my journey was far from over. Eager to expand my horizons, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a Master’s degree in cinematography. Here, I am not only continuing my education but also working as a cinematographer on various projects, several of which are currently in the festival circuit. Each project I undertake deepens my understanding of the craft and reinforces my belief in the power of visuals to tell stories that transcend words.
My journey from a young photographer to a flourishing cinematographer has been one of discovery, learning and relentless pursuit of excellence. As I look to the future, I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and eager to continue pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Coming from a really small town in India where the expectations of my teachers, school, peers are mostly the same conventional path towards careers like medicine, engineering, business or law, my challenges were just not about the right decision making but also navigating my path from all those biases and getting into an unconventional field like cinematography. A field as niche as this, where very few know about the science and skills behind it, the onus was on me to research and explore the nuances, terminologies, opportunities, and the network to grow and shine in this profession. Where do I begin? Who do I speak to? Could this be a lucrative profession? were just few of the existential questions before I took the plunge with the support of my parents and family.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Since childhood, my grandfather narrated stories from our rich mythology and how those stories reveal the Navarasa, the nine flavors of emotions. Every time I heard those stories, my thoughts wandered to encapturing those emotions into camera movements and lighting choices for each and every scene and character. That’s what I love about films, I am a slave to the story! As humans, our superpower is emotions and I love to explore them behind the lens as a Director of Photography, camera operator and gaffer.
Cut to, in 2022, an opportunity to showcase my learnings, my passion and how far technology can supersede human emotions, inspired me and something I am actually proud of. We created a very futuristic project titled, ‘Grey’, my final thesis submission which is currently streaming on the Indian Platform ‘Jio Cinema’. I was enthralled not just because it got recognition, but it strengthened my control over the technical aspects of cinematography and led us to explore the complex human emotions, and to suffice the need, we chose to compliment it through framing, the lighting, the choice of lenses and the aspect ratio. I chose the 4:3 aspect ratio to show the chaotic loneliness in the near future setting where people hire a professional to convey the emotions, either it’s an apology or a birthday wish. The short-sighted framing and not-so-commercial approach towards the framing enhanced the feeling in the audience and for which we all were appreciated for. The color palette played a crucial role too as colors are the eyes to emotions, making the audience feel the subtext of the particular scene, subconsciously, and I as the cinematographer of the film, focused on each and every aspect, to convey the story, without spoon-feeding the audience.
What’s next?
As a cinema baby, I want to grow & learn with each experience, each film and from each person I collaborate with. I am eager to learn more about celluloid film and work with the 65mm & 70mm IMAX in future. The amalgamation of technology and cinematography excites me creatively and technically, whether it is creating a lighting rig or creating the new lenses that a story asks for.
At this stage, I wouldn’t want to limit myself to any genres, but thriller & psychological stories bring out the most imaginative and diverse expressions and emotions. The future is exciting and unexplored here.
The moment I will have the resources and the means, I want to build a community of experts coming from this niche, and nurture all unconventional minds like me in learning about the not-so-well known careers in the process of filmmaking. From the lost names in the rolling credits to the opening credits, the journey is long but miles to go before I sleep…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.abhinav-joshi.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/abhi.__.nav
