The Heart of the Image

With his first toy being a camera, he grew up in a family where photography was not uncommon. Assisting his father through the years, learning the tricks in the darkroom, he soon began building his body of work. He went on to cover important national and social issues over the years, and has been published in major international and national magazines and newspapers. This month, we speak to Mumbai-based documentary photographer Atul Loke, who tells us the importance of immersing himself in each of his stories, and how human emotions are still at the heart of his images.

- Abhishek Desai

Atul Loke was born into a family where photography was already a household word. His father is a photographer, so it was something that became a natural part of his life growing up. As a child, his first toys were cameras, and he recalls helping his father make his prints in the dark room. “I felt honoured to assist him in this magical world of chemicals. Before I started taking my own pictures, my father’s work made me see a thousand images, and that helped me build a visual sense in my work ahead. He did not allow me to use a camera till I had mastered my darkroom techniques, thus creating my thorough technical knowledge of a picture, before I started making my own.”

As Atul grew up, his involvement increased in his father’s work, and he assisted him in various assignments and shot alongside too. Atul says that his family was not that financially sound, and being introduced to the world of photography not only helped him as a source of income, but also gave him the freedom of expression. In his early phase, Atul did all kinds of assignments, ranging from weddings and birthdays to freelance media assignments.

He recalls his first experience of shooting at a function at his school with a camera borrowed from his father. One of the images he shot of a visiting dignitary was published in the paper the next day, credited to Atul. This validated his urge to explore photography as a medium, and after assisting his father for a few more years, Atul started building his own body of work.