An interview with Chennai based architectural photographer Yash R Jain

“I enjoy capturing the play of light and shadow. For all my shoots, I prefer using natural light. There is a lot of preparation and planning that happens before any shoot in terms of setting up a frame and styling the space. Timing and weather play an important role in this, as the natural light affects the space differently throughout the day.”

Yash R Jain has been working as an architectural photographer since 2018. After completing his Bachelor in Architecture, he interned in Mumbai. Upon his return to Chennai, he has worked with various architects and interior designers and collaborated with other photographers in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.

Creating these frames to highlight the grandness of the structure or vividness of space, is what Yash thrives for. Perspective, light, and shadow are important aspects for him. His photographs bring out the essence of the building or the too, deceiving the elegance and vastness along with its functionality and the materials used.

Understanding the story behind the project brings out a beautiful result from his collaborations with architects and designers. Yash understands these details and is enthusiastic about focusing on depicting this through his photographs. He is passionate about his work, as he senses the same with his fellow creative minds.

Hi Yash, I hope all is safe and well with you and many thanks for taking the time to share with our community. 

Can I congratulate you on a superb portfolio, I love the striking impact you achieve in your work and also I'm a huge fan of your new website, very nice!

Can you tell us what has been keeping you occupied recently throughout 2020 and what your plans for 2021?

Hi Pete, thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate it.

I had recently moved back to Chennai from Mumbai when the pandemic hit. Even though it was challenging to approach clients and shoot projects, I took this time to simply learn and improve my skills. I watched tutorials by other photographers, started marketing myself to architects and interior designers in the city to schedule shoots and so on.

In 2021, I see myself getting into architectural film making, creating short videos and incorporating the aspect of moving pictures into my work.

I’m glad to it, a good use of time I would think. We’ve all gone and done a bit of personal development, however things have been very busy here in the UK, I’m secretly needing a break and some more tutorial time. Very different to six months ago.

Could you tell us a bit more about your past, your education, ethos and how you approach your work currently?

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Chennai. My love for photography started in college, particularly during a trip to Northern India, as I was documenting the historical monuments. The urban scapes and city life was also something I was drawn to as I travelled across the country. Even while working as an intern architect for a brief time, I would document projects for the firms.

A year after finishing college, I interned as a photographer in Mumbai under Aniruddh Kothari. He mentored me through the process. He taught me the fundamentals and also let me experiment and find my own style as I built my portfolio in this field.

My interest lies in the concept of minimalism. When I am capturing a frame, it is about highlighting the space in its true essence. I like to bring out the materials in its truest form using the natural source of lighting.

I’m also big fan of minimalism. There is something rather rewarding and peaceful in creating a calming, balanced image. I love it. If I had my way at home I’d take everything out of the house and just have a few chairs, a table and some artwork. That is never going to happen though…hahaha

How do you go about getting work and what do you find is the best solution you've found?

Upon my return from Mumbai, Chennai seemed slow-paced in the scene of architectural and interior photography. As a newbie in this community, it was difficult to approach architects and interior designers. Also with the lockdown being implemented closely after my shift to Chennai, meeting people or going to firms was not an option.

The only possible ways to contact architects, interior designers in this community was through emails, cold calls and DMs on social media. Few of them did approach me after a while, trusting me to help create a portfolio for them.

Word of mouth helped me get more work. I have been operating this way since then. People have approached me after noticing my work being published in magazines and on online platforms as well.

That is the best way, especially when you moved to a new area. You do have to be somewhat patient and things don’t happen overnight but if your work is of a high standard and people enjoy working with you, word of mouth is the most powerful tool you have.

Where do you see the future of photography heading, not only in our genre but as a whole?

Still photography is an evolving industry. With the ever changing technology and how people perceive photography, we need to adapt our styles according to the trends and improve based on that.

Currently, short videos are being given importance on social media, but the impression of a still photograph is ever-lasting and will remain unaltered.

I agree, short films, done well are a thing of beauty. They can evoke an emotion a photograph can’t, however a powerful still can everlasting as you say.

I do feel that as powerful video is, it is somewhat a throw away due to our own heighten consumption and need for new content. I do wonder how we will look back at the social media consumption of the early 21st Century and wonder if it was actually a good thing. Is art being forced and squeezed out with little consideration and contemplation on how it will digested….Only time will tell I suppose.

That is the artist in me speaking…..I’ll be quiet now.

What is the interior and architectural scene like in Chennai, is this where you do most of your work?

Chennai is a raw market compared to other metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi or Bengaluru.

During the lockdown, I reached out to many potential clients and explained to them about my work, my process of photographing a space and how it can help them. As most of us were on social media throughout the lockdown, it was easy to make a point about having a project documented and publishing them on these online platforms. 

Currently, I work with clients based in the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

I just love the colours in India. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Sri Lanka for a shoots but never India. The sunrises and sunsets just look incredible. Perhaps a you could show me around if I visit….

As a photography community we love a bit of gear talk, could you tell us what equipment you have in your bag and enlighten those who aren't familiar a little bit more about your process.

I use a Sony mirrorless camera, along with a few lenses. 24-105 mm, 16-35 mm and 55 mm lenses are always on me.

I enjoy capturing the play of light and shadow. For all my shoots, I prefer using natural light. There is a lot of preparation and planning that happens before any shoot in terms of setting up a frame and styling the space. Timing and weather play an important role in this, as the natural light affects the space differently throughout the day.

There is nothing better than a planned shoot working out, although you do have to be slightly flexible in the UK. For one, the weather is insufferably unreliable.

It was quite funny the other evening I was on a rooftop shooting a dusk scene for an architect. We finally had a beautiful sunset and wanted to get the evening shots of the Abbey in Bath all lit up. The lights normally come on around dusk to highlight all the features of the building. We waited, and waited, and waited….for some reason it was the first time in 10 years the lights didn’t come on to light the Abbey….Mark the architect and I sloped off slightly disappointed and defeated as it had been a few weeks in the planning. It was great fun though……

Do you feel that you're happy with the work you produce?

I feel it is a learning process for me with every project. The more I work, the more people I meet from this community, this helps widen my knowledge and my craft.

Looking at other photographers that have been inspiring me and how they go about with their work, I feel there's a lot I can improve on.

If we always keep pushing ourselves to do better I believe you will always improve. This community has been such great help for me in the past be it for inspiration of offering help and advice.

I think we should talk a bit about copyright.....How do you go about educating your clients about licensing and is there anything we can be doing better, especially in the UK to inform our clients better?

Licensing is an integral part of our industry. It needs to be addressed more often and given priority.

Chennai, being a developing market in this field, there is not much awareness about copyrights and licensing amongst the architects and interior designers. I make sure to address this to my clients before shooting any project.

In some parts of the world, like the US, it is a given, in other parts we have to educate our clients somewhat. It is baby steps and you have to choose your battles, but at least the conversation has started.

Where do you draw your inspiration from and how do you go about creating your stylised look?

I drew a lot of inspiration from Tadao Ando and Mies van der Rohe as an architectural student (I still do). Their minimalistic creations connected spaces to the surrounding nature and natural light highlighted the space in new ways.

I have a very simple and a minimalistic approach while documenting a project. Every project is different from each other, be it architecture or interiors. It is difficult to create a particular stylised look for all projects. Every space or building speaks for itself, and I let it do so.

I think this is what I like a lot about your portfolio, I can see a lot of my thought process in your compositions.

Do you have a favourite thing you like to shoot and why?

Architecture is my favourite thing to shoot. Buildings themselves can be awe-striking, but I also love how the photograph of it can be very impactful. As every space has its own story to tell, I have the means and tools to spread their tales.

Nice…I like that.

What would say the highlight of your career would be to this point?

I tend to enjoy every milestone of my journey, from recognition of my work to seeing my photographs being published in Architectural Digest India, ArchDaily, Vogue India and other publications. My latest milestone is this interview with you, M-mode.

Haha….to even be included amongst those greats is very humbling. I’m just a fan of others work, and like you, I want to talk and share my work with others. I also think it is so important to enjoy every second of the journey and be in the moment. If you wish for more you’ll never enjoy the ride.

Do you have any favourite photographers that inspire you and anyone you think we should be keeping an eye out for?

From the pool of talented people out there in this community, it would be hard to mention everyone. A few photographers who inspired me during my early days are Niveditaa Gupta, Simon Devitt, Minh T, Ema Peter, Thomas de Bruyne, Mike Kelley, Fernando Guerra, Joe Fletcher, etc.

Lastly, what have you learnt and taken away from the past years events?

We have certainly learnt to adapt to this new normal. I am grateful for now, simply living in the present amongst loved ones. I have learned to be more patient with myself. I am now more focused on the journey rather than the destination.

A big thanks to Yash for his time last week for a very insightful and educational takeover.

To see more of Yash’s portfolio please click the following links - Website - Instagram