Exclusive Interview with Mital Patel

Mital Patel is an internationally recognized nature and wildlife photographer who focuses on capturing beauty in all its forms—whether natural or manmade. From architecture and landscapes to the creatures of the wild, Patel has a distinct passion for capturing the most remarkable elements of life through his visual representation of movement, emotion and mood. From behind the lens, he strives to bring viewers his very unique view of nature, telling a story without words and conveying a feeling in the abstract. He challenges his audience to let their imaginations run free, taking the journey with him on his travels and opening their minds beyond the confines of static photography.

In each of his pieces, Patel hopes to offer his audience a way to view the world around them a bit differently – to appreciate the beauty of moments and places that are often overlooked. An intrepid traveler and lover of adventure, Patel’s passion for creative and imaginative photography is a great asset to his exploration of the world, which spans six out of the seven continents. His work is admired worldwide for its unique and artistic perspective. We asked him a few questions about his life and work:

All About Photo: Tell us about your first introduction to photography. How did you get started?

Mital Patel: I started at the age of 12, when I was given my first camera. I started off documenting family moments, and I always had a camera with me. Over time I was focused on my studies and then later family. It wasn’t until 2014 that I started to go deeper into what has become my current photography practice.

Your photography spans landscapes, nature and wildlife. What first drew you to photographing the natural world?

I started visiting the US national parks and that sparked the deeper passion for photography of the natural world. Being outdoors and seeing the first light at sunrise across these stunning landscapes opened up my eyes to see more. A few years later, I took my first trip to Africa, which opened up my interests in wildlife photography. It’s more than wanderlust, it’s about connecting with the spectacle of the natural world.

Craig © Mital Patel

What are you working on currently?

I am preparing for my next exhibition, Fantastic Voyage, this November at the White Room Gallery in East Hampton, NY. It’s an exciting show featuring a variety of images from my adventures. The series spans subjects ranging from Antarctica to Africa, Iceland to the US. It shows nature in its purest and artistic form.

How do you select your subjects?

Typically based on the next story I am trying to tell, whether it’s the landscapes and wildlife of Svalbard or the Maasai in Kenya. A lot of it comes from within, what I feel I need to see and share.

Guardian's Watchful Eye © Mital Patel

At Peace in the Wild © Mital Patel

Are there any memorable stories that stand out to you from your photography projects?

Last year, I had the privilege of spending time with two last remaining northern white rhinos. They are guarded 24x7 for their protection. I was able to work with the senior caretaker to learn about their story and be able to share it with many others.

What part of the world has resonated with you the most?

The polar regions are special to me. Their remoteness is a particular draw. So few people have gone there and experiences the vast landscapes, brisk clean air, and raw nature.

Glacier Peaks © Mital Patel

King of the Arctic © Mital Patel

Arctic Flow © Mital Patel

What are some of the challenges you face when photographing these remote environments?

Well, it’s nature, so along with that comes unpredictability. Not knowing when the animal has a change in pattern and makes a turn towards you. In the arctic regions, it’s often being faced with harsh weather. Having proper gear is essential in these climates.

You work with a variety of charities and organizations on your projects. When did this part of your practice start?

I started this many years ago by donating artwork for wildlife conservation fundraisers. This was one of my first exposures to conservation. I also started working with local organizations a few years ago, and I wanted to give back to my local community.

What do you think photography can do to encourage change or awareness on these issues?

Photography can help bring people and conservation together by bringing the viewer much closer to nature and hopefully feeling the emotion translated from the photograph to the viewer. Maybe you’ve heard of these landscapes that are under threat due to climate change or these animals that are endangered, but seeing them turns that knowledge into something more, a connection, and hopefully a visceral one.

What’s next for you?

Aside from my next exhibition, I’m planning a few trips next year to the Galapagos, Rwanda, and Tanzania. I’m also working on a fine art photo book for next year.

Cypress Grove © Mital Patel

Flight Path © Mital Patel

Iceland Volcano © Mital Patel

Bryan Adams: Hear the World

By Bryan Adams

Publisher : Steidl

2024 | 264 pages

Hear the World is a visually compelling and heartwarming collection of over 120 portraits by musician and photographer Bryan Adams, created in collaboration with the Hear the World Foundation. This beautifully curated book brings together some of the most recognizable faces from the worlds of film, music, fashion, and beyond—including Julianne Moore, Bruce Springsteen, The Weeknd, Priyanka Chopra, Jared Leto, Léa Seydoux, and Lenny Kravitz—all captured through Adams' distinctive lens. Each subject strikes the signature "Hear the World" pose, with a hand cupped behind one ear, symbolizing their support for hearing awareness.

The Hear the World Foundation, which focuses on supporting children with hearing loss in low- and middle-income countries, is grounded in the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to hear and live life to its fullest. Adams has been a passionate collaborator with the foundation since 2007, and Hear the World is the culmination of their shared vision to highlight the importance of conscious hearing and advocate for global accessibility to hearing care.

The portraits in Hear the World offer more than just familiar faces—they capture the humanity, individuality, and solidarity of renowned ambassadors uniting for a vital cause. Each image stands as a reminder of the preciousness of sound and the often-overlooked gift of hearing. Through this striking visual anthology, Adams not only showcases his skill behind the camera but also raises awareness of hearing loss and celebrates the foundation's mission.

This book is a testament to the power of art, philanthropy, and collaboration, making Hear the World a touching and meaningful contribution to both the world of photography and the cause of hearing health.

All About Bryan Adams

Mary Ellen Mark: Indian Circus

By Mary Ellen Mark

Publisher : Steidl

2024 | 160 pages

Playful yet haunting, Mary Ellen Mark’s photographs of Indian circus performers depict a world on the brink of disappearance. In 1969, Mark first traveled to India and photographed a circus, captivated by its "beauty and innocence." Two decades later, she returned for six months to document 18 circuses across the country, from bustling cities to remote villages.

Ranging from large troupes with hundreds of performers—both human and animal—to small, intimate acts, Mark's lens captures not the spectacle of the shows, but the quiet moments in between: scenes of practice, rest, and life beyond the spotlight. Her focus is on the human experience—marked by the contradictions of humor and sadness, beauty and hardship. By the time of Mark’s project, Indian circuses were already fading, holding onto an innocence long lost in the West, as they struggled against the pressures of the modern world.

This new edition of her 1993 book preserves the original text and images but reimagines the sequence and design, staying true to Mark’s poignant vision of a dying art form.

All About Mary Ellen Mark

Peter Lindbergh: Dior

By Peter Lindbergh

Publisher : TASCHEN

2024 | 512 pages

Peter Lindbergh photographed Dior’s most exceptional muses, Marion Cotillard and Charlize Theron among them, and signed campaigns for Lady Dior and J'Adore with his inimitable style. Throughout his career, the photographer was one of the house’s closest collaborators. This final book was an original cocreation that was close to the artist’s heart—and to ours.

Seventy years of Dior history projected against the effervescence of Times Square, New York: this was the concept behind Lindbergh’s project, extraordinary both in scope and dimension, for which Dior, in an unusual move, allowed an unprecedented number of priceless garments to be taken from its vaults in Paris and shipped across the Atlantic.

The result is electric. Amid the frenzy of Times Square, Alek Wek glows in the immaculate 1947 Bar suit, the storied ensemble that launched the House of Dior. In snatches of street scenes, models Saskia de Brauw, Karen Elson, and Amber Valletta flit through crowds and scaffolding, are reflected in building façades, and draped in haute couture, from pieces hand-sewn by Christian Dior to more recent designs by Maria Grazia Chiuri. Lindbergh’s trademark monochrome and color photographs masterfully highlight the intricacies, silhouettes, and textures of each garment.

Lindbergh himself is present in every aspect of this publication designed by his long-time collaborator and friend Juan Gatti. This volume features 165 never-before-published images from the shoot, including an introduction by Martin Harrison, and pays homage to Lindbergh’s profound relationship with the Parisian House by curating more than 100 of his photographs of Dior creations, from haute couture to ready-to-wear, men’s and women’s, originally published in some of the world’s most prestigious magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. A breathtaking tribute to two pillars of fashion and photography and their timeless collaborations.

All About Peter Lindbergh

Toilet Alex Paper Prager

By Alex Prager, Maurizio Cattelan, Pierpaolo Ferrari

Publisher : Damiani

2024 | 40 pages

A captivating fusion of the surreal worlds of Toilet Paper and the striking imagery of artist, director, and screenwriter Alex Prager, the latest issue of Toilet Paper magazine presents a visual dialogue between these creative forces. The issue showcases 12 of Prager’s evocative images alongside 12 conceived by the Toilet Paper team. Known for its vibrant aesthetics and playful visual twists, Toilet Paper enters into a dynamic exchange with Prager’s technicolor universe, where the line between reality and fiction is artfully blurred. Her signature use of archetypes, everyday objects, humor, and allegory creates a provocative and mysterious journey throughout the pages. This collaboration follows in the footsteps of ToiletMartin PaperParr (2018), a special edition that celebrated the iconic work of internationally acclaimed photographer Martin Parr, along with the creative minds of Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari. Like its predecessor, this issue brings together distinctive visual worlds in a way that delights and intrigues.

Exclusive Interview with Mital Patel

All about Mital Patel

Selected Books