We are happy to start our Meet the Mentor Series where we introduce you to Darter Photography mentors who conduct our highly sought after photography workshops and tours. All our photographers are highly accomplished passionate photographers who love to share the expertise gained over years.
In the 
first of this series we are introducing you to Pratap J Rao a landscape, nature, and people photographer from Bangalore, India. His interest in photography started in 2006, when he picked up a Canon digital point and shoot. Thirsty to learn more, he quickly outgrew the Auto mode and picked up a DSLR. From then on he taught himself advanced techniques, digital post processing, and archival print-making. His knowledge of the craft comes from complete hands-on experience.
Pratap is fueled by deep passion for photography, and love for nature. From waking up at the crack of dawn on weekends, to making long trips in the Himalayas, Pratap is ready to do whatever it takes to find the right light. Landscape photography in India poses unique challenges due to overpopulation and unfavourable tropical weather. Sometimes, only repeated trips to the same location gives a photographer what he is looking for. In spite of these challenges, or perhaps because of it, Pratap likes to capture landscapes exclusively in India. He hopes that his artistic vision evokes people around him to preserve the beauty of the land. He likes to balance the patience and meticulousness of landscape photography with the spontaneity of people photography. While landscape photography involves advanced digital darkroom techniques, people photography is highly dependent on seizing the moment. Pratap likes to find a story in the unsophistication of the average Indian.
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Affinity -
Sunset at Savandurga -
Priest at Melkote -
Fields at Langza -
Shepherd at Chandratal -
A Monk Pryaing at Kaza Monastery -
Coracles at Sunset in Hampi -
Daily Prayers and Daily Mails -
Breaking of Dawn at St Mary’s Island -
Cyclist at Dawn
Although Pratap shoots exclusively in the digital format, he has explored archival printing. In today’s digital age of Instagram, it is very easy to apply filters to make an average photo look good. However the true test of quality is in print. He prints at home, and is adept with colour management and printing inkjet technqiues. To see more of Pratap’s work on the web, visit www.pixelshooter.net and www.pratapj.com.
Pratap mentors
One day Photography Trips to Melukote,
Waterfalls and Landscape Photography Tours
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