Iqbal Mohamed is one of India’s leading professional photographers. In a career spanning over three decades, he has chartered a course that has taken him in directions, everyone a landmark.
After completing his bachelors in History and Political Science from Loyola College Chennai & MBA from University of Madras, Iqbal was the first from India to study at the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California, assist some of the top Professional Photographers in Hollywood, and return to India. He worked with some high profile national and international brands, Ford, Toyota, Ashok Leyland, TVS Bikes, Taj Hotels, Reebok, Titan, Coca Cola, CitiBank, Cairn India, BPL, Tamil Nadu Tourism, to name a few. He has also applied his skills to help NGOs like the Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society, CRY and the Spastics Society, winning accolades and awards through his journey as a professional.
The first to share quality photography knowledge with the vast pool of professional photographers in India, for whom language was a barrier, with his book “Portrait and Function Photography”. The first, structured photography book of its kind, to be published in eight Indian languages apart from English, with the support of Kodak India, in 1999.
Setting up of India’s first full facility professional photography institute, the Light & Life Academy, in 2001. This is Iqbal Mohamed’s most ambitious (when he was just 36 years old) and much acclaimed effort to create a ‘talent pool’ of international standard photographers. 700 + photographers have passed through the portals of LLA and have made their mark in every area of photography.
Then in 2017, harnessing the reach of the digital footprint, he launched India’s first structured online photography course, for serious amateurs, with inbuilt assignments and feedback from mentors, in nine Indian languages apart from English.
Iqbal has created memorable projects and books . “Vibrant at 1000” commemorating the 1000 year old Thanjavur Temple. “Nilgiris Mountain Railway” a UNESCO World Heritage.
Iqbal sees himself as a “passion photographer”, for whom every subject is a piece of art, waiting to be captured. From an insect to an airplane, from people to monuments, his hunger to keep making images is insatiable. As is, his eagerness to share whatever knowledge he gains in the area of photography and life, with as wide a cross section of the visually inclined.
Currently, he is engaged in deeper exploration of both Light & Life, while he explores his next landmark venture that will hopefully add a new dimension to the way people see Photography. A man of few words, but myriad interests, Iqbal has never let rules or norms stifle his thoughts, freedom, expression or action.
At heart, Iqbal is a purist and Nature is his ‘religion’. His other interests include movies, music, philosophy, travelling, sports and of course “seeing”.
www.iqbalmohamed.com