Iqbal Mohamed

A man of few words, but myriad interests, Iqbal has never let rules or norms stifle his thoughts, freedom, expression or action.

Iqbal is one of India’s leading professional photographers. In a career spanning three decades, he has chartered a course that has taken him in directions, every one a landmark.

From being the first from India to have studied at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California, to return to India to work for some of the most high profile national and international brands, winning accolades and awards in his journey as a professional.

“Portrait and Function Photography” by Iqbal is the first book of its kind to be published in eight Indian languages apart from English, to share quality photography knowledge with the vast pool of professional photographers, who had little or no access to structured learning.

India’s first full-facility professional photography institute, the Light & Life Academy is Iqbal’s most ambitious and much acclaimed effort to reach structured photography education to aspiring professional photographers.  He did this in 2001, at the age of 36, when he was at the peak of his career.

Three of the books he has worked on, that he is particularly close to are : “Vibrant at 1000”, on the Big Temple Tanjore, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Mamallapuram monolithic temple structures, all three - 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.

These days, he divides his time between exploring nature to learn more about life and sharing these learnings with students of LLA as well as others interested.

At heart, Iqbal is a purist and nature is his religion.

His other interests include music, films, philosophy, travelling, sports and of course “seeing”.