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    BlackRapid Ambassadors

    From world travelers to studio pros, BLACKRAPID ambassadors are photographers and storytellers who rely on our straps in real-world conditions. Get to know the creatives behind the lens and see why they trust BLACKRAPID to keep their gear secure and accessible.

    Ishaan Bhataiya

    A man rides a dirt bike while a photographer captures the action in the background.

    Ishaan Bhataiya is a Pune-based photographer and esteemed BlackRapid Ambassador celebrated for his dynamic action sports photography.

    Starting his journey at 14, Ishaan quickly transitioned from mobile photography to becoming the first Indian photographer to cover the grueling Dakar Rally in 2019 and 2020. His portfolio boasts collaborations with global brands and coverage of high-octane events like the Indian Extreme Nationals and the Rainforest Challenge. Ishaan’s work is characterized by capturing athletes mid-action, showcasing the raw energy and emotion of sports.

    Canadian photographers—from Toronto’s bustling sports arenas to Vancouver’s adventure scenes, and Winnipeg’s growing creative community—can draw inspiration from Ishaan’s energetic approach to photography. His use of BlackRapid’s Double Breathe strap enhances his mobility and comfort during extensive shoots, reflecting his commitment to quality gear. Ishaan’s work exemplifies the fusion of technical skill and storytelling, offering valuable insights for Canada’s photography community.

    Hometown:

    Pilani, Rajasthan, India

    Resides:

    Pune, Maharashtra, India

    Career Highlight #1:

    My first tryst with an international rally in Morocco.

    It put a massive smile on my face, seeing all the Rally Cars and Bikes in flesh for the first time ever. And, soon after the rally, I went ahead to shoot a press test for the Sherco TVS Racing team in Merzouga. Can never forget that early morning – Adrien Metge (Factory Sherco Rider) and I made our way into the dunes, and it was amazing what we were able to achieve. Shooting one-on-one with an international rally athlete, getting him to perform the way I wanted, in accordance with the composition and photographs in my mind, it was surreal to say the least. https://wideanglevigilante.com/work/sherco-motorcycles-merzouga-morocco/

    Career Highlight #2:

    Till this day, I had only heard of the term ‘shakedown’ – where the teams come and test out the bikes, a day before the scrutiny and the start of the rally. My first ever shakedown was with Rally Zone, and just a day before the start of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

    We made our way to the desert, to start our first round of shooting with Monster Energy Honda Team – it was nothing short of exciting to say the least. With the world’s top athletes in the form of Joan Barreda, Kevin Benavides and Nacho Cornejo – it was a treat to shoot with them and also make the entire team image, with a slight twist in terms of composition. Getting to interact with Pep Segales, the team media manager and various other members, it was a massive learning experience. Later the same day, I made my way to the KTM and Husqvarna setup, while Edo made his way back to the bivouac.

    There was massive responsibility on my shoulders, firstly to produce world class imagery, unto the standards Red Bull and the team are used to, and secondly it was my first time here shooting with these international teams, and suddenly the world’s fastest rally riders were in front of me, waiting for me to dictate on what and how the images should turn out. Shooting with Sam Sunderland, Luciano Benavides and Andrew Short, helped me to inculcate this sense of confidence in my art form as an Action Sports Photographer, and to believe in the fact that I was creating images at par with the best Rally-Raid Photographers from around the world.

    https://wideanglevigilante.com/work/monster-energy-honda-team-shakedown-addc/

    https://wideanglevigilante.com/work/2019-abu-dhabi-desert-challenge-red-bull-ktm-factory-team-shakedown/

    Career Highlight #3:

    The first commercial advertising campaign I ever shot.

    Learning from not just the shooting part, but more-so from the entire Pre-Production end and working closely with the agency on the planning front, from locations to finalising the story and the images. It was that moment to finally put everything I had learnt and gathered over the past many of shooting into practice, and to execute the concept to the T. It was a massive boost for my confidence on the advertising front.

    https://wideanglevigilante.com/work/royal-enfield-apparel-autumn-winter-2019-the-glitch/

    BlackRapid product of choice:

    BLACKRAPID DOUBLE CAMERA HARNESS

    Age you took your first photo and what camera did you use:

    I was 13 and the first photo I ever took was shot on a friend’s Semi-DSLR, which if I’m not wrong was from the Nikon Coolpix Range. My first camera was the Canon 1000D.

    First realization that you wanted to be a professional photographer:

    I was about 15 and I had started working with Sameer Belvalkar, a fashion photographer. Working in real-time environments, seeing the fast paced lifestyle, one shoot after the other and learning so much through those 2.5 years. That’s where the decision was made, it was possible to sustain a good lifestyle via photography and India was getting more and more receptive towards all forms of media.

    Now the only hurdle that remained was to find my calling in terms of the genre I wanted to indulge in.

    Who inspires you?:

    People who resonate good energy

    Camera of choice used to capture most of your work:

    Canon 1DX Mark II

    Dream photo-shoot:

    Almost every mountain summit expedition. At least, for now!

    What do you do when not taking photos?:

    Running, Cycling and participating in various Action/Adventure Sports. “If you don’t do it, you can’t shoot it.”

    Favorite place on earth:

    The Himalayas

    One piece of advice for someone at the beginning stages of their photography career:

    Spend time listening to people and what they have to say. It should not always be about you. ‘If you want to be heard, then you have to listen to others too’.

    How do you “Live the Moment”?:

    ‘The human body is a temple’. Staying active, staying fit, having fun, no matter what you do!