Interview with Neehith Mamidi
- Cista Arts team
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
An interview with photographer Neehith Mamidi.
What initially sparked your interest in pursuing art, and how has your journey evolved since then?
My journey into art photography started with a simple realization: that a camera can be more than a tool it can be a key to seeing the world differently. As a kid, I was always observing, drawn to the unnoticed details: shadows moving across walls, fleeting expressions on faces, the way light danced on water. Photography gave me a way to capture those quiet miracles. Over the years, my practice has evolved from instinctive snapshots to intentional storytelling. Every frame now feels like a dialogue between what I see and what I feel a constant process of refining vision, while never losing the curiosity that started it all.
My journey into art photography started with a simple realization: that a camera can be more than a tool it can be a key to seeing the world differently.
Can you tell us about a specific piece of your artwork that holds particular significance to you, and what inspired its creation?
One image from my 2015 wildlife series will forever be etched in my memory a rare encounter with a majestic white tiger that felt more like a dream than reality. I had spent days tracking wildlife in the humid stillness of a reserve, often waking before sunrise and waiting silently for hours. Then, one late afternoon, the jungle parted literally and metaphorically and there it was.
The tiger emerged, its coat like moonlight, muscles rippling with each silent step. What made the moment surreal wasn’t just the sight, but the eye contact. For a brief, breathless instant, the tiger locked eyes with my lens. No bars, no barriers just raw, primal presence. It was as though he was studying me as much as I was capturing him. The shutter clicked once. That image, which later made its way into a nature magazine, is more than a photo to me. It’s a symbol of patience, presence, and the kind of magic that only reveals itself when you’re willing to wait for it.
How do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision and experimenting with new techniques or styles?
I see my vision as a compass, not a cage. It keeps me aligned with what matters to me truth, emotion, connection but I believe growth happens on the edges of comfort. So I welcome experimentation, whether that means embracing a new editing technique, stepping into abstract composition, or switching genres entirely for a project. The key is to let curiosity lead without diluting your identity. Art is a living thing, and I want mine to evolve with integrity.
I welcome experimentation, whether that means embracing a new editing technique, stepping into abstract composition, or switching genres entirely for a project. The key is to let curiosity lead without diluting your identity. Art is a living thing, and I want mine to evolve with integrity.
What role do you believe art plays in society, and how do you envision your work contributing to the artistic dialogue?
Art is both mirror and window it shows us who we are and who we could be. In a world often overwhelmed by noise and speed, art slows us down and reminds us to feel. Through my photography, I hope to offer quiet moments of clarity images that create space for reflection and connection. Whether I’m documenting wildlife, people, or urban stillness, I aim to make the invisible visible, to honor what’s often overlooked.
Through my photography, I hope to offer quiet moments of clarity images that create space for reflection and connection.
Are there any upcoming projects or themes that you're excited to explore in your future artworks, and if so, what draws you to these ideas?
I’m currently preparing to explore the concept of “traces” the physical and emotional imprints left behind in abandoned places. It’s a blend of environmental storytelling and personal reflection. I’m drawn to locations where nature is reclaiming manmade spaces, where beauty and decay coexist. These spaces speak volumes without words. I’m fascinated by what’s been forgotten, and what still lingers in the silence.
How do you hope your art will impact viewers, and what message or emotion do you aspire to convey through your creative expressions?
I want my work to stir something quiet and personal in the viewer like the feeling of returning to a place you’ve never been but somehow recognize. Whether it’s awe, nostalgia, solitude, or wonder, I hope my images invite people to slow down and look closer. Not just at the photograph, but at their own lives, their surroundings, their emotional landscapes. At its core, my art is about presence about saying, this mattered, even if just for a moment.