Mr. Pratyush Swarup (Broadening Narratives)

Description

Prathyush Swarup, 28, is an award-winning independent photographer and videographer who focuses on using his art to capture joy. In the interview he recalls an unconventional, well-traveled childhood—-an international/IB boarding school in the hills outside Delhi, annual trips abroad, and a home overflowing with animals (22 dogs, plus birds, fish, turtles)-—with parents who stressed effort, self-reliance, and exploration while encouraging creative work. He moved to Chicago in August 2015 to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, arriving as a painter and shifting to photography through on-set internships. The interview lingers on how he built a career and business in the U.S.: H-1B visa setbacks and eventual approval, learning to find clients, pricing and scope, assignments ranging from proposals to food and corporate work, two Emmy awards, and the recent launch of his own company. He describes a strong volunteer ethic (animal shelter and food pantry partnerships) and a practice philosophy that treats photographs as ways to freeze fleeting feeling. Other topics discussed include: multiculturalism, negotiation, and work ethic.