Meet Chirag Patel

We recently connected with Chirag Patel and have shared our conversation below.

Chirag, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

A lot of my confidence came through photography before I even started working as a DP. I used to shoot a lot of stills. I spent hours going out, meeting strangers, observing life around me and capturing those moments. That process really shaped me in two ways. Firstly, it gave me communication skills. Approaching people, earning their trust and learning their story made me more comfortable expressing myself. Second, it taught me how to translate my vision into an image.
When I saw how a single photograph could express the other person’s story, it gave me the belief that I could do the same in films. Over time, those experiences built my self-esteem, because I wasn’t just learning the technical skills, I was also learning how to see, how to connect, and how to express. That foundation is what gave me the confidence to step onto sets as a DP and trust my creative instincts.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My roots are in still photography where I spent hours observing people and capturing their stories. I did that in my city of birth, Dubai. Crossing in the Abra, sitting at the edge of the river watching the boats go by, seeing people with different understandings of life pass by. Those quiet hours taught me how to see, how to listen and how to translate what I felt into an image. That foundation naturally led me into cinematography where I could expand on those instincts and collaborate with directors, actors and crew to tell stories visually.

What excites me most about filmmaking is when something unplanned happens on set that transforms the scene. It could be a subtle choice an actor makes, a piece of music that suddenly clicks or just the way light falls. These moments make me feel like a child again, wide-eyed and amazed at how all these elements come together to create something bigger than any one of us imagined.

Right now, I’m focused on growing not only as a DP but also on developing projects as a writer-director. I’m developing my short film, “Malaal” into a feature. It is about an immigrant laborer who leaves his fragile home for the promise of a few extra dollars, only to find himself running through the desert, haunted by the weight of choices that cannot be undone.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I’m still new in this career, but from whatever I’ve gone through so far, three skills stand out for me: observation, adaptability and trust.

Observation is key to me. Simply watching people and moments closely and finding stories in the details. It also taught me to understand light. What dawn looks like, what twilight feels like, how light reflects through surfaces. Over time, I began translating those learnings into my work, using them to shape light and guide storytelling.

Adaptability is another big one. Things often don’t go as planned. Early on, I saw these as challenges, but now I see them as opportunities to discover something new. You never know what ignites a thought in your mind and changes your approach.

Finally, trust. Trusting your instincts, trusting the people you work with and allowing them to trust you back. Filmmaking only thrives when there’s mutual respect and true collaboration.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

As a cinematographer, I’m always excited to meet directors who are looking for someone to bring their vision on screen and to build those creative partnerships where we push each other’s ideas further. At the same time, I want to connect with more cinematographers. It would be great to learn from their experiences, exchange ideas and keep growing in the craft.

Collaboration is about curiosity and trust, so I’m drawn to people who are passionate about storytelling and open to exploration. I’m currently open to working on features, shorts and documentaries. The best way to connect with me is through my email, [email protected]. Let’s create something meaningful together!

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