Turn on the Magic of Colored Light
In this episode of the Photo Life we speak with Mukesh Patel, Director of Operations for the Pictage print lab and 20 year veteran of the photo printing community, about his faith in the power of the printed image and his excitement and enthusiasm for the future of photography.
Mukesh is not only enthusiastic about the photography industry, but specifically about the photographers that he gets to work with. As technology advances, he can’t help but notice, and be saddened by, the loss of connection between photographer and printer. He invites you to connect with him and his team. Delve into their world as an extension of yours- you will come out on the other side with great friends and a higher quality photography business.
(To connect with Mukesh and his team, leave a comment below!)
About Mukesh Patel
Mukesh was born in Kenya, Africa and moved to India in 1968 with his family. There, his family started tea business that they soon expanded to the United States and England. After his father (the family’s only Indian citizen) died, the tea business could no longer export tea to the United States. As a result, Mukesh found a job helping his uncle in his photography studio. There his love for photography and the photography industry began.
Because of his eye for color and light, in 1991 he joined Alfa Color, one of the country’s leading professional labs as a color corrector. At Alfa, working with some of the great photographers, his passion for photography and making a good print grew stronger and stronger. This was all during the great old days of film. When the digital revolution came along, Mukesh discovered bigger opportunities and in 2005 decided to join Pictage. Here at Pictage, his sense of community grew even stronger. He is proud to be working with some of the most humble artists who are constantly working hard to provide great services and products.
Mukesh doing his thing at the Pictage lab.
About the Host- Travis Schreer
Travis is a wanderer who has a life-long passion for helping creative people realize their ambitions. While studying at the Kendall College of Art and Design and Eastern Michigan University, simultaneously pursuing a BFA in fine art and a Masters in creative writing, Travis rediscovered his fascination with photography and began working as a product photographer. After a brief stint studying poetry in Paris and years of developing his own artistic identity from the comforts of various midwestern cities, Travis packed his wool socks and moved to the chilly climes of Alaska. While there, he broadened his knowledge of the photography industry through his work for Alaska’s largest advertising agency and his involvement with several stock photography companies. It was also in Alaska that Travis photographed his first wedding alongside his partner, photographer Jessica Hill, and the two began to lay the groundwork for the company that was to follow. Then, it was on to Portland, Oregon where Jessica and Travis would put all of their brainstorming into effect and establish Jessica Hill Photography as one of the premiere boutique wedding photography studios in the area. Next time you’re in Portland, stop by Laurelhurst Park, where Travis can be found most evenings. He’s the scruffy guy playing with Collignon Quincampoix, the coolest dog you will ever meet.