“I was born in Odela village in Peddapalli district, where I completed my schooling before moving to Warangal for college in 2007-08. It was during this time that my passion for photography began. Watching films sparked a strong instinct to work in movies, and that led me to pick up a camera.
While my parents always encouraged me to focus on academics, I wanted to balance both education and my interest in the arts. My father is a private teacher, and my mother is a homemaker. I pursued a B.Sc. in Computer Science, followed by an MBA in Marketing. Later, I completed a Master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism and an M.Sc. in Psychology. Alongside these, I also pursued diploma courses, including one in photography. Success in the arts field is unpredictable, but I wanted to ensure I had a solid academic foundation while chasing my creative aspirations.
When I initially started in photography, the competition was intense. Wanting to stand out, I decided to expand my skill set. That’s when I got into drone piloting. In 2016-17, I trained in Hyderabad, obtained certification, and started using drones for my projects. I was fascinated by drone shots in movies, and now, I work professionally as a drone pilot, capturing breathtaking aerial footage. I’ve worked on projects like bio-mining documentation for the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation, handling paperwork for my private job, and covering photography events alongside my regular work.
Over the years, I have worked on various projects. One of them is Welcome to Medaram, a documentary on Medaram Jatara that took a week to complete. For the Kaleshwaram Project, I spent two weeks covering vast areas with photography, videography, and drone shots for the Telangana State Government. I’ve also worked as a drone pilot for three feature films and recently completed my fourth. One of my notable works was for Theeram, where I captured aerial shots in Visakhapatnam. I’ve even worked as a press reporter for a year and continue to take on freelance press projects in Warangal.
Photography led me to develop a keen interest in traveling. I travel solo and in teams, and from next month, I’m planning an international trip—something I hope to do at least twice or thrice a year. Traveling teaches life lessons that no book can. Exploring cultures, new places, and meeting people offers perspectives that shape one’s understanding of the world. Warangal, the fastest-growing city after Hyderabad, has excellent tourism potential with places like Ramappa, Laknavaram, Bhadrakali Temple, Thousand Pillar Temple, and Kakatiya Fort, and I see a lot of untapped heritage worth documenting.
Drone piloting has been an exciting journey. People are often amazed by the shots, as they offer a perspective that is otherwise unseen. However, the challenges are plenty—crashes, expensive equipment, and obstacles like birds and trees. With increasing regulations, we now have to take mandatory permissions from local authorities before operating a drone.
Apart from my projects, I train people in both basic and advanced drone piloting. DJI drones are among the most advanced, and I continuously invest in upgrading my equipment every two years. One of my highlight trips was to Maharashtra, where I captured stunning drone footage of Raigad Fort, Pune Vinayak Visarjan, and several other locations across India. Recently, my work was featured in a Warangal Architecture Coffee Table Book, released by the Government, and all the drone photos in that book were captured by me. A similar Srikakulam Coffee Table Book is set to release soon, showcasing beaches, architecture, and temples and I shot the entire drone photos.
I am also a passionate biker and recently purchased a Harley-Davidson X440. I continue to balance my mainstream career while pursuing my passion. My ambition is to capture drone footage across India, focusing on Telangana’s rich culture and unexplored aspects. I believe that research, perspective, and understanding the subject matter are key. Gear is just an added benefit. Through my work, I hope to keep discovering and sharing new perspectives.”
- Bharath Ramineni, Travel Photographer