Meet Netraa Dave | Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Netraa Dave and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Netraa, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Since my childhood, I have always been drawn to the power of visual storytelling. I did not choose an artistic career because I thought it to be easy or glamorous. Ever since I picked up the camera in my 7th grade as a part of an extra curricular activity, something shifted in the way I saw the world. As a photographer, I felt drawn to quiet moments, the way light falls on someone’s face, the stillness in a room, the contrast between shadow and emotion. It was not just about capturing beauty, it was always about noticing things others walked past.

This development and studying of light evolved my love for cinematography. This evolution from photography felt very natural to me. I started to realize that I did not just want to capture moments, I wanted to shape them, build a scene and emotion that lingers. Studying film for a year in Los Angeles gave me space to explore time, movement, sound and color in a way that felt deeply expressive. It let me take the still emotions I found in photography and let them breathe, evolve and tell a story.

I think I pursued this career because it gave me a voice when words did not always feel like enough. Conveying stories visually lets me connect with people in a raw and honest way, whether I am behind the camera framing a shot, or watching the light shift through a lens. There is a kind of intimacy in this work, and a quiet power too. That is what keeps me here, that is what keeps me creating.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art, at its core, is about emotion through light, movement, and stillness. As an upcoming cinematographer, I’m constantly exploring how to translate feeling into image, how the way light hits a face, the tension of a handheld shot, or the contrast in color between two frames can quietly shape a viewer’s emotions without them even realizing it.

What sets me apart isn’t just the technical skill, it’s the way I observe. I’ve always been a quiet observer of life, and I think that sensitivity shows in my work. I’m drawn to stories that live in silences, in glances, in the spaces between words. I don’t just shoot images, I try to create a mood, a pulse, something that breathes. Whether it’s a sunbeam filtering through a curtain or the raw intensity of a close-up, I want every frame to feel lived-in and intentional.

Getting to where I am today has been anything but easy. Being away from home and trying and experimenting new ways of living and understanding the industry does take a toll on your mental health. There’s no straight line in a creative career, especially when you’re starting out. I’ve had to teach myself a lot, studying films, writing your own scripts, breaking down frames from my favorite films to understand each shot. There were moments of self-doubt, comparison, and burnout. Moments when I questioned whether this path was really for me. But I kept going, because even on the hardest days, picking up the camera felt like home.

I’ve learned that progress in this field isn’t always visible. Sometimes it’s about learning how to work with limited light, how to collaborate better, how to trust your instincts. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that patience and consistency matter more than talent alone. And also, that no frame is worth sacrificing authenticity. Staying true to the emotion of the story always comes first. What I want the world to know about my journey is that I’m not just here to make pretty images, I’m here to tell human stories with honesty and care. My cinematography is deeply personal, but it’s also about connection. I want the audience to feel something real, even if they don’t know exactly why.

My brand, my visual identity, is rooted in sensitivity, storytelling, and truth. I bring a mix of intuition and intention to every frame I shoot. And though I’m still growing and learning every day, I know that what I offer is perspective. I see the world a certain way, and through my lens, I invite others to see it too. I may still be on the rise, but I’m committed. I’ve put my heart into this craft, and every project, no matter how small, is a step toward becoming the kind of cinematographer who doesn’t just capture light, but captures life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit, I’d want their week to feel like a cinematic journey, full of warmth, adventure, and beautiful contrasts. We’d start in Burbank, grabbing breakfast at Porto’s Bakery and walking through Magnolia Park’s vintage shops before visiting Warner Bros. Studio for a dose of Hollywood history. After a sunset dinner at Castaway in Burbank, we’d head into Los Angeles for a day of city energy, hiking to Griffith Observatory, exploring The Broad Museum, and catching golden hour at Santa Monica Pier before dinner at UOVO in Marina Del Rey with a view of the docks.

Midweek, we’d escape to the storybook charm of Solvang, strolling past windmills, tasting Danish pastries at Paula’s Pancake House, and relaxing with wine in the nearby vineyards. Then we’d head south to San Diego, visiting La Jolla Cove, the lush beauty of Balboa Park, and watching the sunset from the cliffs before exploring the Gaslamp nightlife. Finally, we’d close the week with a drive up to Mammoth Lakes, where the cool mountain air, alpine lakes, and starlit hot springs offer a perfect, peaceful contrast to the energy of the city. A Sunrise swim at Convict Lake would be the final shot, a quiet, breathtaking ending to a week that felt like living inside a film.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If I had to give a shoutout to anyone, who truly deserves credit in my journey, it would be my family and few friends who have been the steady foundation beneath everything I have been building. Choosing a creative path can be uncertain, but they never let me feel like I was walking this path alone. My family has always given me the freedom to explore who I am. They never questioned my passion for storytelling, instead they embraced it. They let me make mistakes, they celebrated my small wins, and they have stood behind me even when things did not go as planned.

My friends have also played a vital role in my journey. They have been the people who saw potential in my work even when I could not. After my college ended we kind of drifted into different cities and countries but their constant reminder of why I started doing this in the first place really pushes me to believe in my self and my journey.

And there are cities that shaped me and have left a visual and emotional imprint on my creative eye. Goa, India, holds a deep place in my heart. There is something about the light there, the way the sun hits the water, the texture of the old architecture, the raw contrast between celebration and stillness. Few years of me being there taught me to see color, rhythm and beauty in everyday life. Walking through its streets, watching the ocean drift at different hours of the day, really taught me to slow down and observe each moment of life. Other cities have left their marks too. Each place has its own rhythm and visual language, and experiencing those environments helped me stretch my style and perspective. But Goa was the first that made me fall in love with light and atmosphere, the kind of place that breathes its way into your visuals.

On a creative level, I stand on the shoulders of cinematographers and filmmakers whose work deeply inspired me. Artists like Roger Deakins showed me emotional strength of simplicity and Emmanuel Lubezki taught me how light and movement can create intimacy. But just as importantly, Indian cinematographers and filmmakers have had profound influence on how I see storytelling and visual composition. Subrata Mitra who worked with Satyajit Ray defined a generation of poetic realism, taught me how natural light could feel deeply human. Among filmmakers, directors like Satyajit Ray, Mira Nair and Pan Nalin shaped my understanding of storytelling that feels rooted, honest and visually lyrical. Their films showed me that deeply local stories could resonate universally if told with emotional truth and visual care.

So this shoutout goes to all of them. This path I am on isn’t just mine, it’s a continuation of everything they have given me, whether in support, inspiration or vision.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kozmo_27/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/netraa-dave-0a5606145/

Other: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm16435242?ref_=nm_nv_usr_profile (Imdb Page)

Image Credits
Netraa Dave