From family cameras and creative portraits to drone photography above Maine coastlines, landscape photographer Sahiti Yarakala captures the places where she feels most at peace.
For others, it becomes a way of understanding the world.
For photographer Sahiti Yarakala, photography has evolved into something deeply personal: a search for moments of stillness, beauty, and peace in an increasingly busy world.
At her recent exhibition at Detox Gallery in New York City, Sahiti presented a collection of landscape photographs captured across Maine, Hawaii, and Colorado. While the locations differ dramatically, the images share a common thread. Each photograph represents a moment when she felt connected to nature and completely present in the experience.
The work is less about documenting a place and more about documenting a feeling.
That feeling is peace.
Photography has been part of Sahiti’s life for nearly a decade. Her relationship with the medium began at home, where her father’s love of photography introduced her to cameras long before she considered becoming a photographer herself.
He collected vintage cameras and frequently documented family gatherings. Sometimes he would hand the camera to Sahiti and ask her to photograph relatives or family portraits. Without realizing it, she was learning the fundamentals of composition, observation, and storytelling.
What began as a family activity slowly developed into a creative passion.
By high school, she was photographing cultural events and experimenting with portrait photography. As her confidence grew, so did her curiosity. Photography became a space where she could continuously explore new ideas.
The pandemic became another turning point.
Like many creatives, Sahiti found herself experimenting with different subjects and techniques. She moved into food photography, public relations photography, and commercial projects, exploring a wide range of possibilities.
Yet despite enjoying those experiences, she eventually discovered where she felt most connected.
Nature.
Landscape photography offered something the other genres could not.
It gave her peace.
That realization became especially clear during trips to Maine and Hawaii. Surrounded by coastlines, forests, mountains, and open skies, she found herself instinctively reaching for her camera. More recently, the addition of drone photography expanded her perspective even further.
The ability to view landscapes from above allowed her to see familiar environments in entirely new ways.
Maine, in particular, left a lasting impression.
The quiet beauty of the coastline, the changing weather, and the sense of calm she experienced there became central themes within her work. Many of the photographs featured in the exhibition were created during that period.
For Sahiti, the photographs are not simply records of beautiful places.
They are reminders of how those places made her feel.
That emotional connection also influences her creative process.
Unlike photographers who meticulously plan every image in advance, Sahiti works largely through instinct. She rarely arrives with a rigid vision or predetermined outcome. Instead, she allows herself to respond naturally to what she encounters.
If something captures her attention, she photographs it.
If a landscape creates an emotional reaction, she follows that instinct.
The process is intuitive rather than calculated.
In many ways, her favorite images are the ones that happen unexpectedly.
This philosophy extends beyond landscape photography. Even when working with models or creating portraits, she often finds that the most compelling images emerge from spontaneous moments rather than carefully choreographed poses.
The best photographs are often the ones that were never planned.
When preparing for portrait shoots, however, her process changes slightly. A self-described perfectionist, Sahiti becomes more focused on details, mood boards, and creative direction. Music often helps her enter that mindset, providing the energy needed to move through a shoot.
Nature photography is different.
Nature asks less and gives more.
There is no pressure to direct a landscape. The environment already knows what it is doing.
That freedom is part of what continues to draw her back outdoors.
One of her favorite subjects is the aftermath of rain. Tiny droplets resting on leaves, reflections forming on surfaces, and the freshness that follows a storm all capture her attention. These fleeting details often become some of her most meaningful photographs.
She is less interested in dramatic spectacles and more interested in quiet moments.
A leaf covered in rainwater.
Soft light breaking through clouds.
The subtle movement of wind across a landscape.
These are the moments that inspire her.
Although wildlife photography is not currently her primary focus, she remains fascinated by animals and their place within the natural environment. While attempts to photograph fast-moving animals have not always gone as planned, she remains intrigued by the challenge.
For now, however, she is content focusing on stillness.
That same sense of curiosity extends beyond photography.
Sahiti is also passionate about painting, pottery, and mixed media experimentation. While photography feels natural and instinctive, painting presents an entirely different challenge. It requires patience, precision, and a willingness to embrace imperfection.
As a perfectionist, that can be difficult.
Photography allows her to trust her instincts.
Painting demands something else.
Yet she continues to explore it because creativity rarely follows a straight path.
One of her long-term goals is to combine photography with other artistic disciplines, creating works that blur the boundaries between mediums. While she is still discovering exactly what that might look like, the desire to experiment remains strong.
Her artistic interests are wide-ranging.
She finds inspiration in architecture, particularly the ornate historical buildings of Jaipur, India. The intricate doors, decorative details, and centuries of craftsmanship continue to influence her visual imagination.
She is equally inspired by travel photographers whose work captures both the grandeur and intimacy of distant places. Their images encourage her to dream bigger and push herself creatively.
Yet perhaps the most important influence comes from much closer to home.
Her family.
Her father introduced her to photography.
Her mother encouraged her to continue pursuing it.
Her friends consistently challenge her to grow.
Even the people she lives with share a passion for photography, creating an environment where creativity is constantly nurtured and celebrated.
Support systems matter.
For Sahiti, they have played an essential role in shaping the artist she has become.
Despite exhibiting work publicly for the first time, she approaches her creative future with curiosity rather than pressure. There is no rigid roadmap, only a desire to keep exploring, learning, and creating.
In many ways, that approach mirrors her photography itself.
She follows what feels right.
She trusts her instincts.
She allows curiosity to lead.
And somewhere between the coastlines of Maine, the landscapes of Hawaii, and the mountains of Colorado, she continues to discover moments worth preserving.
Moments of peace.
Moments of wonder.
Moments that remind us to slow down and pay attention.
About Tarik Talk Podcast
Tarik Talk Podcast takes listeners inside museums, galleries, artist studios, art fairs, and creative spaces around the world through conversations with artists, curators, collectors, cultural leaders, and creative professionals. Hosted by artist and podcaster Tarik Mendes, the show has featured more than 200 episodes across 50 seasons, filmed in over 10 countries and heard by audiences worldwide.