TAKE TEN: Neolen Pillay

September 16, 2025September 16, 2025

Alongside his ten favourite Fujifilm images, Durban-based, Neolen Pillay, shares the way photography helped him manage a mid-life neurodivergence diagnosis, and led him to discover a passion for a unique combination of photographic genres.

Neolen Pillay

Yes Neolen! Tell us more about yourself and how you got involved in photography.

Photography for me, is therapy. It’s mindfulness; a way to keep me in the here and now. At the age of 33 my world got flipped upside down when I was diagnosed with bipolar mood disorder. The noise in my head became unbearable at times. I somehow realised that the only time I had quiet in my mind was whilst looking through the viewfinder of a camera. It became my therapy.

I started with landscape photography, then went on to street photography. I found that it was the story that was drawing me in. One day at the beach I captured an image of a young adaptive surfer. A double lower limb amputee – surfing. That began my involvement with an NPC, Made for More, and I discovered my penchant for capturing human emotion. I left behind a 10-year career in engineering to pursue this art form that essentially saved me.

Using my work to help others, gives me back the purpose that I felt I had lost. It was volunteering with Made for More that led me to learning to surf myself, and subsequently to surf- and underwater photography.

What’s your favourite genre and why?

Anything that tells a story about the human condition, because I love immersing myself in different worldviews, understanding what other people’s interpretations of reality are and capturing that. Today it’s portraiture, leaning toward a more cinematic and fine art style. I would say my core focus is on portraits, headshots, boudoir and documentary photography.

I spend a lot of time connecting with my subjects. It’s about creating a comfortable environment where you can let your guard down. I want to understand the person’s emotions and psychology, building their shoot with them before attempting to capture those truly authentic moments. I also surf almost every day and from that grew my love for the ocean and subsequently surf photography. I took those surf/underwater photography skills and combined them with my affinity for fine art portraiture to produce what is probably my ‘speciality’ at the moment – underwater fine art portraits.

What cameras do you use and what’s your favourite lens (and why)?

The Fuji X-T5 is my main workhorse. I use an X-H1 for video work as a second angle; and my favourite old X-T1 as my everyday carry around candid/street photography camera. Favourite lens? It’s very much a fit-for-purpose thing for me. Some shots (for example surf images from the shore) dictate the need for the Fujinon XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6. When I have the luxury of choice for portraits, I gravitate toward the look of an 85mm full frame equivalent. I like to get tight cropped, intimate frames for portraits.

What’s one thing you learnt that greatly improved your photography?

Great photographs come from capturing the emotion of a moment, being able to identify that moment in real time, not the technical perfection of the image. Authentic expressions cannot be forced; they must be drawn out. I learned how important it was to truly see the world around me. I learned to slow down and see things that used to pass me by before.

What advice would you give anyone wanting to get into photography?

Don’t over think it. Don’t listen to the hype on social media and YouTube. You don’t need a R100k setup to make amazing photographs. Shoot manual from day one and shoot, shoot, shoot. Shoot every day, no matter what it is. Train your mind to see the world in frames, camera operation will follow.

Do you use Film Simulations or recipes or do you edit in post?

I use recipes for more casual, street, portraits and travel, but I do edit in post for my portraiture and surf work. I will always use one of the Standard Film simulations as my colour profile for a base starting point though.

What never leaves your camera bag?

My X-T1.

Are you finding videography playing a larger role in your work?

Yes definitely! I lean more toward documentary style filmmaking, where my work can go toward a greater cause. In the last year I have done video projects with Made for More, CROW and the SBS Tanks Wheelchair challenge, to aid in fund raising and awareness campaigns. Videos tend to have a stronger emotional impact.

I also take a lot of influence from cinematography in my photography as well. That led me to delve into the video world a bit in the first place. I find that we have to move with the times too, and society has become very video-centric through the likes of TikTok and YouTube, although I do prefer to maintain a more nostalgic look in my videos.

Do you have a subject or place you want to shoot on your bucket list?

Honestly, I am intrigued by getting to know any person’s story and having the opportunity to capture them in their most authentic moments. If I were to choose a place, though (for underwater/surf photography), it would be a surf break known as Teahupo’o in Tahiti.