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Tales Of Tokyo

Inside the quiet geometry of a Tokyo temple, Dubai-based photographer Sahil Shettigar finds the stillness he'd long been chasing

ICON Incubator is dedicated to spotlighting the next generation of creative talent shaping the region’s visual culture. While ICON MENA has long celebrated artists and cultural figures, this space turns the focus behind the lens, championing the photographers, stylists, hair and makeup artists, set designers, and creative collaborators whose work brings fashion imagery to life. By highlighting emerging voices from across the region, ICON Incubator aims to support their continued development and provide a platform for the ideas, perspectives, and craft that will define the industry’s future.

Sahil Shettigar (HIL) is an Indian fashion photographer and creative director based in Dubai. His work blends fashion with storytelling, creating narratives that feel both editorial and atmospheric, bringing a sense of emotion to the way fashion is experienced. Drawing inspiration from filmmaking and different cultures, Sahil constructs scenes that elevate mood, character, and space.

“While planning my trip to Japan, there was a certain calmness I had always imagined finding there, a quiet feeling I had been chasing for a while. Serene Presence grew from that feeling. The series was photographed inside a traditional temple in Tokyo, where the direction and atmosphere naturally shaped the mood of the images. I wanted the photographs to mirror the calmness of the space, using neutral tones, minimal styling, and compositions that allow the subject to simply exist within the environment.”

“I imagined the character moving through the space in two states. Indoors, the light-coloured look reflects calmness and a sense of freedom within the temple’s quiet interiors. Outside, darker tones appear, complementing the serenity with a deeper, more grounded mood.”

Photography, Creative Direction, and Styling: Sahil Shettigar

Production: HILSTUDIOS

Model: Shoichi Tamaki

“TALES OF TOKYO” IS FEATURED IN THE 9TH EDITION OF ICON MENA PRINT MAGAZINE. ORDER YOUR COPY HERE.

topics: tokyo, photography, trending