My Creative Hero: Jimmy Chin

With over 14 years as a creative, Ritabrata Saha has a remarkable way of bringing words and ideas to life. He has a sense of finding cultural insights rooted in human behaviour and his approach to out-of-the-box thinking is known to leave a lasting impression.

Having started his career in the bustling city of Mumbai, he's been UAE based since 2013, having worked at agencies such as Leo Burnett and Grey before joining Cheil's Dubai office in November of 2023. Across the years, he's worked across clients such as Al-Futtaim IKEA, Samsung and Panadol, creating campaigns celebrate creativity.

Here, alongside delving into his journey, Ritabrata shares why Jimmy Chin inspires him in particular.

LBB> Who would you say is your creative hero? 

Ritabrata> As a creative who finds inspiration in everyday life, I've been influenced by countless individuals. Some taught me to zig when the world zags, others inspired me to refine my craft, and some urged me to dig deeper and keep fighting. However, one individual stands out as having truly inspired me to become a better creative:

Jimmy Chin - Mountaineer, National Geographic photographer, best-selling author and Oscar Academy-winning film director

LBB> How long has this person been important to you and what are your first memories of meeting them or coming across their work?

Ritabrata> I was heavily into mountaineering, but I never considered it as art or storytelling until I stumbled upon Jimmy Chin in the ‘Outside’ magazine. He was featured for his bold first attempt on Mount Meru, a razor-sharp peak in the Indian Himalayas. Unlike other mountaineers who queue up for Everest or K2, he always chose difficult routes and first ascents. His narrative, pictures and storytelling blew my mind with the level of craftsmanship that went into it despite the hostile mountain environment. I loved the expression of his emotions which were very different from other climbers who only focused on technical details and bombastic claims.

LBB> If it’s someone you personally know, how did you get to know them and how has your relationship evolved over the years? If you don’t know this person, how did you go about finding to learn more about them and their work?

Ritabrata> Back then, magazines were still a thing. I sourced out every issue of ‘National Geographic’ and ‘Climbing’ magazine to go over Jimmy’s work. I’ve probably read every interview he’s given. The pictures he clicked during expeditions were used by The North Face. It was exactly what I aspired to do: climb big mountains, shoot beautiful images, tell stories about my exploits, and earn money to fuel my passion.

LBB> Why is the person such an inspiration to you? 

Ritabrata> Mountaineering expeditions, in general, are similar to the creative process. The rewards, egos, suffering, tight budgets and self-imposed pressure. The challenges are the same. It’s all about doing things which make everyone go ‘wow’. I read an incident about Jimmy, one where he and his team spent 19 days on the wall, and were forced to turn back just 100 m shy of Meru’s summit. Yet, after two years, they returned and completed the first ascent of Meru. The planning, the ‘never say never’ attitude and somehow getting there. That’s the job. That’s the life. 

LBB> How does this person influence you in your approach to your creative work? 

Ritabrata> Most creatives specialise in a field, be it writing, film making or designing. However, Jimmy is multi-faceted. There’s no pretension in how he talks, just hard work and the desire to share stories, be it on Netflix, TikTok or books. 

In his view, it’s important to stay open-minded and to discover something that really calls to you. Sometimes finding that thing is a lifelong project, and sometimes it just happens. 

LBB> What piece or pieces of this person’s work do you keep coming back to and why?

Ritabrata> He has some stunning photographs, books and films. But the one that really moves me is ‘Free Solo’. This film is a good reminder to be yourself. To not take a backward step. To have a plan B. And to use words well.