Some stories aren’t planned. They aren’t briefed, scheduled, or storyboarded. They just happen when the right eye meets the right moment.
That’s exactly what unfolded when Mayank Singh Bais, a Gurugram-based professional automobile photographer known for his raw visual language, found himself wandering through Goa after an intense yet rewarding commissioned shoot for Harley-Davidson.
Near Baba Au Rhum, away from the usual tourist chaos, Mayank stumbled upon something unusual; a modest, almost hidden skate rink.
No glamour. No curated aesthetic.
Just concrete, scratches, movement... and life.
Local kids were skateboarding. Practicing. Falling. Getting back up.
There was no performance for an audience; only presence in the moment.
“That raw, underground energy… it just pulled me in,” Mayank shares.
What he had found wasn’t just a location... it was a culture.
Gundaaground: More Than Just a Skate Spot
The space, he later learned, was part of Gundaaground—a grassroots movement built around skateboarding, sound, and community.
Gundaaground isn’t polished or commercial.
It thrives on DIY spirit.
It represents:
Skateboarding as a lifestyle, not a sport
A space for self-expression and belonging
A community built on raw creativity and shared energy
There’s no pretense here.
No filters. No expectations.
Just people, passion, and pavement.
For a photographer like Mayank, whose primary work revolves around motorbikes— precision, design, perfection— this was something entirely different.
Here, imperfection was the story.
The frames he captured reflect: dust in the air, worn-out surfaces, unpolished movement, honest expressions.
No staging. No direction. Just instinct.
Each photograph feels like a moment borrowed—not taken.
In an exclusive conversation with Jaano Junction, Mayank spoke less about technique—and more about feeling.
His advice to young photographers is simple, but not easy:
“Find your own eye. Be inspired, but don’t replicate. Photography is about what satisfies your soul, not what impresses others.”
It’s a philosophy that clearly reflects in this series.
There’s no attempt to please an algorithm.
No effort to chase trends.
Just a pursuit of authenticity.
This photo series isn’t just about skateboarding.
It’s about noticing the unnoticed, finding stories in the margins and respecting spaces that exist outside the mainstream.
In a world obsessed with perfection, Mayank’s Goa series is a reminder—Sometimes, the most powerful visuals come from places that don’t try to be seen.
For those interested in exploring more of Mayank’s work, he shares updates on Instagram at @khi.chik
At Jaano Junction, we believe stories like these deserve space.
Because beyond headlines and noise, there exists a quieter world—
Of creators, communities, and cultures... that thrive without validation.
