10 Indian Photographers You must Know about
Photography was introduced to India shortly after its invention in the mid-19th century. The first recorded Indian photograph , a daguerreotype, was taken in 1840. During the British colonial period, photography primarily served as a tool for documenting the landscape, architecture, and people of India. Pioneers like Samuel Bourne and John Edward Saché captured iconic images of Indian landmarks and daily life, while Lala Deen Dayal, one of the first Indian photographers, gained acclaim for his detailed portraits and architectural photography.
As the 20th century dawned, Indian photographers began to emerge, bringing a native perspective to the art form. Raja Deen Dayal continued to build on his earlier success, becoming a court photographer for the Nizam of Hyderabad. Meanwhile, studio photography gained popularity, with portrait studios opening in major cities, catering to the Indian elite who sought to immortalize their status and family heritage through photography. This era also saw the rise of illustrated journals and magazines that used photographs to reach a wider audience.
Post-independence, Indian photography underwent significant transformation. The newly independent nation experienced rapid social and political changes, which Indian photographers keenly documented. Henri Cartier-Bresson’s work during the independence and partition period remains iconic. Indian photojournalists like Sunil Janah and Homai Vyarawalla captured the essence of the nation’s struggles and triumphs. Their work provided a visual narrative of India’s journey from a British colony to a sovereign state.
The latter half of the 20th century saw Indian photographers gaining international recognition. Raghu Rai emerged as a leading figure with his powerful photojournalism, capturing the diverse facets of Indian life. The period also marked a shift towards more artistic and experimental photography. Indian photographers like Raghubir Singh and Dayanita Singh brought innovative approaches, blending traditional themes with contemporary techniques. This era laid the groundwork for a more diversified photographic practice in India.
With the advent of the 21st century and the digital revolution, photography in India became more accessible and democratized. Digital cameras and smartphones enabled a broader spectrum of people to engage with photography. Social media platforms like Instagram provided a global stage for Indian photographers to showcase their work. Contemporary photographers such as , Sohrab Hura, Bharat Sikka, and Vicky Roy are now pushing the boundaries of the medium, exploring new narratives and challenging traditional perspectives. Today, Indian photography is a dynamic and evolving field, reflecting the country’s rich cultural tapestry and rapid modernization.
Exploring the Diverse Talents Shaping Indian photograpers
Indian photography has evolved into a dynamic and diverse field, shaped by a range of talented indian photographers who capture the country’s rich cultural tapestry and natural beauty. From the bustling streets of urban cities to the remote corners of rural India, these photographers bring unique perspectives that reflect the depth and complexity of the nation. With the rise of digital media, many Indian photographers are now blending traditional techniques with contemporary approaches, pushing boundaries and experimenting with new styles. Whether documenting everyday life, exploring social issues, or showcasing stunning landscapes, Indian photographers continue to create powerful visuals that resonate with both national and global audiences, establishing India as a thriving hub for innovative and thought-provoking photography.
1. Mahendra Bakle
Mahendra’s passion for photography began in his childhood, as he spent his time reading photography magazines and capturing images of sunsets and sunrises. However, it was only in 2001, after establishing a strong business presence in Solapur, that he ventured into travel photography, drawing inspiration from the places he visited for work. His photography style incorporates various elements like patterns, repetition, and contrast, but it is his masterful use of natural light that truly defines his work. The dynamic lighting he captures makes his images feel deeply connected to the spaces they represent. While Mahendra has traveled extensively, particularly across Southeast Asia, Myanmar holds a special place in his heart. His photographs from this country showcase his signature approach, focusing on the culture and personality of each space. Though he has plans to explore international destinations, As Indian photographers Mahendra is first determined to immerse himself in the diverse cultures of India, especially the stories of native Indian tribes. His work consistently highlights the human element of these places, making it a central theme in many of his photographs.
About Mahendra Bakle
2. Mahesh Balasubramanian
Mahesh is an independent photographer based in Chennai, India, whose work has been featured in prominent international publications such as National Geographic Traveler US, BLUR, Digital Photo UK, Wanderlust UK, and Dodho. He has received several prestigious awards, including the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest, 1x, PX3, IPA, Siena Photo Awards, and Monovisions Photo Awards. Additionally, Adobe selected one of his photographs to be showcased as a Splash Screen (startup screen) for Adobe Lightroom.
About Mahesh Balasubramanian
3. Robi Chakraborty
Robi Chakraborty, originally from India, studied photography under the esteemed O.P. Sharma at Triveni Kala Sangam Photography in New Delhi. He began his career in the early 1980s with a focus on commercial and press photography. However, driven by a love for travel and exploration, Robi became captivated by photographing the people in both the cities and rural areas of India. Venturing off the beaten path, he sought out cultures and traditions that were rapidly disappearing in the face of modernity. With a talent for discovering people and places where tradition endures, Robi captures powerful and meaningful moments that highlight the deep connections he forms with the communities he encounters. His photographs tell the stories of his subjects in a way that resonates with viewers, immersing them in the lives and cultures he portrays. Having lived in India, Nepal, Africa, and the US, Robi’s photography reflects his global perspective, celebrating the diversity of his subjects while also revealing the shared humanity that binds us all.
About Robi Chakraborty
4. Joydeep Deb
Marine Engineer by Profession Photographer by Passion. My work life takes me across the 5 continents, travelling mostly in the seas and sometimes in land. My exposure is thus spread across plural cultures, diverse architectures and plural languages of humanity. Often my in journeys I take to the streets to focus on the sights and sounds of the place and pause to frame them. Photography is my language, to access, to communicate, to identify and mostly to make it hear. The best part about being a photographer is that I am able to articulate the experience of the voiceless and bring their identities to the forefront which gives meaning and purpose to my own life.
About Joydeep Deb
5. Madhur Dhingra
I was born in Delhi as the only child to my parents, into a family deeply affected by the aftermath of the India-Pakistan partition. My family, once affluent in Pakistan, found themselves penniless and struggling to survive in Delhi’s walled city. The scars of partition were still fresh, and they began to rebuild by starting a fabric trade. This background is significant, as the insecurities born from those experiences were passed down to me and continue to shape my life, despite the changes in times and circumstances. Over time, thanks to the hard work of my grandfather, father, and uncles, our financial situation improved, and we settled in Delhi as a large joint family. Yet, my father could never fully move past the trauma of partition, and I, too, was often reminded of it, even though I was born much later in Delhi. At the age of four, I was enrolled in St. Xavier’s High School in Delhi, where I created some of my happiest memories. I thrived in school, excelling in academics and actively participating in extracurricular activities. After completing school, I went on to attend Delhi University, choosing English Honours, though I never had much interest in taking my studies seriously. From an early age, I felt restless and had always dreamed of traveling the world.
About Madhur Dhingra
6. Animesh Ray
Animesh Ray was born in a small suburban town in West Bengal, India. He grew up by the banks of the river Hooghly, watching mud skinks slither and river dolphins whoosh. He got into street photography when 14 years old, back in the late 1960s, using a 1950’s Agfa Isolette. While most of his earlier street photos are in black and white, lately he dabbles in color. Animesh loves to travel and take photographs of life as it presents itself. His beliefs are most compatible with those of the humanist ideals. In his other life, Animesh is a professor and a researcher in genetics and molecular biology in a US university. He has also published short stories and works of poetry, and is working on a novel.
About Animesh Ray
7. Manjari Sharma
Manjari Sharma is a photographer born and raised in Mumbai, India and based in Brooklyn, New York. Rooted in the study of relationships and personal mythology, since it’s inception Manjari’s work has been recognized as walking the line of fine art and traditional portraiture. Manjari‘s work has been showcased in several group and solo exhibitions both in the US and internationally and she’s been invited to speak at the School of Visual arts and the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City. Manjari was chosen as an honorable mention for the Santa Fe Prize in 2012, her work selected by Review Santa Fe and featured by the Critical mass top 50. Manjari has been featured in various magazines print and online. Her works have appeared with Forbes India Magazine, Vogue India, Geo Magazine, America Online. She has been commisioned to work with advertising agencies such as JWT and Contract, India and has had features and interviews with New York Times, lens blog, Wired Raw File Nikon Asia, NPR, Time, PDN, Huffington Post, CNBC, Mumbai, The Times of India group and Leica, China. Before moving to the U.S. in 2001 Manjari worked for the national news daily of her country, The Times of India. Manjari has also worked as a staff photojournalist with the leading south asian photography magazine, Better Photography. She holds a bachelors degree in Visual Communication from S.N.D.T University, Mumbai and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Still Photography from Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio.
About Manjari Sharma
8.Mona Singh
Gurgaon, (India) based street/ travel photographer. Capturing emotions is one of the key ingredients in Mona Singh’s work. She firmly believes in making photographs that she resonates with. Even though it is the emotions of her subjects that she is documenting, she finds a reflection of herself in them. Her love for the unexpected and candid moments gives her the ability to find visual order within the chaos of the world and an unparalleled creative vision. She loves to creatively capture the weird and wonderful fleeting moments as they unfold in front of her eyes. She beautifully fuses emotions and art to tell stories through her pictures. Photography for her has been a life-transforming experience. Photography is the love of her life and traveling is like blood in her veins. She loves waking up to new horizons, making new friends and exploring the world.
About Mona Singh
9. Ulka Chauhan
Street and documentary photographer Ulka Chauhan grew up in Mumbai, finished high school in Switzerland, college in Boston and lived and worked in New York and South Africa before anchoring herself in Zurich and Mumbai. These varied geographies come together to inform her work and shape her visual language. While the terrain of her photographic practice is vast, a large body of Ulka’s images chronicles life across Switzerland and India. She moves with an ease between the two starkly different worlds, seeing them with ‘fresh eyes’ every time she visits. Ulka uses her own voice to tell stories inspired by the two diverse spaces she occupies. Time and space are bystanders in her images as she moves literally and metaphorically between the linear structured world of Switzerland and the cyclical and chaotic world of India. Her style morphs fluidly with her choice of subject. Using a minimalist narrative, there is an artistic reduction to her compositions as she focuses on just the essential elements to make us look at old things in new ways. Ulka Chauhan is the sum of all her parts; being rooted on two grounds contouring her identity and compassionate world view. Her camera is the lens through which she sees the world, and in the process, herself.
About Ulka Chauhan
10.Girithar Jeevasuba
Girithar Jeevasuba is a visual storytelling photographer based in Chennai, India. He finished his photographic studies at Don Bosco College of Arts and Design. After that, he started his career as a cinematographer and used the money earned from it to make photostories by traveling across various parts of India. This empiricism drew him entirely into the ocean of photography. 6 years of experience sculpted him into a free-spirited, dedicated, and passionate photographer. He always wanted to reflect the true feelings & essence of the moment which are diffused into the atmosphere in his shots. His work has been featured in leading publications like Smart photography magazine. According to Girithar, “Photographs not only make the moment immortal but also discloses many truth and realities that had been silently buried or neglected by the world”.