Top 10 Most Influential People in Photography Unveiled

One of the most sought after award trophies in the industry is the Most Influential People in Photography, organised as part of the Asian Photography Awards ceremony. The category introduces you to the 10 Most Influential people/institutions in the photographic fraternity of India. The process, participants and the jury for this award call for something special. Adjudged by a jury outside the industry and is tabulated by an independent auditor to ensure the awards are unbiased and impartial. The nominees for these awards are judged not only on the basis of achievements, but also on their contributions and impact towards the industry in the last one year.

The objective of Symbiosis School of Photography is to successfully educate and graduate professional image-makers with the technical, artistic and business skills necessary for success. Their programs are presented through a combination of intimate classroom lectures and demonstrations, practical hands-on assignment work in studios and labs, and real-world experience through the fulfillment of actual contract work for clients. They conduct study tours for students to various places across India, one day tours to culture events, and other industrial visits as well. The institute also houses a research lab where hybrid technologies are taught, and students can publish research papers on photography. The institute has a guest faculty from Royal College of Art London who regularly conducts lectures for students, and professionals from Europe who give seminars at the institute. Students also get a chance to conduct their own photography exhibitions. Headed by Vishal Bhende, the institute is redefining photography education.

Bishwarup has been influential in helping Ricoh establish their business in India, widen their customer base, improve sales, create a category which was non-existent during the time it was introduced. He has help build a strong forum to interact regularly through various social networking platforms, and increase exposure through word of mouth, and customer satisfaction and loyalty. As a marketing head, he introduced a major international marketing activity in India called Photomarathon. He’s been instrumental in successful introduction of 360 degree image and video category in India, and all India service collection facility for Pentax, Ricoh camera.

As the Country Manager, Rajesh Gupta has led the SanDisk sales and marketing team to deliver various projects and maintain strong business record for SanDisk in India. He has worked collaboratively with the management at the regional and HQ level to position India as a strong emerging market and get higher visibility for the new launches in India. He also worked closely with the team to build reach for SanDisk in Tier II and III markets across India, in emerging cities through roadshows, incentive programmes for partners, enhanced level of retail visibility and co-marketing programmes to reach out to the channel partners in the upcountry markets.

Under Nitin Goyal’s leadership, Tamron has been able to develop their own set of distributors across India from different industries. He has helped the company with key marketing activities like Dealer Activations, Wedding events, Exhibition Participation, Associations with all imaging committees across India, Mentor programme to bring photographers hidden talent on open platforms like workshops etc. He played a vital role in idea generation, brainstorming, team making and motivation, fine-tuning projects and successfully executing them. These efforts have helped Tamron to penetrate major cities, and has been rewarding in terms of brand recognition, brand visibility and business growth.

A conglomeration of photographers and artists, Udaan prides itself on its learning modules, as they are original and created by a common think tank. The renowned institute recently moved to a new expansive premise of over 10000sqft purely dedicated to photography, in the heart of Mumbai. Their aim is to provide better facilities, huge studios, extensive computer lab, libraries, lounges and even a cafeteria and a proper learning environment to our students, without an increase in fees. The institute has involved many photographers (and even students), from different streams in the management of the institute. The institute is setting high standards in area of photography education.

Sephi Bergerson has 12 years of experience as a commercial photographer in Israel and 15 years of documentary experience in India. He is an award-winning photographer, and specialises in lifestyle photography, and destination weddings. Sephi’s work has been featured in books and publications worldwide and has won international acclaim. His most inspiring photo projects address cultural and humanitarian issues, from polio and HIV to rural development and education. Last year, he helped organise SILK INSPIRE 2016, India’s first wedding photography festival, and SILK Awards, India’s first-ever recognition platform for documentary series in wedding photography.

With more than 20 years of experience shooting the Indian entertainment and fashion industry, Daboo Ratnani is a name to be reckoned with. He has shot numerous Indian and international celebrities including Brett Lee, Chris Gayle, Borris Becker, Nelson Mandela, Michael Jackson, and Dwayne Bravo. He also conducts numerous workshops all over India for aspiring professional photographers. He is part of Nikon’s Pro Panel, wherein he conducts seminars and interactive workshops for Nikon School.

With his undying love for wildlife, Sudhir Shivaram is among the most well-known and respected wildlife photographers in India. With a strong technical background, Sudhir’s work has won various prestigious awards, including the National Geographic’s ‘Yellow Border Award’. He was a brand ambassador of Canon for a period of 8 years, and is also the founding member of the non-profit photo sharing site India Nature Watch. He has launched an online video based photography tutorials. He also started a photography-related Facebook chats that have gone on to become hugely popular. In the last one year, around 3.5 million people over the world have viewed his various live videos broadcasts on Facebook, including the ones from various National Parks from around India and Kenya/Tanzania. He was the first person in the world to do a live broadcast of the great migration from the Masai Mara on Facebook in 2015.

Taking the role as the Nikon MD in 2015, Kazuo Ninomiya has helped the brand reinforce it’s presence in India. With key projects like Nikon schools, the brand has been able to contribute to the proliferating photography culture in India, and come up with a YouTube channel with tutorials in English and Hindi. He has also worked closely with potential partners, media and corporate consumers, and reinforced Nikon’s policy of “consumer first” to evaluate customer feedback, and change for the benefit of the customers. In making social contributions, CSR initiatives to aid students with education, transport and healthcare were undertaken.

With over 36 years of experience with Canon and during this tenure of half a decade with Canon India, Kazutada Kobayashi has played a role in bringing about several changes in the market, customer expectation and technological development, and ensure Canon India has stayed a step ahead of it all. Understanding the brand’s DNA, he has led a team that has diligently, towards the growth and success of the brand, and as a leading digital imaging company in India. He has contributed, directly or indirectly, to all of Canon’s projects, and helped expand the company’s product portfolio and focussed on improving customer education and awareness with pan-India activities like Canon Photo marathon, Photo-walks and photography workshops.