Tag Archives: Indian photographers

No Subject Too Small – Aparupa Dey

Aparupa Dey is a wildlife photographer dedicated to capturing the raw beauty of Indian wildlife. Her work spans across multiple habitats and species, highlighting the charms and challenges faced by her subjects. For her, no creature is too small, as is reflected by the respect and space she gives to them while wading through muddy plains and waist-deep waters pursuing the perfect shot. Asian Photography spoke to her about capturing a wide range of subjects, evolution of process, risks she took while making photographs and more. Excerpts:

How has your work and process evolved over the past years?

Over the years, my work and process have evolved significantly, shaped by both experience and deeper observation of wildlife. Initially, my focus was largely on capturing the obvious moments like clear sightings, striking compositions, and technically perfect shots. But with time, I’ve learned to slow down, anticipate the behaviour of the subjects.

Now, my process is much more research-driven and thoughtful. I spend considerable time studying species, their habitats, and behaviour patterns before even stepping into the field. The evolution of my work reflects a shift from purely technical execution to a more holistic approach blending preparation, patience, and creative vision to create images that resonate deeply with viewers.

What drew you to capturing smaller animals and birds rather than focusing on only big mammals?

I don’t judge animals based on size; I see them all simply as life. Growing up in a rural area abundant with wildlife, I began my journey as a hobbyist, often spending time by the riverside in my village, capturing little colourful birds, jackals, mongooses, and other creatures. Over time, I realised that these lives aren’t just existing, they each have a world of their own. If you take the time to observe closely, you’ll see how they interact, protect their nests, nurture their young, and display behaviours full of intention and complexity. It was this fascinating world and these behaviours that drew me to focus on them, even more than travelling to exotic locations. 

Could you describe your preparation before entering the field and how do you choose your subjects on the field?

If I know the place and what I am going to capture then most probably I know what to expect and where. But things change when I go to a new place. Usually, it begins with selecting the species I want to photograph. Then I study them, their habitat, the best time for sightings, and the prevailing weather conditions. I also gather details about their life cycle, such as mating seasons or the right time to spot cubs.

And they do exhibit different kinds of behaviour during different times. For instance, if you visit a blackbuck habitat during their mating season, you’ll often witness males locking horns in dramatic fights to display their strength and to defend their territory. If one can position themselves against the setting sun, then they can capture dramatic images of black bucks locking horns with dust arising into the golden light. That’s where my research pays off.

After that, I connect with local guides to get firsthand insights and cross-check my research. I make sure to prepare weather-appropriate clothing, protection for my camera gear, and do a basic financial analysis of travel and related stuff. I also watch videos on YouTube about the location to get a sense of the landscape and possibilities there. Once all this groundwork is done, I set out on the field.

What was your riskiest experience in the wild—in terms of light, weather, movement or safety?

I think my recent Red Panda expedition in Nepal stands out the most. The terrain was extremely tough—we had to constantly ascend and descend sizeable mountains covered with thick bamboo, making movement nearly impossible. Carrying all our equipment through that was especially challenging. The slopes were steep, the ground damp, and being in a temperate forest meant the weather was unpredictable. Thick fog often reduced visibility to just half a meter, making every step an intense challenge.

How has guiding other photographers influenced your photography and vision?

Well, this is something which is a by-product of interacting with other people or fellow photographers. It forced me to observe more carefully, and explain the “why” behind every shot when asked, whether it’s about composition, behaviour or patience. It made me more conscious of my own approach, helping me refine my techniques. It’s also broadened my perspective, as seeing how others interpret the same scene often inspires me to experiment and look at wildlife in new ways.

How do you see fresh possibilities, perspectives and shots while shooting at the same place/spot?

The goal isn’t just to photograph a species, but to capture it in action and in dialogue with its environment. Even when the place and species are familiar, their behaviour and the natural conditions are constantly changing. By ‘natural condition’, I mean elements like light, shadows, clouds, rain, mist, temperature, and wind etc. all of which shift daily. These factors, combined with the species’ behaviour, open up countless possibilities for unique shots. And if you feel like your images are starting to repeat, simply switch to a different lens or focal length, and a whole new range of possibilities unfolds. And personally this concept has worked for me. 

I started photography in 2014 a little actively while I was a student. From 2014 to 2022, for eight long years I kept on returning to the same stretch of river which is approximately 2km away from my home with my mother to capture wildlife and each day I returned with tons of images and a heart full of happiness of capturing and observing something special. Therefore all I would say is keep returning to the same spot whenever you can. Even if some shots repeat, you never know what fresh combination of action and environment awaits you next time.

If you could capture one image that represents your philosophy as a photographer, what would it look like?

If I could capture one image that represents my philosophy as a photographer, it would be of a wild animal completely absorbed in its natural behaviour, framed in harmony with its surroundings. Not a staged moment or a dramatic chase, but a quiet, authentic interaction between the species and its environment, maybe a bird silhouetted against shifting light, or an elephant emerging through mist. For me, that balance between subject, action, and nature’s variables is what truly defines my vision: to tell stories that are honest, intimate, and deeply connected to the wild.

Chennai Photo Biennale Edition 4 announced

The fourth edition of the Chennai Photo Biennale takes its primary inspiration from Dayanita Singh’s ongoing exploration “#whyphotograph”. The biennale will showcase diverse practices by artists who are reshaping dominant narratives by addressing gaps in representation, remixing colonial visual vocabularies with native avant garde aesthetics, by shifting the gaze from the lone photographer to forge an ethic of care and collective authorship. The Biennale will encompass 20+ exhibitions and several programmes across the 90 days. The CPB Edition 4 opens in 2 phases.

The CPB4 is organised with the support of Goethe-Institut Chennai as the primary partner in association with The Hindu­ Made of Chennai and Palladium Partners – TNQ Publishing | Photo South Asia.

Phase 1 opens on December 20, 2024 with ‘Vaanyerum Vizhuthugal’ (Roots that reach for the sky) – 12 lens-based artists across Tamil Nadu curated by Jaisingh Nageswaran. It’s a project by CPB Foundation in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Chennai in association with The Hindu, Made of Chennai. The participating artists are – Alina Tiphagne, Aishwarya Arumbakkam, Arun Karthick, Brinda Anantharaman, Krithika Sriram, Osheen Siva, Priyadarshini Ravichandran, Sathish Kumar, Shankar Raja Narayana, Sridhar Balasubramaniyam, Steevez Rodriguez and Vivek Mariappan.

Next in Phase 1 will be ‘It’s time. To see. To be seen’ – Women responding to the world through photographic practices. Its a project by CPB Foundation in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Chennai, British Council, Pro Helvetia and the French Institute. The participating artists are – Ann Griffin (Switzerland), Bhumika Saraswati (India), Delphine Diallo (France/USA), Farheen Fatima (India), Fast Forward Collective (UK), Hannah Cooke (Germany), Indu Antony (India), Kiki Strietberger (Germany), Nony Singh (India), Offset Projects (India), Prarthna Singh (India), Radha Rathi (India), Samar Hazboun (Palestine).

CPB Invited Projects in December 2024 are – ‘Madras, Margazhi & Music’ Portraits by Amar Ramesh; ‘Common Nouns’; and ‘Light Salt Water’ by Sujatha Shankar Kumar.

Phase 2 opens on January 17, 2025 with ‘Love and Light’ – A Site of Infinite Possibilities. Its Sunil Gupta retrospective curated by Charan Singh and presented by Tarun and Tarana Sawhney. It is supported by Avtar Foundation for the Arts, Sid Khanna & Meher Varma, Payal and Annurag Khanna.

Next in Phase 2 wil be ‘What Makes Me Click!’ – Celebrating & spotlighting 20 photography projects by children globally curated by Chennai Photo Biennale Foundation and the Children’s Photography Archive, UK, with support from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies.

Participating institutions and artists include the Tamil Nadu School Department & Palani Kumar (India), Fawood and Curzon Nursery Schools & Catherine Rive (UK), Children’s Photography Archive (UK), CEDAR Coimbatore, Girl Museum (UK), Nirmal Bhartia School (India), Fotohane Darkroom (Turkey), Fotokids (Guatemala), Through the lens (South Africa), Art Reach (India), Bronx Documentary Centre (USA), Anjali House with Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops (Cambodia), Objectifs Centre (Singapore), Museum of Photography (Greece), Photoworks, The National Gallery, London and Brighton & Hove Museums, Alejandra Carles-Tolra (UK), Prakriti School (India), Chennai Photo Biennale Foundation (India), Chinky Shukla (Rajasthan), Ibn Rushd Fund, Qattan Child Centre Gaza, Asmaa Seba (Gaza).

The exhibition will be curated as an interactive installation designed by The Architecture Story along the museum campus with photographs as well as engaging playful activities for all ages including a pinhole camera.

‘CPB4 Open Call Showcase’ features 40 photographers for the first time via an open call. Entries were received from across 30 countries. The exhibition will showcase single images and photo essays selected by an established international jury including Alessia Glaviano – Head, Global PhotoVogue (Milano); Brendan McCleary – Curator, PHOTO Australia (Australia); Gwen Lee – Co-founder & Director, DECK, Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF-Singapore); Joseph Radhik – Co-founder – Stories (India); Julie Héraut – Head of Exhibition & Research, Le Bal Paris (Paris); Michael Weir – Director, Belfast Photo Festival (UK); Smita Sharma – Visual Journalist (India); Umah Jacob – Director of External Relations & Outreach, India Art Fair (India); Varun Gupta – Managing Trustee, CPB Foundation Director (India).

The CPB – Photoworks Darkroom Residency Showcase, showcasing works by artists from India and UK – Ārun (Chennai), Holly Birtles (UK) and Soham Joshi (UK). The show is supported by the British Council.

CPB Invited Projects in January 2025 are – ‘For the love of…’ Cop Shiva and Lim Soo-Sik curated by Nandini Valli Muthiah; ‘Time Present Time Past’ by Sebastian Cortez; ‘Photography Strictly Prohibited’ A retrospective of Navroze Contractor by Navjivan Trust and National Photography Festival; ‘Lalit Mohan Sen Archives – An Enduring Legacy’ by Emami Art; ‘The Architecture of Remembrance’ by Debasish Mukherjee; ‘Artist Through The Lens’ by Manisha Gera Baswani.

CPB Primary Shows in February 2025 are: ‘Kaana Katral’ – Learning to see – Graduate students’ work from Dr MGR Janaki College for Women and Tamil Nadu Government MGR Film & Television Institute, Chennai. The exhibition showcases 15 students’ works on visual storytelling supported by Photo South Asia and Murthy Nayak Foundation; ‘Hey!’ – The exhibition features photographs made by people with disabilities and neurodivergence.

CPB Invitation Shows in February 2025 are ‘Limits of Change’ by Parvathi Nayar and Nayantara Nayar; ‘Art in Prison’ by Rahimunisa Begam; ‘Footprints on the moon’ by Dheeraj Khandelwal.

CPB Invitation Shows in March 2025 are: ‘Indianisms’ by Prashant Panjiar; ‘So far and Henceforth’ by Nandini Valli Muthiah.

Key programmes on weekends include – public openings, talks, panel discussions, exhibition tours, workshops, film screenings, poetry intervention and more.

Oppo India announces winners of imagineIF Photography Awards 2024

In a significant celebration of mobile photography, Oppo India has revealed the winners of its first-ever imagineIF Photography Awards 2024. Out of an impressive 34,000 entries from across the country, six photographers were honoured with Gold, Silver, and Bronze distinctions. The awards aimed to push the boundaries of mobile photography, encouraging participants to showcase their unique stories.

Kolkata’s Arpan Basu Chowdhury has taken the top spot in the ‘Travel’ category with his stunning photo series, “A Forgotten Legacy”, which showcases Bengal’s traditional art form, Bahurupi. Arpan’s work, shot on the OPPO Find X7 Ultra, earned him the Gold award in OPPO India’s inaugural imagineIF Photography Awards. As a result, he and five other talented photographers will be heading to Paris Photo 2024 this November.

Gold: Arpan Basu Chowdhury from Kolkata was awarded the Gold for his evocative series “A Forgotten Legacy,” which documents the traditional Bahurupi art form in rural West Bengal. His work, captured on the Oppo Find X7 Ultra, earned him a cash prize of INR 5,00,000 and an invitation to the prestigious Paris Photo 2024.

Silver: The Silver awards went to Kolkata’s Madhumita Nandi and Aurangabad’s Sanket Joshi. Nandi’s series, “Tongueless Whispering,” delves into the impact of global consumption on human and non-human displacement. Joshi’s “Moments from Wari” captures the spiritual essence of the Warkari tradition in Maharashtra. Both winners received INR 2,00,000 each.

Bronze: Bronze honors were secured by Pralay Jana from Kolkata, Chiranjit Dey from Purulia, and Ajeesh Ajayakhosh from Kollam. Jana’s “Golden Horizons” captures the serene beauty of Chilika Lake at dawn and dusk, Dey’s “Faces Behind the Mask” sheds light on Jharkhand’s Chhau dance, and Ajayakhosh’s “Nature’s Palette” explores the intricate dance of insect courtship. Each Bronze winner was awarded INR 1,00,000.

All six winners will have the opportunity to attend Paris Photo 2024, the 27th edition of the world-renowned photography fair, held from November 7th to 10th at the iconic Grand Palais in Paris.

Sushant Vasishta, Head of Digital Marketing at Oppo India, expressed his enthusiasm for the competition’s success. “We are thrilled with the incredible response to the first edition of the imagineIF Photography Awards. The creativity and passion displayed in over 34,000 entries were truly impressive. Our panellists faced a tough challenge in selecting the winners due to the high level of skill and creativity. At Oppo India, we are deeply committed to nurturing this talent and are excited about the possibilities for future collaborations with these exceptionally talented photographers.”

Reflecting on his win, Gold winner Arpan Basu Chowdhury shared, “I am thrilled to receive the imagineIF Photography Award for 2024. It’s an honour to have my work recognized in the first year of these global awards in India. Capturing ‘A Forgotten Legacy’ on the Oppo Find X7 Ultra was an unforgettable experience; the phone’s advanced camera features made it possible to beautifully showcase the diversity of our country.”

The imagineIF Photography Awards 2024 invited Indian citizens over the age of 18 to submit their best smartphone photos across nine categories: Landscape, Portrait, Colours, Unfading Moment, Fashion, Snapshot, Light, Travel, and Collection. From the initial 34,000+ submissions, 50 entries advanced to the second round, where participants showcased their skills using Oppo’s flagship Find X7 Ultra device. A distinguished panel of photographers, including Celebrity Wedding and Oppo Imaging Expert Joseph Radhik, Wildlife Photographer Aarzoo Khurana, Fashion Photographer Arjun Mark, and other esteemed global jury members, evaluated the entries.4o