WHO?
I was born in Andul, a small town near Kolkata, India. I still live here with my family. I grew up with a great interest in art. I love to document my observation and feeling and show the different moments and moods of life.
My traditional upbringing meant I had been expected to marry and have children after leaving school, but I explained to my parents it wasn’t my destiny.
I completed a Master’s degree in Environmental Science (2019). Also gained advance knowledge in narrative photography from National Geographic Photo Camp, Foundry Photojournalism Workshop, TAPSA, Sohrab Hura’s workshop. In 2019 participated at 7th annual New York Portfolio Review organized by The New York Times. In 2019, I joined Reuters as a photojournalist. In 2020 participated in Reuters Hostile Environment Training program in Jakarta.
My work has been published in various media publications including Reuters, The Washington Post Magazine, The New York Times, BBC, The Guardian, The National (UAE), The Economic Times, Hindustan Times, Feature Shoot, etc. I have won numerous scholarships including the Scholarship to attend the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop, Timothy Allen Photography Scholarship Award 2018 and VII Academy scholarship for Finding your visual voice workshop-New York (2019). I got nominated for Joop Swart Masterclass 2020. My work has been recognized in various National and International platforms including UNESCO (Climate change). I received the 7th National Photography Award (India), an Honorable Mention in Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award and I was a top 10 finalist of the International Women Photographer Award 2017.
WHAT?
I am always drawn to mystery…and something beyond realism. I love the mix with real world and feelings…I care about intimate moments and love to capture that with my camera.
I think whatever whenever I am photographing , “I am capturing my feelings and creating my own soul portrait with each of my photographs.” All my photographs are all about what I believe in.
WHERE?
I love to capture everything around me. I shoot my daily life where ever I am.
I like to capture my hometown Andul and my family life for intimate moments and just as a reminder where I came from.
For street I love places like Kolkata, Varanasi, North Bengal, New York. When I think of nature I always go to North Bengal and West Bengal’s rural villages.
WHEN?
It wouldn’t be until 2015 that I fell in love with photography. It was during a hard time in my life. I was battling with severe depression and inadvertently found myself coping with my camera.
From 2015 to now I think my photographic voice is changing with the time and circumstances.
I started photography in my hometown Andul in 2014 with a compact camera. Everyday early morning and evening I was out for shoot, that time I like to shoot nature.
From 2015 I developed my interest in street photography, and I think street photography create the base in my photographic style. I love to shoot in street because its all about expect the unexpected.
In 2016 I was in home, only with my grandma, my parents they went for a vacation. That’s the first time I started noticing my grandma and her lifestyle. I spent the time with my grandma and started photographic her in a very intimate moments…that time I unfold the power of storytelling.
When I find something interesting, I captured that moment immediately. I shoot daily.
WHY?
Photography is a kind of meditation for me.
Through this medium of art, I express myself and remain good. When I look through my camera it feels I am completely living on that moment like a true meditation…where your body and soul in a single alignment.
