From Homai Vyarawalla to Danish Siddiqui: Famous Indian photographers you should know about

In the world of Indian photography, several artists have left their mark on the medium, capturing moments that echo through time. From the pioneering lens of Raja Deen Dayal, whose international acclaim in the 19th century documented India's architectural grandeur and royal life, to the groundbreaking work of Homai Vyarawalla, India's first female photojournalist who skillfully chronicled the nation's journey through independence, there have been many famous Indian photographers in Indian history. The legacy continues with Raghu Rai, the 'Father of Indian Photography,' whose intuitive and bold approach reshaped photojournalism, and Dayanita Singh, an artist exploring the relationship between images and archives. Here we list some famous Indian photographers you should know about.

Image: Canva

Raja Deen Dayal, born in 1844, was an Indian photographer known for his international acclaim in the 19th century. Trained as a draftsman, he began serious photography in 1875, gaining recognition for capturing the Prince of Wales - Edward VII and later becoming the official photographer for the Nizam of Hyderabad- Mahboob Ali Khan Siddiqi. Renowned for his technical knowledge, Deen Dayal documented India's architecture, topography, and royal life. His career included collaborations with British dignitaries, an architectural tour, and the title of Raja Bahadur Mussavir Jung. Despite his passing in 1905, his legacy endures through a vast photographic archive.

Image: Alkazi Foundation of the Arts

Homai Vyarawalla (1913-2012), India's first female photojournalist, reshaped history through her lens. Born in Gujarat, she studied photography in Bombay, capturing striking images. Moving to Delhi in the late 1930s, her presence as a sari-clad photographer granted her unprecedented access to key figures. Initially published under her husband's name or the pseudonym 'Dalda 13,' she documented India's Independence movement, including candid portraits of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. Despite being overshadowed by Western photographers, Homai's career earned her the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2011.

Image: Alkazi Foundation of the Arts

Popularly known as Raghu Rai, he was hailed as the 'Father of Indian Photography'. Raghu Rai pioneered photojournalism in India, leaving a mark in this field. His lens documented socio-political events like the Bangladesh Brutalities and the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Renowned for intimate portraits of icons like Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama, Rai's work defies easy categorization. His approach is intuitive, honest, and bold. Initially uninterested, Rai's journey into photography began when he playfully captured a donkey. Recognized by The Times, London, this moment ignited his passion, leading to a career as the chief photographer for The Statesman and later, Magnum Photos Agency.

Image: Raghu Rai Foundation

Born in 1961, Dayanita Singh, an Indian artist, uses photography to explore our relationship with images. Focused on the archive, her recent work features mobile museums, enabling endless editing and sequencing of her photographs. Collaborating with Gerhard Steidl, Singh's books experiment with unconventional ways of producing and viewing photos, introducing the concept of the "book-object." Her notable work, "Museum Bhavan," has been exhibited globally, and she has authored twelve books, each a unique exploration of visual storytelling and photographic sequences.

Image: Instagram/@DayanitaSingh

Sooni Taraporevala, born and educated in Bombay, India, received a scholarship to Harvard University in 1975. Studying English Literature, Film, and Photography, she later earned her MA in Cinema Studies from New York University. Her screenplay for "Salaam Bombay!" earned an Academy Award nomination and numerous accolades. A member of the Writers Guild of America, Taraporevala wrote for international studios, with her work including "Mississippi Masala." She also directed acclaimed films like "Little Zizou" and "Yeh Ballet." Beyond filmmaking, her photography has been exhibited globally, and she has authored influential books. Conferred with the Padma Shri in 2014, she joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts.

Image: Instagram/@Soonifilms

Prabuddha Dasgupta (1956–2012), a self-taught photographer from post-colonial India, shifted from studying history to a career in copywriting before finding his passion in photography. In 1996, his controversial collection "Women" aimed to reintegrate the nude into Indian cultural discourse. Over the next decade, he navigated both commissioned and artistic projects, earning recognition for his bold, individualistic approach. Notable works include "Ladakh" (2000) and "Edge of Faith" (2009). Dasgupta's global impact is evident in exhibitions and publications, and his posthumous retrospective showcased his diverse body of work at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.

Image: PrabuddhaDasgupta.com

Ketaki Sheth, born in 1957 and based in Mumbai, is an Indian photographer and author known for her empathetic documentary style. After earning an undergraduate degree in English Literature, she pursued an MA in Communication Arts at Cornell University in 1980. Mentored by renowned photographer Raghubir Singh, Ketaki began capturing her city in the late 1980s and later spent years photographing Sidi villages in western India. Ketaki has received numerous awards, including The Sanskriti Award for Indian Photography in 2003 and the Higashikawa Award in 2006.

Image: Instagram/@ShethKetaki

Danish Siddiqui, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, served as the Chief Photographer for the Reuters multimedia team in India. Initially a television correspondent, he later covered major stories globally, including conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, the COVID-19 pandemic in India, citizenship law protests, Rohingya refugee crises, and more. Tragically, on July 16, 2021, while documenting the Afghan Special Forces mission, he was killed. Siddiqui's courage and dedication to capturing the human experience in challenging locations left a mark on journalism, emphasizing the importance of journalist safety in conflict zones.

Image: Danish Siddiqui Foundation