Beginning with the interest in human nature to capture and save self and familial images for the rest of their life, photography both as a concept and as an art form has since come a long way in its evolvement. The journey of Indian photography is long. Beginning with the pinhole camera, that gradually came down to the first permanent black and white image, inventors were fervent to witness more. The coloured era brought with it the magic of unrealism to realistic pictures. The later ages were fast observers to the even more mind-boggling development in photography and digital cameras. What was previously just held as a passing passion for childlike desires, photography is seen today as a serious living, with more and more enthusiasts getting into it as a profession.
The term `photography` came to be known from the very early years of the 19th century, with the invention of the camera obscura, that used the mechanism of a pinhole camera to capture images. Since then, man had become obsessed with fine-tuning the long photographic process and eliminates the drawbacks associated with the early photographic versions. With passing time, the film developing process became more sophisticated and men like Nicéphore Niépce and Louis Daguerre experimented with the arrival of a permanent photographic image. From then onwards there was no looking back. A worldwide furore arose once more with the advent of colour filming, and photography came to be understood in a completely new light and meaning.
Indian photography as an art form and indeed as a concept gained a dimension with the advent of the British. With a panoramic array of historical evolvement, photography in India has never looked back since then. While the pattern of photography`s growth in the Indian subcontinent largely kept pace with developments in the wider world however, local factors also contributed to the characteristically Indian photographic work. Mostly the photography in the early years of India was specially tied to the colonial regime. However, an art form Indian photography gradually broke the strict British regime and it was by the 19th century, India positioned herself at the forefront of photographic development. Indian photography has long since arrived in India. The wide acceptance that has ensued in the context brought with it its bad and good sides. People started to argue for and against the fact that whether photography is an art form or not. However, with the diverseness in its numerous genres, like nature, night, wedding, war, family or concert photography, one cannot but accept the fact that every corner in these styles are laden with wonder. Be it in black and white photography, sepia photography or colour photography, art is employed in every outlook in photography. The video photography genre also adapts to photographic aesthetics. Whether it is the sophistication of the black and white photography or the glamour of coloured photography or the romance of the sepia photography, it is the very tone, hue and lustre of each type of photography that evokes curiosity and interest among the onlookers. Indian photography thus can be classified into four major types, i.e. Black and White photography, Colour photography, Digital photography and Sepia photography.
Photographic work in India thus can be divided into dozens of categories, many with lots of sub-categories. But there are in fact distinct variations in the manner in which photography is approached in different genres. These genres of photography require a different style and perspective. Photography has always been considered an art and a creative process. This creativity is enhanced by the availability of camera features that make possible a wide range of ideas and styles. Some of the path-breaking styles include - Aerial Photography, Architectural Photography, Glamour or Fashion photography, Landscape Photography, Wedding photography, Wildlife photography, Sports photography and War photography
Photography in India now-a-days is used almost in every field that needs documentation, both for professional and private purposes. Indian photography has really advanced with the ages, and with the advent of digital camera, its usage has broadened, perhaps beyond imagination. Photography as a career also has gained a huge impetuous in India The present booming expanding structure of Indian newspapers, be it in any category, is hugely profitable. A reader is automatically attracted to that very special news section containing a meaningful, captivating picture. As such, photojournalists with a keen sense of the inner feel and flair for photographing anything and everything exciting to the onlooker are under great demand. Photojournalism in India is indeed quite lucrative, provided one is determined to make it to the top.
Indian photographers with their talent and creativity have further reshaped Indian photography. Indian photographers are diverse in their respective field of work. Truly, the more is said, the more seems incomplete about their praises. Whether in black and white mode, or in the sepia touch, photographers have made it to the top and experienced the sense of triumph. Accordingly, they have also been awarded to their stature.
Some of the few Indian photography awards in the listings include:
The India Habitat Centre Photography Fellowship Awards
Ramnath Goenka India Press Photo Awards (by the Indian Express Group)
The Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open photography awards
TOTO FUNDS THE ARTS (TFA) Photography Awards
Wills Lifestyle Fashion Award
TPOTY Awards (primarily awarded to travel photographers)
Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI)`s Indian Sports Journalism Awards
