Commencing with the interest in human nature to capture and save self and familial images for the rest of their life, photography has since come a long way in its evolvement. 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 Concept of Photography in India
Photography affects one`s life in more ways than one. It records the scenes in history that touches one and all. Priceless memories are built in this manner. Just seeing a photograph captivates the emotions, amuses one or stands out to be thought provoking. Unlike any other mediums, it provides one with a `true-to-life` image that is not too much different than what one perceives in everyday life.

History of Photography
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 eliminate 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.

Photography in India
Indian photography had received colossal impetus during the East India Company`s advent in the early 18th century. In fact, it was chiefly due to the Englishmen that the country saw the mounting interest and curiosity in photography among the `natives`. The coinage was gradually becoming a household name.

Uses of Photography in India
Photography now-a-days are 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.

Camera in Photography, Still camera
A camera is a device used to capture images, either as still photographs or as sequences of moving images (movies or videos). The term camera comes from the Latin camera obscura, meaning `dark chamber`, standing for an early mechanism of projecting images where an entire room functioned as a real-time imaging system; the modern camera evolved from the camera obscura. Cameras may work with the light of the visible spectrum or with other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. A camera normally consists of an enclosed hollow with an opening (aperture) at one end for light to enter, and a recording or viewing surface for capturing light at the other end. Majority of the cameras have a lens positioned in front of the camera`s opening to assemble the incoming light and focus all or part of the image on the recording surface. The diameter of the aperture is often mastered by a diaphragm mechanism, but some cameras have a fixed-size aperture.

Types of photography, Indian photography
Photography is one of the best ways to preserve the memories, to cherish the long gone moments. Whether it is the class 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. Photography can be classified into four major types, i.e. Black and White photography, Colour photography, Digital photography and Sepia photography.

Styles in Photography, Indian photography
Photographic work 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. The other numerous photographic styles can be grouped under the following heads:

Photojournalism in India
Photojournalism is a particular form of journalism (collecting, editing and presenting of news material for publication or broadcast) that creates images in order to tell a news story. It is now generally understood to refer only to still images, and in some cases to video used in broadcast journalism. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography (like documentary photography, street photography or celebrity photography) by the quality of timeliness, objectivity and narrative.

Photojournalism as a Career in India
Pictures are said to arouse the emotion and news content of a story fourfold. 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 is under great demand. Photojournalism in India is indeed quite lucrative, provided one is determined to make it to the top.

Photography as a career in India
As a career in photography, India`s educational future looks exceedingly promising. Already looked at as an esteemed option after completing one`s basic schooling, an individual with that extra edge and passion to move to the top, is sure to become a promising and famed photographer. The rewards at the end of the tunnel are worth a wait.

Institutes offering photography courses in India
Photography can be opted both in graduation and post-graduation levels. Colleges, as well as universities offer choices that can prove fruitful in the long run. Correspondence can also be had as an option.

Photography as an art form, Indian photography
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.

Indian Photographers
A photographer`s beauty lies in the hidden fact that he is capable of emoting almost every kind of emotion through his renditions. Indian photographers from all their respective fields have made waves in both the international and national circuit. Each work can be regarded as a piece of art, speaking volumes about their creator.

Famous Indian Photographic Studios
Since the arrival of photography and camera in India in the passing years of the 19th century, there have been substantial and path-breaking changes worth mentionable. Women had come to the forefront in capturing images and even were not afraid to be dubbed outcast. And due to such photographic developments, photographic studios had to be established for successful rendition of one`s creation. Indians were in fact quite adept at it, and studios were thus established, keeping in the mind the British format. The most prestigious news is that, such photographic studios still survive to this day. However, India has bettered its technical skills in photography by a leaping difference.

Awards in 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