Subrata Biswas is an independent Indian photojournalist based out of Kolkata. Self-taught in his career as a documentary photographer, he started working as a freelance photographer for Reuters, Associated Press and other Indian publications in 2011. Later in 2013, he joined the headquarters of the esteemed Indian daily Hindustan Times as a staff photojournalist in New Delhi. After quitting Hindustan Times in 2015 he started working as a freelance photojournalist, covering stories for national and international publications, non-profit organizations and multinational companies across India. Besides this, he also continues working on long-term personal projects.

Subrata’s engineering background in Information Technology didn’t deter his passion for the visual arts, which he had nurtured through painting since his school days. With 12 years of experience in the field of photojournalism, his work is largely focused on the under-reported issues related to environmental and social concerns that affect the communities, mainly marginalised and indigenous populations in remote rural India. His primary objective is to heighten awareness of the issues impacting both individuals and their environments through his creative endeavours. Subrata’s work has been widely published in India and internationally, showcasing his versatility and artistic insight.

Publications & Commissions :

BBC, CNN, Associated Press, The Guardian, Hindustan Times, Mint, Open Magazine, Forbes India, Vice, Fair Trade USA, Honest Tea (The Coca-Cola Company), Amazon India, Greenpeace India, Oxfam India, Amnesty International, The Huffington Post, Foreign Affairs Magazine, Ohio Today, The Sunday Guardian, Entreprenuer, Timeout, The Hindu Business Line, Fountain Ink, The Juice Magazine, Better Photography, Creative Image Magazine, Firstpost, Man’s World India, Roli Books.

Awards & Fellowships :

2024     : Chennai Photo Biennale Photo Awards, Edition IV, Shortlisted in Portrait Category.

2017     : Nominated for the Prix Pictet award and shortlisted to be featured in the book named ‘SPACE’.

2016     : The Alfred Fried Photography Award 2015

2015     : Fellowship by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

2015     : NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism award, Honourable Mention in Non-Traditional Photojournalism Publishing category.

2014     : MFI Award 2014 (Media Foundation of India), Honourable Mention in Best Photo Story category.

2011     : POY (Photographer of the Year) by Better Photography Magazine, Honourable Mention in Photo Essay category (Theme – Song of the Road).

Exhibitions :

2023     : “Human.Kind” exhibition at the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum in Geneva, Switzerland – A new look at Humanitarian Photography through 10 editions of the Prix Pictet award.

2019     : “Eyes on main street” photo festival (5th edition) in North Carolina, USA.

2018     : “Eyes on main street” photo festival (4th edition) in North Carolina, USA.

2017     : “Time and Tide”, a group show at gallery Manora, Bangalore.

2017     :  Solo Show organized by “Pondy Art” in Pondichrrey, (“When Art Meets Life”).

2017     : “Octavio Paz and India”, A Photo-Poetry Installation in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Free translation of two poems “The Balcony” & “The Mausoleum of Humayun” by great Mexican writer Octavio Paz)

2016     : “Octavio Paz and India”, A Photo-Poetry Installation at ICCR Art Gallery, Kolkata (Free translation of two poems “The Balcony” & “The Mausoleum of Humayun” by great Mexican writer Octavio Paz)

2016     : 2nd Photojourn festival, Bangkok (Human-elephant conflict).

2016     : Chennai Photo Biennale, Chennai, curated projection (Human-elephant conflict).

2015     : Indian Photo Festival, Hyderabad (Purulia Diary).

2015     : “Backs to the Wall”, an exhibition by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

2015     : “Octavio Paz and India”, A Photo-Poetry Installation at Piramal Art Gallery, Mumbai (Free translation of two poems “The Balcony” & “The Mausoleum of Humayun” by great Mexican writer Octavio Paz)

2015     : Dali International Photography Exhibition, a curated projection (“When Art Meets Life”).

2014     : Sensorium, Festival of Art, Literature & Ideas at Sunaparanta, Goa Centre for the Arts. (“Octavio Paz and India”)

2014     : 10^th Angkor International Photo festival, Siem Reap, Cambodia (“When Art Meets Life”) .

2014     : “Octavio Paz in India”, A Photo-Poetry Installation at Instituto Cervantes, New Delhi (Free translation of two poems “The Balcony” & “The Mausoleum of Humayun” by great Mexican writer Octavio Paz)

2013     : 9^th Angkor International Photo Festival, Siem Reap, Cambodia (Behind the Mask).

2013     : 2nd Delhi Photo festival, curated projection (Purulia Diary).