Subrata Biswas is an independent photojournalist of India, currently based out of Kolkata. Prior to that, He worked as a staff photojournalist for the Hindustan Times in New Delhi. In the very beginning of his career, he also contributed for the Reuters, Associated Press as a stringer.

      Painting since his schooldays, his canvases are influenced by surrealism and post-modernism, dealing often with the study of human relationships and social issues. His works were selected twice (2009, 2010) in the prestigious national annual show of Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, followed by several group shows, Subrata presented his first solo show of paintings at the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, in 2010 to much critical acclaim. Becoming a photographer came as a natural extension of his prevalent practices in the visual arts. He started making photographs in 2009 during his casual visit to Purulia, located in the eastern part of the Chota Nagpur plateau. He was overwhelmed by the diversity of its landscape, simple lifestyle of people, rich traditional culture, and felt the need to share his experiences there in the form of a visual diary. This led to his extensively showcased long-term project ‘Purulia Diary’.

      Academically, he holds an engineering degree (IT) but an immense interest in visual arts from the childhood led him to pursue a full-time career in photography. His works explore under-reported stories regarding human rights, social-cultural anthropology, environmental changes and its impact on society, mostly among the marginalised populations and indigenous communities across rural areas of the country. He also has an expertise in portrait photography. Subrata’s works have been published widely in India and internationally.

Publications & Commissions :

BBC, CNN, Associated Press, The Guardian, Hindustan Times, Mint, 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, Outlook, aCurator Magazine, Roli Books.

Awards & Fellowships :

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 :

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).