Get your lenses polished and creativity soaring for our third photo competition! This year's categories are Food, Fashion, Culture and Aerial Photography related to rural India. A panel of renowned judges, an electrifying exhibition and exciting prizes await you. Submissions close on January 14.
We are at it again, folks. The photo competition.
We want to see rural India through your lens for our third annual Village Vibe photo competition.
This year the photo competition is bigger and better. We are seeking entries in four categories – Food, Fashion, Culture and Aerial photography (Drone pictures). Through your camera, we want to see the unique fabric of Indian villages through its varied arts and crafts, attractive outfits and jewellery, delectable delicacies, and the enthusiastic celebration of our myriad festivals and rituals.
The panel of judges this year comprises ace photographers who have made a mark in their respective fields:
Vicky Roy is a documentary photographer whose work has been exhibited at various galleries across the world. In 2008 he was selected by the US based Maybach Foundation to document the reconstruction of the World Trade Center in New York. He was awarded the MIT Media Fellowship in 2014 and featured in the Forbes Asia 30 under 30 list in 2016. Through his photography campaigns he has been able to change the lives of many across rural India. He specialises in impact photography.
Richa Maheshwari is a fashion photographer, filmmaker and social media influencer. She is the Nikon India brand ambassador and teaches photography to the blind. With a passion for fashion, a love for visual artistry, she has shot many campaigns for various brands. An alumnus of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Richa is also a TED X speaker.
Chef Michael Swamy is a food stylist and photographer, specialising in food and wildlife photography for over three decades. He has worked with the BBC India and major production houses producing food shows like MasterChef India. He also works in the rural sector, uplifting village communities through culinary training programmes that he conducts in partnership with hotels. He has also been a lecturer in photography at several educational institutions.
The final shortlisted photographs will be exhibited at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi, from 9 February to 9 March 2024. During this time we will be conducting various food, heritage and culture walkthroughs in collaboration with Delhi Food Walks, Delhinama and सबConscious by RJ Neelakshi. We will also be conducting a photography workshop with Delhi Photography Club.
Also an important part of this event will be the various pledges that Village Square will urge the youth to take. These will be on issues such as working with local farmers, community-based organisations, and food suppliers to increase the availability of locally-sourced food; rendering all possible help to conserve and preserve our heritage structures; avoiding use of single-use plastic and not littering public spaces; promoting responsible rural and wildlife tourism; and conserving and learning one’s native language.
The winners of the photo competition will be announced on 10 February 2024 during a cultural evening organised in collaboration with Amarrass Nights at Sunder Nursery. The show, held under the stars, will feature folk musicians and bands from different parts of the country, including The Tapi Project from Gujarat, Ghewar and Firoze from Rajasthan, and Mookhuri from Meghalaya.
The prizes under different categories are sponsored by Delhi Food Walks, Women Weave, P-tal and My Pahadi Dukaan, with additional collaboration with Delhi Photography Club.
So, grab your camera and showcase the country in its myriad hues – the dynamic fashion trends in rural areas through its many traditional attires; its food through many tasty and varied cooking styles and dishes; and other aspects of culture, including arts, craft and festivals.
