Over the years, I have collaborated on several coffee table books that blend documentary photography with visual storytelling, often working closely with publishing houses and government bodies.

• Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka – A visually immersive coffee table book on the Chikkamagaluru district, produced in collaboration with Outlook Publishing.

• Jajpur, Odisha – Commissioned by the Government of Odisha, this project documented the cultural and developmental landscape of the district for a dedicated publication.

• The India Drive (Volumes 1, 2 & 3) – A three-part coffee table book series (2016–2018) published by Outlook Group, showcasing impactful CSR initiatives by corporate institutions across India. This series highlighted the intersection of social responsibility and visual narrative through curated photography and editorial design.

These projects allowed me to engage deeply with diverse communities, landscapes, and institutions, turning stories into lasting visual records.

Documentation for Book Projects:  
2012-18: for KNMA Coffee Table Books on their exhibition projects

2014: Book titled “1969-2014”  the works of artist Nalini Malini , published by KNMA

Short Films and Documentary works: 2014: Documentation for a book and an audio visual movie on Vivan Sundaram’s installation show ( 409 Ramkinkar Baij ) from the show at IGNCA, New Delhi.

“HER FROZEN PAGES” (2009). Story, Direction and Cinematography, a short documentary film about a woman who recovered from her depressions with the help of a deaddiction center in Bangalore.

“THE MISSING COLOURS”. (2009) Second Cinematographer for a short film about Transgenders in English and Tamil, Directed by Prashant.

“IDENTITY” (2008) based on a story of a city-taxi’s diary in Bangalore city Produced by Touchriver films, Hyderabad Directed by Rajesh Touchriver.

“CHANGING MINDS“ (2012) Cinematography for a documentary on AIDS awareness, funded by Red Cross, New Delhi.

Cinematography for a documentary on Street Children, funded by Chethna, New Delhi. ( 2012)

Cinematography for a documentary on tribal community in Andra Pradesh, Produced by CRC Hyderabad,( 2012).

Cinematography for a documentary on Street Children, funded by Chethna, New Delhi. ( 2012)

2025–2024
* 2025 – PANORAMAS BUT NOT QUITE , Solo Photomontages Show, Trivandrum College of Fine Arts, Kerala
2023–2020
* 2023 – Best Cinematographer Award, “Adhamya” – GAMMA International Film Festival, Kozhikode
* 2022 – NEXT 2022, Group Show, Lalithakala Akademi, Kozhikode
* 2022 – DIAPHRAGM, Online group show at The Wrong Biennale (international art collective)
* 2022 – Featured on Google Arts & Culture, presented by Sandeep and Gitanjali Maini Foundation
* 2021 – Lokame Tharavadu, curated by Bose Krishnamachari, Alleppey, Kerala
* 2021 – Online group show at Hyderabad Literature Festival, curated by Atiya Amjad, Goethe-Zentrum
* 2020 – Unleashing Panoramas (Part I & II), online photomontage show at http://www.gireeshgv.in
2019–2015
* 2019 – Concept 2020, Group Show, Durbar Hall, Ernakulam
* 2019 – Between the Lines, Group Show, Gallery 27, Fort Kochi
* 2019 – Group Show, Gallery G, Bangalore
* 2018 – Multimedia video installation with Vivan Sundaram’s 409 Ramkinkar Baij, IGNCA, Delhi & KNMA
* 2017 – Total Dismay, Gegorio Escalante Gallery, Los Angeles
* 2017 – Everybody is the Other, No One is Himself, curated by Manoj Nair, Gallery 27, Fort Kochi
* 2016 – Terraoptics, collaboration with Vivan Sundaram during Kochi-Muziris Biennale (collateral show at SUTRA, by Photoink)
* 2015 – In Box, curated by Martin, Gallery Shrishti, Hyderabad
* 2015 – Clipboard, curated group show, Durbar Hall, Kochi
2014–2010
* 2014 – Group Show, Open Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
* 2013 – Thekkan Kattu, curated by Johny ML, Birla Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
* 2013 – Emerging Submerging, curated by Johny ML, Art Konsult, New Delhi
* 2013 – Women in Religious Rituals, Art Konsult, New Delhi
* 2012–13 – Small is Big, group show, Durbar Hall, Kochi
* 2012 – Group Show, AIFACS Gallery, New Delhi
* 2012 – Still Life, curated by Tasveer Arts (traveling show: Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi)
* 2012 – United Art Fair, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
* 2012 – Group Show, Gallery G, Bangalore
* 2010 – Six Perspectives on 26/11, ALTBL Art Collective, Bangalore
* 2010 – Who Has Seen Gandhi?, curated by Rahul Bhattacharya, Gallery Tangerine, Bangalore
* 2010 – Tamed by Culture, Resisted by Images, two-person show, OED Gallery, Kochi
2009–1995
* 2009 – Group Show, Travancore Art Gallery, New Delhi
* 2006 – Fundraising Group Show organized by Maneka Gandhi, New Delhi
* 2005–2012 – Annual Shows, Bangalore Photojournalists’ Association
* 2003 – Group Show, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi (organized by Photoink)
Early Shows & Milestones (1996–1990)
* 1996 – Solo Show, Durbar Hall, Lalithakala Akademi, Ernakulam
* 1996 – Solo Show, Sopanam Art Gallery, Kollam
* 1995 – Participated in ART95, New York
* 1995 – Bangalore Kala Mela, by Lalitha Kala Akademi (Madras Regional Centre)
* 1995 – Group Show, Mahae, Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi
* 1994 – Solids, 2nd Biennale of Drawings, Chandigarh
* 1993–95 & 2008 – Annual Group Shows, Contemporary Art Gallery, Cochin (Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi)
* 1993 – Two-Person Show, Alliance Française, Trivandrum
* 1992 – Group Show, Museum Gallery, Trivandrum
* 1992 – Regional Art Exhibition, Madras
* 1990–1991 – Group Shows at Museum Grounds and VJT Hall, Trivandrum
* 1990 – College of Fine Arts Gallery, Trivandrum

Work Experience

2008–2013 & 2019–Present – Independent Artist & Freelance Photographer
As an independent visual artist and freelance photographer, I have contributed to a wide range of leading national and international publications, including Forbes India, Mint, Hindustan Times, Associated Press, INC India, Business World, Business Standard, Indian Express, Outlook Business, and others.

During this time, my practice has focused on editorial photography, visual storytelling, and documentary work, covering themes across business, culture, social issues, and human-interest narratives.

Key Highlights

• Worked as cinematographer on numerous short films (2008–2023), with a focus on narrative-driven and visually nuanced storytelling

• Served as cameraman for several documentary productions for CRC Hyderabad, contributing to both conceptual development and on-ground filming

• Currently pursuing a long-term independent documentary project on the Musahar community in Bihar, examining themes of identity, marginalization, and resilience through immersive, research-led visual documentation

This ongoing phase represents a deep commitment to independent storytelling, blending photography, video, and field research to explore overlooked narratives and socially relevant themes with depth and sensitivity.

2014 – 2019 – Consultant Photo Editor, Special Projects, Outlook Group
After my tenure at India Today, I returned to the Outlook Group to take on a more strategic and editorial role. Initially appointed as Photo Editor for Outlook Money, the group’s personal finance magazine, I was responsible for redefining its visual identity—curating imagery that made complex financial topics more accessible and visually engaging to readers.

In addition to my editorial responsibilities, I also conceptualized and initiated special edition coffee table book projects, which served both as visual narratives and revenue-generating publications for the group. These included long-form documentation of CSR initiatives by corporate institutions, cultural features, and thematic visual books aligned with Outlook‘s journalistic ethos.

Over time, my role expanded to include:

• Visual strategy and direction for Outlook Money and special projects

• Photo editing and commissioning of photographers across India

• Production planning and visual narrative development for large-format coffee table books under the Outlook Special Projects division

This period allowed me to bridge editorial integrity with design and publishing innovation—blending journalism, photography, and book-making into cohesive visual storytelling formats.

2004 – 2008 – Senior Photographer, India Today News Magazine

India Today is widely recognized as one of India’s most influential and trusted news magazines. Known for its in-depth reporting, sharp editorial perspective, and high production standards, it has shaped Indian journalism since its founding in 1975. As the flagship publication of the India Today Group, it has consistently set the benchmark for political analysis, investigative stories, and visual journalism in the country.
Joining India Today as a Senior Photographer was a pivotal step in my career. Based in South India, I primarily covered Karnataka, while also undertaking assignments across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. The role offered an expansive canvas to engage with some of the most defining stories of the time—from breaking news to cultural reportage.
My responsibilities included:
* Contributing photographs for cover stories, political interviews, field reports, and long-form journalism
* Producing portraits of notable figures in politics, business, arts, and cinema
* Documenting social, cultural, and environmental issues, often working closely with senior journalists and editors on editorial direction
In addition to the main magazine, I regularly contributed to:
* Simply South – a regional lifestyle supplement focusing on events, personalities, and trends in Southern India
* India Today Lounge – a national lifestyle and leisure magazine, where I photographed features on food, travel, design, and cultural icons
Notable Assignments:
* 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami – Documented the devastation and recovery efforts along the Tamil Nadu coast
* Killing of forest brigand Veerappan – Covered one of the most widely followed law enforcement operations in South India
* Extensive profiles of artists, performers, writers, and film personalities from the South Indian cultural scene
Working with India Today not only refined my editorial instincts and technical approach but also offered an immersive experience into the layered realities of modern India. The exposure to a range of journalistic styles and editorial voices during this period significantly influenced my long-term independent documentary practice and book projects.

* Outlook News Magazine
 – Joined Outlook, one of India’s most influential news magazines, as a staff photographer and later became senior photographer. My work involved a dynamic mix of daily news coverage, special features, and in-depth photo essays.
* Outlook was a game-changer in the Indian magazine landscape—known for its sharp editorial voice and pioneering visual storytelling—under the visionary leadership of its founding editor, the late Vinod Mehta. Being part of this editorial environment deeply shaped my approach to narrative photography and visual journalism..
* Outlook Traveller – Played an integral role in shaping the early visual identity of travel journalism in India. Created immersive photo essays that blended documentary realism with fine art aesthetics, capturing landscapes, local cultures, and human stories. We helped pioneer a more narrative-driven, emotionally resonant approach to travel features in Indian publications.
* Outlook Money – Produced business portraits and visual stories tailored to finance and lifestyle coverage. Developed a distinctive photographic language that elevated the visual tone of financial journalism, moving beyond static imagery to more dynamic, story-led compositions.
* Outlook Group Special Projects – Led the visual strategy for a series of pan-India CSR documentation projects that culminated in high-end coffee table books. I was responsible for pre-production planning, photo editing, and served as a principal visual contributor, helping shape both the narrative structure and visual coherence of these long-form publications.

This period was a cornerstone in my professional growth, allowing me to explore long-form editorial storytelling, gain expertise in collaborative publishing, and refine the visual and conceptual foundations that continue to guide my independent book and exhibition projects today.

1997 – 1999 – Staff Photographer, Life Positive New Age Magazine, New Delhi
First photography job. Photographed features on wellness, spirituality, social issues, and personalities contributing to India’s alternative and holistic movement.

1996 – Lecturer in Fine Arts
Invited to teach Fine Arts at the Department of Architecture, TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala — where art met structure, and visual sensibilities were shaped within architectural education.

Photography Projects

2018 – Drops of Happiness
Documentary photography project on CSR initiatives by Coca-Cola India, highlighting community impact, sustainability, and social development programs across rural and urban regions.

2016 – Terraoptics
Collaborative photographic work with artist Vivan Sundaram for his project Terraoptics, contributing conceptual and process-driven images that engaged with environmental and material themes. The work was later exhibited as part of the 3rd Kochi-Muziris Biennale (collateral program).

2008 – Oracle: A Photo Essay
A documentary photo essay exploring the life and rituals of a woman oracle in Kerala, focusing on gender, spirituality, and performance in local religious traditions.

2002–2003 – Border Within
Photographic feature on Bangladeshi immigrants in New Delhi, developed in collaboration with the World Press Photo organization, capturing stories of displacement, identity, and survival in urban margins.

About My Other Photoblog

The Roving Steamer – A Daily Wanderer began in April 2008, soon after I stepped away from my full-time role at India Today. Born out of a desire to keep storytelling alive, this photoblog became a space to share visual narratives from my journeys—moments stumbled upon, places discovered, and the many lives I crossed paths with along the way..

Wandering with a camera in one hand and a sketchbook in the other has always been at the heart of my process. Capturing images of people—often in fleeting, unscripted moments—remains both a joy and a creative challenge. This blog is an evolving visual journal, a reflection of my ongoing journey through landscapes, communities, and the layered stories they hold.