DJMPC is pleased to have eminent personalities as our jurors this year.
Rajesh Bedi began his photographic career in the 1960s. His encounters with nature resulted in two visually stunning books, ‘Indian Wildlife’ and the much acclaimed ‘India’s Wild Wonders’. In 1986 he was the first Asian to win Wildlife Photographer of the year, in an international competition held in Britain. In 2014 He was awarded "The Lifetime Photography Award" by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. He has had many of his remarkable images published in prestigious magazines such as National Geographic USA, Life USA, Geo, Bunte and Stern. The winner of several National and International awards for nature photography. He has also published a number of books reflecting his interests in human cultures, such as ‘Banaras: City of Shiva’ and portraits of the remote Himalayan regions of Ladakh and Sikkim. He recently published ‘Sadhus – The Seekers of Salvation’ and ‘Rajasthan – Under the Desert Sky’. He has also held solo exhibitions of his work on the mysterious world of the Sadhus and on Rajasthan, both of which were widely acclaimed.
Jainy Maria Kuriakose is a familiar person in the field of bird photography, her photographs acknowledged for their exquisite portrayal of avian ecology. She ventured into the world of bird watching around a decade ago. Today, her photographs grace prestigious exhibitions, publications, and online platforms, inspiring both seasoned photographers and aspiring naturalists.
After having worked with the big corporate’s for several years he decided to quit and pursue his passion for nature photography, travel and wildlife conservation. He likes to create awareness through his story telling images. His pictures have been featured in several publications including National Geographic and others internationally. He has won the grand prize in a photo competition by National Geographic in the year 2017. He has also been featured in BBC world news about his passion for conservation photography and stories around his award wining picture.
Born into an agricultural family in Coimbatore, India, in 1950, for this amateur turned professional, photography is his first love. He took to photography at the age of 14. He is a Five Star Nature photographer and has won many awards in National and International photography exhibitions. In 1980, he was elected as an Associate of Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain (ARPS), and Artiste of Federation International Art of Photography (AFIAP). In 1984, he was elected as Associate of the Photographic Society of America (APSA) With over 30 years of experience, he established his first commercial studio, RK Photo Centre, in 1991. Apart from successful businessmen and experienced photograper, his services to photography have been noteworthy. He had served as the chairman of the Nature division of the Federation of Indian Photography for many years. He had conducted very many photography workshops. He also judged many national and international exhibitions in the past 40 years. He also teaches photography and photo workshops regularly. He is also a committee member of All India Photographic Trade and Industries Association for the past 12 years.
Vikram Sathyanathan, a passionate photographer for 30 years, specializes in nature, wildlife, and heritage photography. His work, including the coffee table book "Thanjavur - A Cultural History," showcases his journey from film to digital, with a focus on conservation and wild habitats.