Delhi/NCR, India – As 2026 begins to unfold, Astitva Photo marks three years of creativity, collaboration, and meaningful artistic exchange. Through the launch of PhotoConnect – a monthly meetup in Delhi, Artist Talks, Interviews, Guided Photo Walks, Photobook discussions, and monthly community gatherings, Astitva Photo has helped shape a supportive visual arts ecosystem where photographers come together to learn, share, and grow.
Founded in 2022 by photographers Jai Thakur and Garima Agarwal, the initiative was born from a shared realization, India’s photography ecosystem lacked structured pathways for emerging artists to connect with experienced professionals. In an in-depth interview for Abir Pothi, they described how the idea for Astitva Photo emerged from conversations about this gap, one they personally experienced early in their creative journeys. Their aim has always been to make guidance and community more accessible, reducing the intimidation often felt by beginners and fostering a culture of peer-to-peer learning and mentorship.
PhotoConnect: A Monthly Space for Interaction
PhotoConnect, conceived by Astitva Photo with the generous support of PhotoSouthAsia, has been the flagship monthly meetup for photographers and visual artists. Each session brings together emerging talents and seasoned professionals to exchange experiences, build networks, and foster creative dialogue. Previous sessions featured respected guest speakers such as Anushree Fadnavis, Anshika Verma, Ashish Sahoo, Smita Sharma, Paroma Mukherjee, Vicky Roy, Manan Shah, Dilpreet Bhullar amongst others who shared insights into their artistic processes.
Artist Interviews & Dialogue
In addition to meetups, Astitva Photo has conducted in-depth interviews with emerging photographers that explore their inspirations, challenges, and evolving visual languages. These conversations have featured voices such as Rohit Saha, Sharafat Ali, Sutapa Roy, Debsuddha and others, each contributing to the initiative’s vision of documenting and celebrating artistic evolution.
Guided Photowalks & Photobook Discussions
The past years also saw immersive guided photowalks to places like the Potter’s Colony and heritage sites across Delhi, where participants explored local culture, tradition, and craft. Photobook discussions, hosted in collaboration with GP Pro Camera store, with photographers like Sanjeev Saith and Adil Hasan, offered deep dives into long-term documentary practices and storytelling approaches.
These artist talks were hosted with the generous support of Parthiv Goel, founder of GP Pro Camera Store, whose continued encouragement and engagement with Astitva Photo’s journey has helped nurture spaces for dialogue, collaboration, and learning within Delhi’s photography community.
Looking Ahead – 2026 and Beyond
Upcoming Events Include:
- March 2026- Filmmaking Session with Meenal Upreti – Multidisciplinary Filmmaker, Pulitzer Grantee
- April 2026 – Portfolio Reviews
These events aim to expand the community’s engagement across disciplines including photography, documentary, and filmmaking.
About Astitva Photo
The initiative grew from a shared belief that photography has the power to bring artists together and bridge the long-standing gap between amateur and professional practitioners in the field. Astitva Photo’s objective is to nurture and support emerging photographers and visual artists while fostering a sense of community, inclusivity, and creative empowerment. Through structured dialogue, mentorship, artist talks, discussions, and collaborative projects, Astitva Photo continues to bridge the gap between learning and practice making the creative journey more accessible and meaningful for all.
Website: www.astitvaphoto.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astitvaphoto/
Email: [email protected]
Location: Delhi/NCR
