POWER OF LENS
Welcome to the Danish Siddiqui Foundation’s Photo Exhibitions & Workshops, a platform celebrating the art of visual storytelling. Showcasing compelling works from photographers worldwide, these events highlight diverse perspectives on global issues, societal challenges, and human experiences.
No human activity evokes a more profound emotional response than warfare. Homer’s Iliad, Goya’s The Horrors of War, and Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem are among the finest works of art inspired by our ostensibly innate urge to destroy one another. Because it positions societies and individuals in the most dire of circumstances, war provokes the most extreme responses—both positive and negative. It is no wonder that photography has kept company with death ever since cameras were invented in 1839.
Our curatorial mission here was not merely to chronicle conflicts around the world. It was to illuminate the social and political complexities of the human condition during war and its aftermath. The meanings of photographs are never fixed, are not contained solely within the photographs themselves, and rely on a combination of the viewer’s sensitivity, knowledge, and understanding and the specific context in which the image is seen. We have juxtaposed the photographs with poems and quotes to lend further texture to the images. The images are part of an ongoing conversation, not just with the past but also with the future.
The exhibition focuses on the work of twelve international photographers who have dedicated their careers as journalists, documentarians, and artists to depicting the consequences of armed conflict: Amnon Gutman (Ukraine War), Altaf Qadri (Kashmir), Asma Waguih (Arab Spring), Claire Thomas (Palestine), Prashanth Vishwanathan (Mumbai 26/11), Rafiq Maqbool (Afghanistan), and Saumya Khandelwal (Delhi Riots). This exhibition also includes a selection of images from Danish Siddiqui’s collection, and together, these images represent conflicts both past and present that highlight the intersections of modern warfare and photojournalism.
Each day, photojournalists across the world risk their lives, mental health, and well-being to offer snapshots of humanity’s darkest moments and also, perhaps, its most humane and hopeful ones. As you make your way through the exhibition, which follows no particular order, we ask you to pause, ponder, and walk in the shoes of people in the frame, those not in the frame, and especially those taking the picture.
Amnon Gutman, a photographer bridging the Middle East and Europe, passionately captures global humanitarian and environmental narratives. Internationally acclaimed, his work graces the pages of Foreign Policy, Le Figaro, Die Zeit, and Neue Zurcher Zeitung, among others. Collaborating with ICRC, MSF, and the UN worldwide, Gutman’s lens narrates stories exhibited across the US, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Featured in impactful projects like “Ukraine: A War Crime,” “Space,” and “This Day of Change,” his images resonate globally. Growing up in a war-conflicted region, Gutman is deeply aware of the possibility of suffering and loss. Photography empowers him. His images point to the universality of vulnerability and fragility in the face of violence and disease and the tenacity of the human spirit. His accolades include prestigious awards from the Bayeux-Calvados Award for War Correspondent, Pictures of the Year International (POYI), UNICEF Photo Of The Year Award (POY), National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), Istanbul Photo Award, and HIPA Photography Award.
Altaf Qadri, an esteemed and award-winning photojournalist, has been a stalwart in international photojournalism. His journey commenced with news and feature coverage for the European Press Photo Agency (EPA) and progressed to the Associated Press. Qadri’s lens has documented everything from political upheavals and cultural narratives to major natural disasters. A 2007 National Geographic All Roads Fellow, he boasts an array of accolades, including two World Press Photo wins and numerous Photographer of the Year International awards. Qadri has shared his insights through lectures at prestigious institutions like Stanford University’s Aurora Forum, Los Angeles College of Arts, National Geographic Headquarters in Washington DC, and others.
Asmaa Waguih is an independent photojournalist in her hometown of Cairo. She has over two decades of experience working with top agencies across the globe. She worked as a freelance reporter in Iraq for three years, where she developed a love for pictures over words. Later, she received several assignments that focused on the Arab world and the Islamic community in such countries as Gaza, Iraq, and Pakistan. She worked for the Reuters News Agency for eight years. She has extensively covered the major conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, and the Arab Spring in Egypt. She has won many awards for her work in Egypt and Syria, including the 2012 Reuters’ Photojournalist of the Year Award of Excellence, General News Single, and the China International Photo Prize (CHIPP).
Claire Thomas, an esteemed photojournalist, hails from Wales and presently divides her time between the UK and Egypt. Her focus on photojournalism spans critical subjects such as political and military conflicts, human rights, and humanitarian and environmental crises. From refugee camps in Europe to the frontlines against ISIS in Iraq, Claire has contributed impactful photo essays to leading global newspapers, magazines, and news agencies. Her exceptional work earned recognition at the 2023 Amnesty International UK Media Awards for its profound impact, specifically for coverage in northeast Syria. Claire’s photography has garnered accolades, including UK Picture Editors’ Guild Awards, Press Gazette British Journalism Awards for Photojournalist of the Year, and inclusion in Women Photograph’s 2019 Year in Pictures. Furthermore, Claire has served as a judge for various international photography competitions.
Prashanth Viswanathan, a seasoned freelance photographer, brings a wealth of experience to his craft, specializing in news and assignment stories spanning the diverse landscapes of India. Since embarking on his professional journey in 2006, Prashanth has collaborated with esteemed entities such as newswires (Reuters, Bloomberg, Getty), newspapers (New York Times, International Herald Tribune, The National), and prominent magazines (Forbes, Businessweek, Time, Newsweek). His lens has also been engaged by non-governmental organizations, including UNICEF, Save The Children, International Labour Organization, and Action Aid, along with various feature agencies. Prashanth’s versatile portfolio reflects his dedication to capturing compelling narratives across different realms.
Rafiq Maqbool, a seasoned photojournalist, has been a staff photographer for the Associated Press, stationed in Mumbai, India, since 2009. His lens has skillfully captured the complexities of South Asia’s troubled landscapes, with a particular focus on his homeland, Kashmir. Rafiq’s dedication to documenting militancy and violence is evident in his coverage of historical events such as the Kargil War and the 2005 earthquake. His journalistic journey extends beyond Kashmir to cover the conflict in Afghanistan, the Bangladesh floods of 2004, tsunami-affected regions in Sri Lanka in 2005, and the end of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009. In 2022, Rafiq’s lens documented another political upheaval in Sri Lanka, showcasing his enduring commitment to capturing impactful narratives. Recognized with several international awards and accolades, Rafiq’s work was part of an AP team package that was a runner-up for a Pulitzer Prize in 2010 and a finalist for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Photography.
Saumya Khandelwal, a distinguished photojournalist based in New Delhi, contributes to TIME, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Recognized as a Getty Images Instagram Grantee for her project ‘Child Brides of Shravasti,’ Saumya focuses on gender and environmental issues. Her work features in National Geographic’s 100 Best Photos of the Century and TIME’s Top 10 Photos of 2021. She was nominated for the World Press Photo 6X6 Global Talent Program. Saumya has a diverse journalism and documentary photography portfolio, with notable contributions to The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and collaborations with NGOs like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Malala Fund, and Acumen. Saumya’s impactful work received the National Foundation of India Award in 2017 and has been exhibited globally, including at the Getty Images Gallery in London and the Foreign Correspondent’s Club in Hong Kong.
Danish Siddiqui was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist who headed the Reuters multimedia team in India as its Chief Photographer. Before his foray into photojournalism, Danish was a television correspondent with India’s leading news networks. As a photojournalist, Danish covered several important stories in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. His works included covering the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the COVID-19 pandemic in India, Indian citizenship law protests, Sri Lanka Easter bombing victims, the Rohingya refugee crisis, Hong Kong protests, Nepal earthquakes, Mass Games in North Korea, and living conditions of asylum seekers in Switzerland. Danish’s work was widely published in scores of magazines, newspapers, slideshows, and galleries, and he was honored with various photojournalism awards globally.
On 16th July 2021, while documenting the Afghan Special Forces mission to retake the town of Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, the Taliban captured him and shot him dead. Danish’s powerful images carry deep meanings covering a broad spectrum of society and always creating lasting impressions. Despite rising to great heights in the photojournalism field, he always chose to be in the area through perseverance and hard work, capturing the various perspectives of the agony and pain of the oppressed people in some of the most challenging locations in the world. His courage and boldness sent a strong message of professional integrity to the fraternity and the world. Danish Siddiqui’s valor and eminence will stay etched in history, and journalism will profoundly remember him forever through his pathbreaking photographs and contributions.
The “Rethinking Migration: Azadi to Co-Exist” photo exhibition was a compelling visual exploration of migration, displacement, and human resilience. Organized by the Danish Siddiqui Foundation and The Azadi Project, this exhibition brought together powerful works from renowned photographers, offering diverse perspectives on the challenges and realities of forced migration.
Through striking imagery, the exhibition aimed to foster a deeper understanding of migration beyond statistics, shedding light on personal stories of struggle, survival, and hope. It served as a platform to highlight pressing global issues, encouraging meaningful conversations on identity, belonging, and coexistence.
A special tribute was paid to Danish Siddiqui, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist whose impactful storytelling continues to inspire the next generation of visual journalists. His commitment to documenting human experiences with courage, empathy, integrity, and truth remains at the core of this initiative.
The exhibition featured the works of acclaimed photographers, each contributing a unique visual narrative that captured the essence of migration. Their dedication to impactful storytelling underscored the power of photography in shaping public perception and fostering social change.
“Rethinking Migration: Azadi to Co-Exist” was an exhibition and a call to reflect on the realities faced by displaced communities worldwide. By amplifying these voices through visual storytelling, the event reaffirmed the role of journalism in driving awareness, empathy, and action.
Arati Kumar-Rao is an independent photographer, writer, and National Geographic Explorer focusing on environmental degradation across South Asia. Her work documents the impact of groundwater depletion, habitat destruction, and industrial land acquisition on biodiversity and human displacement. In 2023, she was named among BBC’s 100 Influential Women for her contributions to environmental storytelling. Her book, Marginlands: Indian Landscapes on the Brink, published by Pan Macmillan (Picador) India, was shortlisted for the TataLitLive! and Atta Galatta Awards in the First-Book (Non-fiction) category. Her work has appeared in National Geographic Magazine, Emergence Magazine, BBC, and leading Indian publications. She is currently on a National Geographic grant documenting forced human migration in India.
David Weston is an accomplished Indian photographer with a passion for capturing moments through the lens, a passion that began in his youth. His journey, shaped by academic excellence in visual communication and specialized photography training, spans a diverse portfolio. While his primary focus is on fashion, editorial, and commercial photography, his love for nature and travel has driven him to explore fine art photography. David’s work has been featured in publications like Elle, Cosmopolitan, Femina, and National Geographic. He has also worked with major platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, and Zee5. Beyond his commercial success, David is dedicated to meaningful projects, including documenting the lives of Rohingya refugees in Chennai, India, through Rethinking Refugees. His artistic roots remain central to his work, which includes showcasing fine art photography in galleries. David continues to be a compassionate and versatile presence in the photography world.
Din Muhammad Shibly is a documentary photographer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, specializing in socio-political and environmental storytelling. His work focuses on capturing social dilemmas and conflicts, using photography as a tool to spark civic discourse and reflection. Through his lens, Shibly aims to document pressing societal issues and drive meaningful conversations.
A Chance To Breathe presents the remarkable photographs of Omal Khair, Dil Kayas and Azimul Hasson, who have been documenting their lives and those in their Rohingya refugee community living in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh since 2018. By telling visual stories of life, resilience and hope, their photographs help reframe the prevailing narratives of violence, death and victimhood that often describe Rohingya refugees’ experiences. In 2018, Doha Debates teamed up with Fortify Rights to equip and support these three talented photographers and give the world an inside look at the lives within the world’s largest refugee camp.
Omal Khair dreamed of becoming a professional photographer – a forbidden occupation in her indigenous homeland. Azimul Hasson used to study and play football back at home, and he still dreams of pursuing higher education there. Dil Kayas is a mother of three. Like Omal, she harboured a passion for photography, but the Myanmar government denied her the right to pursue it. These three Rohingya photographers are talented, creative and hard-working and this exhibition celebrates their vital and ongoing storytelling. The photographers kindly ask for your support by following them on Instagram, and continuing to see the stories of Rohingya lives.
Kaynat Salmani is a social worker and development aid worker. She focuses on gender equality, equity, migration and forced displacement.
Prashanth Viswanathan, a seasoned freelance photographer, brings a wealth of experience to his craft, specializing in news and assignment stories spanning the diverse landscapes of India. Since embarking on his professional journey in 2006, Prashanth has collaborated with esteemed entities such as newswires (Reuters, Bloomberg, Getty), newspapers (New York Times, International Herald Tribune, The National), and prominent magazines (Forbes, Businessweek, Time, Newsweek). His lens has also been engaged by non-governmental organizations, including UNICEF, Save The Children, International Labour Organization, and Action Aid, along with various feature agencies. Prashanth’s versatile portfolio reflects his dedication to capturing compelling narratives across different realms.
Ranita Roy (she/her) is a documentary photographer, visual artist, and National Geographic Explorer from Howrah, India. In 2024, she launched her National Geographic Society-funded project, I Was Dreaming of a Snowy Mountain, in Uttarakhand. With a master’s in environmental science and training in hostile environments (HEAT) and underwater diving, she navigates diverse fieldwork challenges. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post Magazine, Reuters, and The New York Times. She has received grants from Magnum Foundation, AJWS, and The Create Fund from Shutterstock. Through her storytelling, she highlights grassroots environmental solutions and the role of women’s collectives in marginalized communities. Roy contributes to National Geographic Society’s mission by using photography to raise awareness about environmental issues. Inspired by community resilience and nature’s healing power, she continues to explore impactful storytelling. She divides her time between Kolkata and Uttarakhand, both of which shape her creative vision.
Saumya Khandelwal, a distinguished photojournalist based in New Delhi, contributes to TIME, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Recognized as a Getty Images Instagram Grantee for her project ‘Child Brides of Shravasti,’ Saumya focuses on gender and environmental issues. Her work features in National Geographic’s 100 Best Photos of the Century and TIME’s Top 10 Photos of 2021. She was nominated for the World Press Photo 6X6 Global Talent Program. Saumya has a diverse journalism and documentary photography portfolio, with notable contributions to The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and collaborations with NGOs like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Malala Fund, and Acumen. Saumya’s impactful work received the National Foundation of India Award in 2017 and has been exhibited globally, including at the Getty Images Gallery in London and the Foreign Correspondent’s Club in Hong Kong.
Sujata Setia is an Indian lens based multidisciplinary artist. Her practice focuses on themes of identity, displacement, ethnicity, the politics of trauma and grief. The series Invisible studies the concept of multiple marginality within the Rohingya community and the cumulative disadvantage created for Rohingya women and children. The investigations are based on intensive interviewing, participant observation and the collection of life histories. Sujata is now based in the UK nowadays.
Danish Siddiqui was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist who headed the Reuters multimedia team in India as its Chief Photographer. Before his foray into photojournalism, Danish was a television correspondent with India’s leading news networks. As a photojournalist, Danish covered several important stories in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. His works included covering the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the COVID-19 pandemic in India, Indian citizenship law protests, Sri Lanka Easter bombing victims, the Rohingya refugee crisis, Hong Kong protests, Nepal earthquakes, Mass Games in North Korea, and living conditions of asylum seekers in Switzerland. Danish’s work was widely published in scores of magazines, newspapers, slideshows, and galleries, and he was honored with various photojournalism awards globally.
On 16th July 2021, while documenting the Afghan Special Forces mission to retake the town of Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, the Taliban captured him and shot him dead. Danish’s powerful images carry deep meanings covering a broad spectrum of society and always creating lasting impressions. Despite rising to great heights in the photojournalism field, he always chose to be in the area through perseverance and hard work, capturing the various perspectives of the agony and pain of the oppressed people in some of the most challenging locations in the world. His courage and boldness sent a strong message of professional integrity to the fraternity and the world. Danish Siddiqui’s valor and eminence will stay etched in history, and journalism will profoundly remember him forever through his pathbreaking photographs and contributions.
Equip participants with the essential skills and insights necessary for success in the competitive field of photojournalism.