Senthil Kumaran is an independent visual storyteller from South India. He holds an engineering degree in Computer Science but an immense interest in visual arts from his childhood led him to pursue a full-time career in photography. Past 15 years his work focuses on social, environmental issues with a personal approach. Over the past 8 years, his work has turned into Environmental & Wildlife Projects. Now he is working on various reserves in India, to documenting his longtime project of Human & animal Conflict issues. Notable among them his documentation of various marine ecology and the underlying issues in the Gulf of Mannar, a photo story on the illegal animal trade in Cambodia, and more recently his documentary on captive wild elephants in South India. He has also been involved in developing interpretation centres for Wildlife sanctuaries and has made various conservation documentary films also.
He has won several awards from international organizations like POYi, Istanbul Photo Awards, National Geographic, WWF, Pano, Nature Image Awards, UNESCO, etc,.
In 2007, he won the “Geographical Photographer of the Year Award” from Royal Geographic Society, London. He also received the “Hope Françoise Demulder Grant” from Angkor Photography Festival, Cambodia, 2014. He has been selected for World Press Photo Talent Program 6x6 Asia Region, 2019.
He is a founder of "KANNADI" and organised the first International Photo Festival in Madurai in 2013.
He is doing 1850s old Alternative photography processing and collecting/researching the old archival studio portraits.
Now he is doing workshops and talks about conservation and photography in institutions and public sectors.
EXHIBITION & PROJECTIONS:
His works have been projected in Angkor Photo Festival, Delhi Photo Festival, Phnom Penh Festival, Obscura Festival, Odessa Photo Days, and Suwon International Photo Festival. His works have also been exhibited in various galleries in China, London, France, USA, Singapore, Cambodia, Geneva, and Malaysia.
PUBLISHED WORKS:
His photographs have been published in National Geographic, News Week, Getty Images, AFP, Terre Sauvage Magazine, Geographical, City Magazine, Photo Life Magazine, Outdoor Photography, India Today, Business Today, Open Magazine, Tehelka, Caravan, Traveller, Asian Photography and Better Photography.
Awards / Grants:
2003, Indian International Photographic Council, India. First Prize. Photo-Journalism.
2005, Nominated for Joop Swart World Press photo Masterclass in 2005
2006, Humanity Photo Awards, UNESCO, China. Second Prize. Festivals.
2007, Geographical Photographer of the Year by Royal Geographical Society, London
2008, Connection Photo Contest, National Geographic Society, U.S.A. Honorable Mention.
2008, Climate Change Photo Contest, WWF, Honorable Mention. Environment.
2008, "One Place, Many Destination" City Magazine, U.S.A. Runner Up. Travel.
2008, Image International Photo Contest, Photo Life Magazine, Canada. Runner Up. Travel.
2010, Epson Pano Awards, U.S.A. Third Prize
2010, Silk Air Photo Contest, Singapore. Honorable Mention. Travel
2010, Outdoor Photography Magazine, London. Winner. Travel
2011, Better Photography, Magic Cotton. First Prize
2011, IUCN, Melvita Nature Award, France. Winner. Wildlife Journalism
2012, Media Foundation of India, India. Winner. Sports
2012, IUCN, Melvita Nature Award, France. Winner. Wildlife Journalism
2014, Received "Hope Françoise Demulder Grant" from Angkor Photography Festival, Cambodia, 2014.
2016, (POYi) Picture of the Year International, Science Natural History. Honourable Mention.
2017, Istanbul Photo contest, Istanbul. 3d prize. Nature.
2019, Selected for World Press Photo Talent Program 6x6 Asia Region.
2019, World Report Award, Italy, Winner Spot Light Category.
2019, Timothy Residency Scholarship winner, Sharjah
2020, Selected as a nominator for World Press Photo 6x6 Talent Program, Asia Region.
