NEW DELHI: India’s emerging photojournalists made a striking impression at the Andrei Stenin Press Photo Contest Exhibition, inaugurated at the All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society (AIFACS) Gallery in New Delhi.
The annual international contest, organized by Russian News Agency Sputnik to promote young photojournalists and uphold high standards in documentary photography, showcased compelling visual narratives from across the globe, including entries from Spain, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Russia, and India.
Among the highlights of the exhibition were powerful contributions from Indian photographers, whose images transcended aesthetics to serve as tools of awareness, resistance, and cultural storytelling.
Kolkata-based documentary and street photographer Rajendra Mohan Pandey won first place for his series The Outcast Widows, featured under the category “A Hero of Our Time.” The series, comprising three deeply emotive photographs, documents the lives of widows in Vrindavan, portraying themes of abandonment, ageing, and quiet resilience.
Pandey’s work stood out for its intimate portrayal of often-overlooked lives. “These simple yet profound images speak to the strength of the human spirit,” said a spokesperson from the exhibition.
The exhibition remains open to the public and continues to celebrate the power of young photographers in shaping global conversations through the lens.
