Jai Thakur is an independent photographer from India whose work delves into societal and personal conflicts, exploring the intricate connections between the two. His efforts in raising awareness about river conservation earned him the 'Water Hero' award from the Government of India and a feature in the Amazon MX Player web series 'Express Yourself '< watch here >. Jai received a Sahapedia grant for his documentation of Delhi's potter community and was a finalist in the POY Asia Awards for his ongoing project on acid attack survivor. Represented by ZUMA Press and a member of Diversify Photo & FairPicture, he has also successfully completed 'Foundry Photojournalism Workshop' with VII Foundation & PhotoWings. His work has been featured across various media platforms, including The Guardian, AOL, Picture of the Year Asia, National Geographic, India Today, Dainik Bhaskar, Millennium Post, India Times, Deccan Herald, etc.
Currently, he is weaving together a deeply personal photo diary, 'Parallel Life', a visual meditation on living with chronic migraine, while simultaneously shaping a non-fiction film on Acid Attack Survivors in India and the Yamuna River. Alongside his independent photographic practice, Jai works as an analyst, balancing his profession with long-term documentary storytelling
Awards & Grants
2023 & 2024: Chennai Photo Biennale Photo Awards - Finalist
2022: Picture of the Asia Awards - Finalist
2021 & 2016: Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA)
2021: London International Creative Competition
2021 & 2016: Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA)
2020: National Geographic Annual Contest 2020
2020: Water Hero Award by Government of India
2020: HIPA (Water - Season 9) - Finalist
2019: Sahapedia Frames Grant Recipient - Potters Colony of Delhi
2020: International Photography Awards (IPA)
2018: The Paris Photo Prize/Prix de la Photographie (PX3)
Selections & Photography Education
2026: Photo editing & Book design intensive workshop by PhotoSouthAsia, Offset Projects & Aperture
2026: Portfolio Review with Maggie Steber, Foundry Photojournalism Workshop with VII Foundation & PhotoWings
2025: Portfolio Review with Eric Le Brun, Offset Projects
2022 & 2024: Portfolio Reviews with New York Times & Washington Post Photo Editors, Diversify Photo
2021: Chobi Mela - New Waves of Documentary Photographers - Longlist (Pathshala and the VII Academy collaboration)
2020: Crafting a compelling visual narrative by National Geographic Photo Editor Dominique Hildebrand. Indian Photo Festival
2020: Portfolio Review with Scott Gray, Founder - World Photography Organization
2020: Portfolio Review with Veejay Villafranca, Tarzeer Pictures
2020: Portfolio Review with Premjish Achari, Art Chain India
2013: Basic Photography Workshop, Delhi based photo club
Exhibitions - Group Shows
2025: International Photography Salon, Exhibition House of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry
2025: National Photography Festival (NPF), Navjivan Trust, Gujrat
2021: 24 Hour Project at Erste Reihe, Hamburg Gallery, Germany & Idea Gallery, Iran
2020: AIFACS 13th All India Photo Exhibition - AIFACS Delhi
2020 & 2019: All India Corporate Photography Exhibition, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2016: Where the road leads - Lalit Kala Academy, Delhi
2015: Sahitya Kala Parishad Annual Art Exhibition - AIFACS
2013: 10th Jeevika Asia Documentary Festival - India Habitat Centre
Curation & Jury
2019 - 2025: Curated 'From Margins to Mainstreams', India International Centre & 'City Experience Festivals' (3 Editions) at India Habitat Center & Stainless Gallery
2023 - 2025: Judged photo awards including IAA, New York, London, Muse, European Photography Awards, etc..
Talks, Public Speaking & Workshops
TEDx Talk at Institute of Management Technology (IMT) & Bharati Vidyapeeth's College of Engineering
Artist Talk at Hindu College, Delhi University
Corporate Talk on 'Storytelling though images'
Artist Talk on 'Story of a Photo' at BBVCOE, Delhi
Alumni Talk at Army School Bengdubi, West Bengal
Artist Talk at Dyal Singh College, Delhi University
