top of page

Jai Thakur (b.1987) 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 MX Player web series Express Yourself. 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 Ritu Saini. A member of Diversify Photo since 2022, he also completed the Reuters Digital Journalism Foundation Course in 2023. 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 the Yamuna River.

​Publications: Picture of the Year Asia-Covid-19 disptach, FotoNostrum Magazine, National Geographic, Better Photography Magazine, HIPA Annual Book, Dodho Magazine, Indian Photo Arts Magazine, India Times, Deccan Herald, 121Clicks, Sahapedia, Street Photography India Book, etc.

_DSC0760_edited.jpg

North Bengal/Delhi/NCR

 

jaithakurphotos@gmail.com

  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Awards & Grants

2023 & 2024

2022                       
2021 & 2016         
2021                     
2021 & 2016         
2021                     
2020                      

2020                      

2020                     

2020 & 2019         

2019                    

2016-2020             
2020                      
2018                     
2016-2018             

2018                      

Chennai Photo Biennale Photo Awards - Finalist

Picture of the Asia Awards - Finalist
Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA) - Winner
London International Creative Competition - Winner
Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA)  - Winner

Photo Cinematica "Photo of the Year" - Nominee
National Geographic (Annual Contest) - Winner

Water Heroes Award by Govt. of India   - Winner

HIPA (Water - Season 9)  - Finalist

Sony All India Corporate Photography Contest - Winner

Grantee of Sahapedia Frames Grant 

International Photography Awards - Hon. Mention
One Eyeland Award - Finalist  
The Paris Photo Prize (P×3) - Winner  
Monochrome Photography Awards - Hon. Mention 
Photographers Forum's Magazine Spring Awards - Finalist

Selections

2025

2022 & 2024

2022

2021

2020

2020

2020

2020

​Portfolio Review Session with Eric Le Brun, Offset Projects
Diversify Photo Portfolio Reviews (New York Times and Washington Post Photo Editors)

Photo South Asia/Murthy Nayak Foundation 'Working From Memory' workshop

Chobi Mela - New Waves of Documentary Photographers (Pathshala and the VII Academy collaboration) - Longlist

Indian Photo Festival - 'Crafting a compelling visual narrative' by National Geographic Photo Editor

World Photography Organisation Portfolio Review

Tarzeer Pictures Portfolio Review

Art Chain India Portfolio Review

Exhibitions - Group Shows

2025

2025

2021                

2021   

2020

2020 & 2019

2018

2016 

2015   

2013   

 

              

International Photography Salon, Exhibition House of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry

National Photography Festival (NPF), Navjivan Trust, Gujrat

24 Hour Project at Erste Reihe, Hamburg Gallery, Germany & Idea Gallery, Iran
Monsoon Photo Exhibit - Digital Exhibition on Artburt by Olympus Cameras
AIFACS 13th All India Photo Exhibition - AIFACS Delhi

All India Corporate Photography Exhibition, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai

Ras Se Bana Banaras - The Stainless Gallery

Where the road leads  - Lalit Kala Academy  

Sahitya Kala Parishad Annual Art Exhibition - AIFACS  

10th Jeevika: Asia Documentary Festival - India Habitat Centre 

Curation Team

2025

2019

2019

2019

From Margins to Mainstreams, CFAR, India International Center

City Experience Festival (Banaras), India Habitat Centre

City Experience Festival (Agra). The Stainless Gallery  

City Experience Festival (Lucknow), The Stainless Gallery 

Talks & Workshops

TEDx Talk on "Lumos Nox" at IMT Ghaziabad

Artist Talk at Hindu College Photo Festival, Delhi University

TEDx Talk on "Paradoxical Pendulum" at BVCOE Delhi

Corporate Workshop on Storytelling using Mobile Phone Camera

Workshop on "How to shoot in rain" with Olympus Cameras

Workshop on "Story of a Photo" at Bharti Vidyapeeth College of Engineering

Alumni Talk at Army School Bengdubi, North Bengal and Dyal Singh College, New Delhi

  • Instagram
  • YouTube

© Jai Thakur 2025 | Photographs may not be reproduced in any form without prior permission.

bottom of page