Photo Journalism: Women Breaking Barriers

As I recall, there were few women photojournalists in the 2000s. It was more of a male-dominated profession. It's my honour and privilege to interview Renuka Puri, The Photo Editor at Indian Express.

"Finding a job requires effort, and these days, it's challenging for everyone. Night shifts are common nowadays, regardless of gender", she says. In her anecdotes, she mentions the hardships, like climbing onto large pillars or trees during her court assignments, but then, "Honestly, though, it doesn't matter much", Renuka adds.

Her work has been recognized for its depth and quality, earning her a spot as one of Fuji Films' "super six women photographers" in 2005. Today, she continues to capture compelling stories through her lens, contributing significantly to Indian journalism.

Focusing on women's issues through her lens:

Renuka's first book, In Custody Women In Tihar, features women and their conditions in Tihar Jail. I met so many different kinds of women over there. Few were guilty, and few were not, but they were happy - Renuka Puri. Photographing women as a subject is incredibly powerful and colourful. There is so much more to explore!

The description of the book on rolibooks.com details:

"This is the story of the hundreds of women inmates lodged in Tihar Jail, Delhi, the largest prison in Southeast Asia. Over the years, the jail has earned itself the reputation of being one of the leading reformist prisons in this part of the world, though the author and photographer learn that this does not take away the pain and desolation of a life in confinement. They visited the women at Tihar several times over a period of one year, interacting with them at various levels and eventually winning their confidence, trust and friendship. Candid photographs capture the lives of these inmates, telling the story of hope in despair. Rather than sympathizing with their cases or praising prison authorities efforts, this book is about the women, their individual and collective strength and the spirit of survival they continue to display even in their darkest hours."

Then, in my interview, speaking about Kom's daily life as she shifts focus to her other important assignments. "On Jaya Bachchan, she knows photography. And I have got (rare) lovely pictures of her smiling and laughing". Read her full interview here.

Priceless moments!

The Prime Minister tweeted one of my photographs and asked my office to present him with that picture. The story goes like this. Read here.

It turned out to be a very interesting photograph.

What it takes to make a career in photojournalism:

Aspirants need to be very tech-savvy because of platforms like Instagram and Twitter. If you enter this profession, be prepared for a wide range of assignments, from glamour to crime. Don't expect to only get the high-profile stories.

Reality is far from what you think when it comes to this field. Being prepared for all kinds of situations and staying patient are key takeaways from my conversation with Renuka Puri.