About
Smitha is a documentary photographer based in Bangalore, available for photo-story assignments across India. She's fluent in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English and Kannada.
Smitha focusses on visual narratives from ruralcommunities, exploring livelihoods, gender, art, and culture. She has been researching and documenting the lives of the Irula tribe since 2017, resulting in publication of a series feature stories on People's Archive of Rural India, winning the 2024 Feature ofthe Year award at the Rainbow Lit Fest –Queer & Inclusive. She engages with social and development organizations on visual projects and human interest stories. With more than a decade's experience in the development sector, Smitha blends photography, research and writing to bring depth to narratives from under-represented communities. She has photographed and co-authored 'Deevara Chittara', a coffee table book documenting Chittara folkart as practiced by the Deevaru community of Malnad region of Karnataka.
I also conduct creative photography sessions for children from disadvantaged communities through my Project MinsdEye.
Quick link to my portrait and fine art print offerings: http://www.photokari.com
Publications
- Articles/Images on PARI (People’s Archive of Rural India), The Hindu Metroplus. Recently awarded Feature of the Year 2024 at the Rainbow Lit Fest for the feature story on an Irular trans woman, on PARI.
- Coffee Table book ‘ Facing Changes’ on Irula and Malayali tribal lifestyle, commissioned by National Stock Exchange of India, Mumbai and nonprofit Aid India.
- Image content for ‘Speak Up’ series of workbooks and visual media for English Learning Foundation.
- ‘ A Moment to Marvel’ editorial for The Maker Journal, focusing on slow and sustainable fashion.
- Articles on Leher, a child rights organization: Going to School in....; and A Day in the Life of...; Recommended by Leher as one of the 5 female photographers to follow on Instagram.
- Featured in Progrss.com as one of the Instagram photographers documenting city life.
Exhibitions
- Prints listed in Female Artists' Edition of Chennai Photo Biennale's Photokadai, 2023.
- Solo exhibition of Fine Art Prints at Tusker Katha Gallery, Bangalore 2022.
- One of the winning entries at 'ThePrintSwap' exhibition by Feature Shoot, in Photoville NYC 2019.
- Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival 2019, 2017.
- Selected to participate and exhibit in Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF 2018) Portfolio Review.
- Received acceptances into the 3rd Lion City International Salon 2018, 64th SIPA 2017.
- Finalist in the 5th & 6th Zebra Awards for black and white photography.
Contact
Email: smitha.tumuluru@gmail.com
Phone: +91 8431871091
Some thoughts...
An image I shot of one-year-old Sakthivel, an Irula tribal child who was using his pet rat like a pull along toy, caught people's attention. This led to a toy collection drive and subsequently Aid India launched a campaign called 'Toy Joy' which provided toys to more than twenty thousand children from less privileged communities, who otherwise do not have access to toys or playthings.
This incident drove home to me, the power of visuals. Prior to becoming a photographer, I spent over 10 years in the field of education in the social development sector, working on projects that improved education quality for the marginalised. My work has taken me to villages and small towns in Tamilnadu. I have enjoyed the hospitality and the company of our stakeholders - children, parents, our field workers, colleagues. This access helped me learn and develop a perspective on their lives and lifestyles. When I took up photography as a profession, I find myself gravitating to a space that I am familiar with. I find purpose in documenting and sharing stories of people I meet.
Irrespective of the outcome an image may have, I find it immensely satisfying to be in the moment, connect with people I meet, understand the world around me a bit better, and give back in ways that I know.
