Community and mentorship: How MumbaiOgraphy nurtures photography skills and livelihood

Launched in 2014, PhotoSparksis a weekly feature from YourStory,with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 935 posts, we featured an art festival,cartoon gallery.world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair,climate change expo,wildlife conference,startup festival,Diwali rangoli,and jazz festival.

Mumbai’s Jehangir Art Gallery recently hosted an exhibition by the aptly-named MumbaiOgraphy, a photography community. The gallery is regarded as one of India’s most iconic and historic art exhibition spaces.

Located in the Kala Ghoda arts district of South Mumbai, it hosts exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, photography, print-making, ceramics, and other visual art forms. See our coverage of earlier exhibitions at the gallery here.

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It organises lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and art education activities for both artists and the public. The gallery has multiple exhibition spaces, including the large Auditorium Hall, several gallery halls, and a terrace gallery for photography and visual arts.

Chief guests at the MumbaiOgraphy exhibition included eminent photographers Gangadharan Menon, Sudharak Olwe, Rohinton Mehta, and Ganesh Vanare. Prizes were awarded to Ankit Thakkar, Nandakumar Vijayakar, and Sathyan KM.

Gallery entry for visitors has traditionally been free, making it accessible to a wide audience. The gallery was established in 1952 through a philanthropic donation by Sir Cowasji Jehangir, in memory of his son Jehangir.

For over 70 years, the gallery has been a longstanding institution in India’s cultural landscape. It has hosted exhibitions by MF Husain, SH. Raza, Akbar Padamsee, Ram Kumar, Anjolie Ela Menon, and several others.

It continues to host hundreds of exhibitions annually, including signature events like the Monsoon Art Show. The bustling venue attracts throngs during the annual Kala Ghoda Arts Festival as well (see our earlier writeups on the festivals here).

The gallery provides a rare, high-profile platform where new artists can exhibit alongside established names. Located in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai’s cultural district, it fosters regular interaction between local and visiting artists, curators, collectors, students, and the public.

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The photography community MumbaiOgraphy was started by Prerna Kale and Hitesh Baldota in 2016. It is one such group that benefits from the gallery’s exposure.

“We have over 12,700 members who are focused on photography with a passion. We hold numerous photowalks, photography workshops, and group discussions,” Kale tells YourStory.

Via its WhatsApp group, MumbaiOgraphy give reviews and insights to its members on their photographs. “We aim to make every one of our members an excellent photographer,” she adds.

Photography can be a professional, personal or community activity. It teaches practitioners to slow down, notice light, observe people, and find meaning in ordinary moments.

This act of noticing is where the joy lies. It goes beyond image capture to interpretation, curation and sensemaking.

“Our motto is Moments lived, Memories revived. But that revival can only be possible by capturing moments effectively,” Kale explains.

Photography rewards curiosity, observation and patience. Over time, photographers may also develop a visual voice, or their own way of framing the world and even delivering signature images.

In that sense, photography becomes a form of self-expression, meditation and storytelling all at once. Furthermore, this joy does not have to remain only a hobby – with intention and consistency, it can grow into a source of livelihood.

“Through our feedback and tips, we help in honing the photography skills of our members and make them confident and expert photographers,” Kale says.

For businesses as well as social changemakers, photography can have a powerful impact. Publications, brands, campaigns, and platforms constantly seek fresh visual content, which can open multiple paths to income.

Client work for photographers can include portraits, weddings, events, product photography commercial shoots, or real estate. Some photographers license their images as stock, while others sell prints, books or zines.

“We teach our members everything from what to click to how to click. We help them turn their hobby and passion into a source of livelihood,” Kale proudly adds.

Teaching courses, workshops and modules can also be a source of revenue. Such avenues call for business skills like pitching and negotiation, beyond technical skills.

In sum photography offers the rare combination of creative fulfillment and practical opportunity.

“We really want all artists to grow on all platforms as much as possible. MumbaiOgraphy is not just a photography group, it is a community where you learn and grow,” Kale signs off.

Now what have youdone today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?

(All photographs taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at Jahangir Art Gallery.)

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