In 2023, I entered the World Photographic Cup (WPC) as part of Team India and won the Best of Nation award, even making it into the top 10 globally. The ceremony in Singapore was unforgettable, especially with my family there. Making Team India proud on the world stage was my greatest achievement.
I competed again in 2024 for Team India and won the Best of Nation award once more. Entering these competitions was a leap of faith, but having my work recognized among so many talented photographers validated my dedication and fueled my passion to push creative boundaries.
The introduction of free entry submissions for the WPC is fantastic news. It will open doors for talented photographers around the world who might otherwise be unable to submit their work due to financial constraints.
and win the gold medal and the Best of Nation award at the World Photographic Cup 2022.
While I have participated in and won many well-known international photography competitions, those ‘wins’ were usually individual achievements. Winning at WPC was special.
This win was for Team India, and I am so thankful to be a part of the team. I traveled to Rome, Italy, to attend the award ceremony, and it was an amazing experience to receive the gold medal and certificates on stage. The winning photograph is also featured in the ‘World Photographic Cup - The 2022 Collection’ book published by WPC.
The great thing about this year’s competition is that there is no submission fee for participants, making it easier for photographers to submit their work.
Hopefully, sponsors will come forward to support the Indian Team at this prestigious world photography event, ensuring sustainability for the photography organization and enabling the team captain to take care of the team and participation costs.
The entire experience, from submission to receiving the news that my image was judged in 5th position, was absolutely overwhelming. It was my first contest ever, and being ranked 5th overall while representing India was a truly proud moment.
It's even more special because I realize that the participation fee for the 2025 edition has been covered by WPC Team India through Pay-it-Forward Fundraiser, making it free for any Indian to participate. This is a positive move in the right direction and will encourage many talented photographers to participate.
"Photography is an art. Tools and techniques are important, but they are not photography itself. Just as igniting the burner and controlling the flame doesn’t make you a good cook, handling the camera and adjusting the aperture doesn’t make you a good photographer."
