Meet photojournalist from Howrah, Ranita Roy.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in Andul, a small town near Kolkata, India. I grew up with a great interest in art. I love to document my observation and feeling and show the different moments and moods of life.

It wouldn’t be until 2015 that I fell in love with photography. It was during a hard time in my life. I was battling with severe depression and inadvertently found myself coping with my camera.

My traditional upbringing meant I had been expected to marry and have children after leaving school, but I explained to my parents it wasn’t my destiny.

I completed a Master’s degree in Environmental Science (2019). I also gained advance knowledge in narrative photography from National Geographic Photo Camp, Foundry Photojournalism Workshop, TAPSA, Sohrab Hura’s workshop. In 2019 I participated in the 7th annual New York Portfolio Review organized by The New York Times.

In 2019, I joined Reuters as a photojournalist. In 2020 participated in Reuters Hostile Environment Training program in Jakarta.

My work has been published in various media publications including Reuters, The Washington Post Magazine, The New York Times, BBC, The Guardian, The National (UAE), The Economic Times, Hindustan Times, FeatureShoot, etc.

I have won numerous scholarships including the Scholarship to attend the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop, Timothy Allen Photography Scholarship Award 2018 and VII Academy scholarship for Finding your visual voice workshop-New York (2019). I got nominated for JoopSwart Masterclass 2020. My work has been recognized in various National and International platform including UNESCO (Climate change). I received the 7th National Photography Award (India), an Honorable Mention in Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award and I was a top 10 finalist of the International Women Photographer Award 2017.

Photography is a kind of meditation for me. I love to capture everything around me, yet I have a very special interest in Narrative photography.  Through this medium of art, I express myself and remain good.

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

I am living in a small town with my family.  Though I grew up with a very mix environment, both good and bad, yet I love my native town. The town has a diverse view. On one side, its completely urbanized, whereas the other side is still underdeveloped.  I live in the undeveloped area which is near Ganga river. Thus, along with a diversifying view, we can feel the difference of mentality also.  As I told that I focus on a place with regular people in exaggerated situations that highlight an aspect of who they are, being a photographer, I love to capture my place.

Photography is a kind of meditation for me. I love to capture everything around me, yet I have a very special interest in Narrative photography.  Through this medium of art, I express myself and remain good.

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

The best part is in my town is a clear environment. As my home is in the under-developed area, thus the place is still not polluted and you can get some fresh oxygen.  The worst thing I can tell in one word “superstitious mind”.  People’s mentality is not at all upgraded. Being a woman, I faced many problems while growing up even till now. It is difficult to live in a place where you don’t have any other similar mind to talk to. So, I feel very isolated sometimes, yet sometimes I feel it’s good for my creative work…

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

Mysterious, Charming & Crazy

How did you start your career in art?

I was interested in camera since my childhood, as my father used to click frequently.  But I started photography to get rid of my depression during my college days and it became my meditation. With the time I started to care about my environment, women issues and other issues related to our society, I started documenting through my camera. Slowly I fix my goal to be a professional photographer.

With the time I started to care about my environment, women issues and other issues related to our society, I started documenting through my camera.

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

No, not at all.  People around me, just believe in a very normal life with less challenges. This creativity along with the invisible future of life, they are still against my decision.  Many of them think it’s a man’s job and not a respected job at all.

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

My personal goal is to focus on my personal projects and personal intimate stories that have a global view and where I can break some rule and be myself because if I will not tell my story who will?

And I love to go with the flow…whatever opportunity will come to me I will grab that… I want to do the best I can for myself.

I want to do the best I can for myself.

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

I don’t have any name in my mind now!  But as I love other art forms also like painting, poetry, I would love to collaborate with any creative mind which I can relate to.

How would you describe the women around you?

Women around me, most of them are married and handling the household. I appreciate the way they manage things for their family without any expectation but they never got any appreciation from their family.

I don’t like that most of the women forget to take care of themselves.

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

One of my far relative sister was a good painter but no one supported her dream and even she didn’t try also… That’s it… While growing up, I didn’t have anyone in my place whom I can look up to. Most of the girls in my place after finishing their studies got married at a very early age.

Are there any challenging aspects of being a female in your industry?

Being a female photojournalist, I must say that we are facing many barriers in the outside world. My experience tells that female workers always carry some limitations in their professional and personal life. When we are in the profession, particularly those who are field workers, they suffer from many hazards and harassment. During fieldwork like photography, where the angle of view is a part of the process, we have to take care of both the professional demand as well as our own safety, both physically and visually.

I faced few problems from local photography people when I started photography but I never faced any problem as a female photojournalist in the world-class photography industry, I always got the support and I am thankful to them.

Yes, it is a challenging job but when you get success it’s worth taking the risk.

Do you have any advice to young women who are aspiring to work in your field?

If you really love photography just go for it. Yes, it is a challenging job but when you get success it’s worth taking the risk. What I believe is “It’s good to be inspired but don’t get influenced by others”…

Photos courtesy of Ranita Roy.