Raghu Rai (Raghunath Rai Chowdhry) (1942) is an Indian photographer and photojournalist. He was a protégé of Henri Cartier-Bresson, who appointed Rai, then a young photojournalist, to Magnum Photos in 1977.
Rai became a photographer in 1965, and a year later joined the staff of The Statesman, a New Delhi publication. In 1976, he left the paper and became a freelance photographer. From 1982 until 1992, Rai was the director of photography for India Today. He has served on the jury for World Press Photo from 1990 to 1997. He is known for his books, Raghu Rai's India: Reflections in Colour and Reflections in Black and White.
Rai started learning photography in 1962 under his elder brother Sharampal Chowdhry, better known as S Paul who is an award-winning photographer, and in 1965 joined "The Statesman" newspaper as its chief photographer. Rai left "The Statesman" in 1976 to work as picture editor for "Sunday," a weekly news magazine published in Calcutta. Impressed by an exhibit of his work in Paris in 1971, Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated Rai to join Magnum Photos in 1977.
Rai left "Sunday" in 1980 and worked as Picture Editor/Visualizer/Photographer of "India Today" during its formative years. From 1982 to 1991, he worked on special issues and designs, contributing picture essays on social, political and cultural themes.
Rai has specialised in extensive coverage of India. He has produced more than 18 books, including Raghu Rai's Delhi, The Sikhs, Calcutta, Khajuraho, Taj Mahal, Tibet in Exile, India, and Mother Teresa. His photo essays have appeared in many magazines and newspapers.
For Greenpeace, he has completed an in-depth documentary project on the chemical disaster at Bhopal in 1984, which he covered as a journalist with India Today in 1984, and on its ongoing effects on the lives of gas victims. This work resulted in a book, Exposure: A Corporate Crime and three exhibitions that toured Europe, America, India and southeast Asia after 2004, the 20th anniversary of the disaster. Rai wanted the exhibition to support the many survivors through creating greater awareness, both about the tragedy, and about the victims – many who are still uncompensated – who continue to live in the contaminated environment around Bhopal.
In 2003, while on an assignment for Geo Magazine in Bombay City, he switched to using a digital Nikon D100 camera "and from that moment to today, I haven't been able to go back to using film." He has served three times on the jury of the World Press Photo and twice on the jury of UNESCO's International Photo Contest.
© 2019. All images are copyrighted © by Raghu Rai or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only.
Rai became a photographer in 1965, and a year later joined the staff of The Statesman, a New Delhi publication. In 1976, he left the paper and became a freelance photographer. From 1982 until 1992, Rai was the director of photography for India Today. He has served on the jury for World Press Photo from 1990 to 1997. He is known for his books, Raghu Rai's India: Reflections in Colour and Reflections in Black and White.
Rai started learning photography in 1962 under his elder brother Sharampal Chowdhry, better known as S Paul who is an award-winning photographer, and in 1965 joined "The Statesman" newspaper as its chief photographer. Rai left "The Statesman" in 1976 to work as picture editor for "Sunday," a weekly news magazine published in Calcutta. Impressed by an exhibit of his work in Paris in 1971, Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated Rai to join Magnum Photos in 1977.
Rai left "Sunday" in 1980 and worked as Picture Editor/Visualizer/Photographer of "India Today" during its formative years. From 1982 to 1991, he worked on special issues and designs, contributing picture essays on social, political and cultural themes.
Rai has specialised in extensive coverage of India. He has produced more than 18 books, including Raghu Rai's Delhi, The Sikhs, Calcutta, Khajuraho, Taj Mahal, Tibet in Exile, India, and Mother Teresa. His photo essays have appeared in many magazines and newspapers.
For Greenpeace, he has completed an in-depth documentary project on the chemical disaster at Bhopal in 1984, which he covered as a journalist with India Today in 1984, and on its ongoing effects on the lives of gas victims. This work resulted in a book, Exposure: A Corporate Crime and three exhibitions that toured Europe, America, India and southeast Asia after 2004, the 20th anniversary of the disaster. Rai wanted the exhibition to support the many survivors through creating greater awareness, both about the tragedy, and about the victims – many who are still uncompensated – who continue to live in the contaminated environment around Bhopal.
In 2003, while on an assignment for Geo Magazine in Bombay City, he switched to using a digital Nikon D100 camera "and from that moment to today, I haven't been able to go back to using film." He has served three times on the jury of the World Press Photo and twice on the jury of UNESCO's International Photo Contest.
© 2019. All images are copyrighted © by Raghu Rai or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only.
 |
| Mr Raghu Rai |
 |
| Bangladesh refugee camp, 1971 |
 |
| Mother Teresa, Kolkata, 1971 |
 |
| Sunken suffering eyes, the refugees waited to return home, 1971 |
 |
| Dust storm Rajasthan, 1975 |
 |
| India, Lamas in Prayer - Laddakh, 1975 |
 |
| Woman pushing cart, Delhi, 1979 |
 |
| Delhi. Jama Masjid. Evening prayer. Mosque Jama Masjid, 1982 |
 |
| Kolkata. A cow and deities on the banks of the Hooghly River, 1987 |
 |
| Migrating Seagulls in Jamuna River. Delhi, 1989 |
 |
| Through the doors of a wrestling school, Delhi, 1989 |
 |
| Calcutta, 1990 |
 |
| Drumers preparing for festival, Kolkata, 1990 |
 |
| Jain Lord Swami Mahavir's statue being installed, Delhi, 1990 |
 |
| Portraits of a painter family, 1990 |
 |
| The Day Before, Ayodhya, 1992 |
 |
| At a bus stop, Ahmedabad, 1994 |
 |
| Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (the Toy train), 1995 |
 |
| His Holiness The Dalai Lama, 1995 |
 |
| Local commuters at Church Gate railway station. Mumbai, 1995 |
 |
| Women carrying raw coconuts, Kanyakumari Beach, 1995 |
 |
| At Rajnish Ashram - Pune, 1996 |
 |
| Swamis of Swami Narayan, Sarangpur, 1996 |
 |
| Women out side a temple, Palitana, Gujarat, 1999 |
 |
| At a Punjab wedding, 2000 |
 |
| Cow eating wheat, Kandla Port, Gujarat, 2000 |
 |
| Cows in Baliawas village near Delhi, 2000 |
 |
| Morning activities, Hoogly river, Kolkata, 2000 |
 |
| Pramukh swami - in Sarangpur, 2000 |
 |
| Vidisha- diyas in Ganga, Varanasi, 2000 |
 |
| In Kumbh Mela, 2001 |
 |
| Migrating Labours, Kolkata, 2001 |
 |
| Skulls discarded after research at the Hamida Hospital, 2001 |
 |
| Portrait Of A Corporate Crime, 2002 |
 |
| Artist Studio, Kolkata, 2004 |
 |
| Hand building highway, Hydrabad, 2004 |
 |
| Tibetan Temple, Laddakh, 2004 |
 |
| Women worshiping Ganga- Men watching, Varanasi, 2004 |
 |
| A senior wrestler get massage from his colleagues, at a wrestlers' ground under howrah bridge, Kolkata, 2004 |
 |
| A ricksawman taking a nap in Jama Masjid Market, Delhi, 2005 |
 |
| In light and shade - Rajouri Garden, Delhi, 2005 |
 |
| Men watching in different directions- Manikarnika Ghat- Where Hindu burns their deads. Varanasi, 2005 |
 |
| Newly built: Akshardham Temple in Delhi, 2005 |
 |
| Showing camel's teeth, Pushkar fair, Rajasthan, 2005 |
 |
| Celebrating arrival of spring, and festival of colours Holi at Ravindra Bharti Bhwan, Kolkata, 2006 |
 |
| The Dalai Lama fixes his heater |
wow!
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of this great photographer !!!
Its wonderful how he focused on his country and showed his love towards his country. Great post.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.xpert.chat/?ref=arcv0
He is exceptional! His lens has captured all the details and moments covering the ugly and beauty side of our country! You have really picked some of his finest work.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this amazing 7 pictures with story behind each photograph https://magazine.xpert.tv/the-story-behind-raghu-rais-7-most-iconic-pictures-which-will-amaze-you/
The story of Raghu Rai is so inspiring and shows that how much talented he was. The all photographs took by him are so amazing even they are black & white. His photos have proper contrast and look so beautiful. The blog is also portrayed very well. Thank you for such a beautiful blog and keep sharing.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone would like to read about the top 7 books of Raghu Rai then visit this link - https://magazine.xpert.tv/top-7-books-of-raghu-rai-that-will-inspire-you-the-most/
amazing photography. lovely thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletephoto studio near me