Processes & History

This is my ongoing research on the photography history of India, with the aim of documenting the various photographic processes that were experimented with in the country over the years. By studying the work of early photographers in India, I hope to gain insight into the technical innovations and processes used to capture the country’s landscapes, people, and culture. Through this research, I also hope to showcase the diverse range of photographic techniques that have been employed in India and the ways in which these techniques have influenced and shaped the country’s visual history. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to a better understanding of the rich and complex history of Indian photography and to promote its continued study and appreciation.

Past & Present

Charles Shepherd

Charles Shepherd (?–1912) was an English photographer and printer who worked in India during mid-to-late...

Robert Melville Clarke

Robert Melville Clarke (1834 – 1878), arrived from London to Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1852 to...

John P. Nicholas and James Perratt Nicholas

John P. Nicholas and James Perratt Nicholas were the founders of the earliest studio in...

John Henry Ravenshaw

John Henry Ravenshaw (1833 – 1874), was an employee of the Bengal Civil Service, a...

William Brooke O’Shaughnessy

William Brooke O’Shaughnessy (1809 -1889) was an Irish physician and one of the strongest applicants...

Richard Banner Oakeley

Richard Banner Oakeley (1834 – 1914), was an architectural writer and photographer, from England, travelled...

Maurice Vidal Portman

Maurice Vidal Portman (1860 – 1935), an officer in the Royal Indian Marine, self-fashioning anthropologist...

James Robertson

James Robertson (1813–88), was an English engraver, artist and photographer who was active from 1853...

Josiah Rowe

Josiah Rowe (1809 – 1874) moved to India sometime before 1839 and began making daguerreotypes...