Mar 25: Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, in collaboration with Sony India, premium consumer electronic company, concluded the third edition of Photothon 2026, its flagship photography competition celebrating visual storytelling. The event brought together over 1,100 participants, attracting aspiring photographers, industry experts and creative minds to showcase their talent through compelling imagery.
The competition featured diverse themes such as ‘Shapes & Identities’, ‘Nature as an Artist’ and ‘Photo Story-Capturing Action’, designed to challenge creativity and technical skills. A distinguished panel of judges, including Ms. Bahar Dutt, Associate Professor, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR; Mr. Ronnie Singh, fashion photographer, visual artist, and creative director; Dr. Shahi Shaika, Dean, AAFT School of Photography; Professor Jo Yarrington, Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Fairfield University, Connecticut, decided on the 12 winners.
The winners across the three categories were Anoop Antony, Ahmad Zaman, Lakshay Gupta, Sanskriti Tiwari, Bhanuteja Padamat, Amaresh Kumar, Meenakshi Tiwari, Yukta, Ashish Kumar Maurya and Siddharth Sahu. Himanshi won the Quirky category, and Sukhant Kumar won a Special Mention for his skills. The winners took home a purse of ₹30,000 (first), ₹20,000 (second), and ₹15,000 (third) in each category.
Award-winning environmental journalist Ms. Dutt remarked, “Photothon 2026 has evolved beyond a competition into a celebration of creativity, perspective, and storytelling through the lens. The extraordinary talent and originality displayed by participants reflect the vibrant artistic spirit within our community. Through their work, the students captured the essence of the University’s architecture and highlighted the richness of biodiversity — a reminder of all that must be conserved. Every frame had a story to tell, with participants crafting dynamic visual narratives that brought moments and stories to life.”
Mr. Mukesh Srivastava, Head of Imaging Business, Sony India, shared his thoughts on the competition, stating, “Photography today goes beyond just capturing moments, it is about telling powerful, meaningful stories through every frame. Photothon 2026 has brought forward some truly inspiring talent, and we are proud to support a platform that nurtures the creative potential of young photographers. It is encouraging to see participants push boundaries, experiment with new perspectives and express themselves so authentically through visual storytelling.”
Sony India organised multiple workshops over the course of three days to support participants in enhancing their visual storytelling skills. These sessions enabled participants to gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of professional photography using Sony’s range of cameras and lenses, making it a truly immersive experience powered by Sony.
Photothon 2026 also featured exclusive workshops covering topics such as storytelling through photography, macro-photography, studio portrait techniques, travel and street photography. The sessions provided participants with valuable insights and hands-on learning experiences.
With its continued focus on fostering creativity, encouraging experimentation and enabling meaningful storytelling, the latest edition of Photothon inspired a new generation of visual artists.
