SHYAMAL DATTA

Born in Assam and brought up in Shillong, Meghalaya, Shyamal Datta has been a freelance photographer since 1995. His subjects have included indigenous peoples, wildlife — with a special emphasis on endangered flora and fauna — and natural landscapes.

He has travelled extensively throughout the wilderness regions of North and South America, photographing landscapes and wildlife. His works have been exhibited and published across the United States, Canada, the UK, and India.

Some of his notable projects include capturing imagery of polar bears in receding glaciers in the Arctic Circle, sailing around the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and documenting cranes on their migration flyway from Canada to the Gulf Coast of Texas.

In 2002, Shyamal was a finalist in the BBC World Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award. He was also awarded the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Asia prize in 2008.

A selection of his portfolio on the Northeast was exhibited at the London School of Arts, Jadavpur University (Kolkata), and St. Anthony’s College (Shillong). His solo exhibition on indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Region was hosted by the India International Centre in Delhi.

In 2019, he was hosted with a solo gallery at the Kolkata International Photo Festival. His co-authored book, “Indigenous Habitat – Vestiges of Tribal Life in North East India” — a product of five years of research and photography — was produced by the North Eastern Council and released by India’s Vice President in October 2021.

Recently, Shyamal has been featured among the 101 World’s Best Photographers in the International Portrait Photography Award 2023.

He is currently working on several sponsored assignments focusing on indigenous cultures, folklore, and sacred landscapes of Northeast India. Shyamal Datta is a permanent resident of Shillong, Meghalaya.