What is the PPT?
Photography Promotion Trust (PPT), the first of its kind in India, is a non-profit trust created to use photography as a tool for engagement in marginalised communities and to support photographers who want to tell stories through pictures in a way that fosters social change.
The Philosophy of the PPT
Visual Metaphors have always struck a chord in the consciousness of a civilised society. Images and motifs have a power, that when used correctly do wonders for mankind. For ages – paintings, etchings, sculptures have moulded and shaped people’s thinking and most recently Photographs have helped shaped the world we live in and how we perceive our surroundings or places and people far from us. Photos have proved to be a gateway into the lives of many. The PPT’s main mission is to tap into this aspect of Photography and use it to create – awareness, dialogue and ultimately create change in communities both urban and Rural.
The PPT firmly believes that the camera can be used as a positive tool to engage with communities and that photography can be used to facilitate deep and lasting social change. Since it’s inception, the trust has constantly strived and experimented with different modes and methods to use the power of photography. This has involved creating platforms for marginalised communities to speak via workshops for young adolescents and women in Rural and Semi-Urban Areas. Intensive workshops with these groups have resulted in beautiful pictures and stories, Images they shared have helped organisations better understand the social issues and problems in the context of the people themselves. Their intimate photos are a window into their lives and how they look at it.
Engagement with communities is done on a grassroots level with local involvement and interactions through participation. Programs by the PPT have created positive social impact in urban slum areas, in the lives of domestic violence survivors, children of conservancy workers and many more. Read more about the Social Impact by PPT
In the 10 years that PPT has done workshops, it has focused on a few key elements:
Providing opportunities for young people from disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society to learn photography and to use photographs to help them in identifying and collectively addressing problems in their respective social and natural environments
Creating a vibrant community of image makers dedicated to using photography in order to raise awareness of critical issues that are often ignored by the mainstream media.
Providing a platform for professionals, students to learn about social documentary photography.
Our mission is to promote social photography as a means of exploring, examining and altering the lives of the marginalised sections of society. We are committed to work towards advancing documentary photography with both communities, stake holders and students wanting to use their talents for the society’s good. Photographs have the potential to transform mindsets and to bring about great changes. Photography is a language that all humans understand. Images remain with us for longer periods, often altering our worldview. PPT aims to utilize this power of photography in building a more tolerant and cooperative society.
Our Journey
In our decade long journey, we have accomplished many milestones and goals.
2005
Foundation Starts
The PPT is founded by Photojournalist Sudharak Olwe along with many professional Photographers from around India and Europe. It all started during a sit down session with a few photographer friends and was soon turned into reality with the help of former trustees Ravi Nair, Ravi Shekar, Mamata Patil and Anita Olwe.
2006
The Delwara Project
One of our first major projects, we patterned with Seva Mandir and National Foundation of India to conduct workshops for over 80 rural youth producing over 7500 images about different issues which culminated with an Exhibition in the village.
2013
Published "In Search of Dignity and Justice" with TATA Trusts
Photo Documentation of the lives of Mumbai’s Conservancy workers and associated Research was published as a photo-book, inagurated by the Great Dalit Poet Namdeo Dhasal.
2017
Diploma for Children of Conservancy Workers
PPT in association with Xavier’s Institute of Communication (XIC), Mumbai launched the first Free Diploma Course in Photography for Children of Conservancy Workers. The project aimed to crush the decades old social cycle of these Manual Scavenging jobs being passed on from generation to generation.
2018
Atrocity Victims Council
The Atrocity Victims’ Council was convened at the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh on 7th of April 2018. Victims and Activists fighting for Dalit Rights shared their stories and experiences with the press and the public.
2019
Photography on Wheels
The pilot tour of Photography on Wheels headed to the Konkan Coast, covering over 1800kms in 15 days. Documenting India and promoting the art of social documentary photography.
2020
Photography on Wheels
In the fourth edition on “Photography on Wheels” tour, our team travelled across Vidharba, covering distance of 1870 kms in 11 days. Documenting indigenous people, coal mines, social activists.
2021
The Art of Seeing -Photography
Promotion Trust (PPT), in collaboration with WNCB India conducted inspiring photography workshops for children in Kota, Rajasthan and Capacity Building Workshop — Budhpura Village.These workshops fostered visual awareness, storytelling through images, and the technical basics of photography..
2022
2022 was an inspiring year
for Photography Promotion Trust (PPT), The team successfully conducted the first-ever Grassroots Storytellers Masterclass on Social Photography in Imphal (Manipur), embarked on the proud collaboration Through The Lens with MSFDA, and carried the spirit of community storytelling to Diyun in Arunachal Pradesh, Niyamgiri in Odisha, and beyond….
2023
A year of powerful visual
storytelling, workshops, and exhibitions. We used photography and art to start conversations, encourage reflections, and celebrate creativity through initiatives like Through The Lens: Workshops & Exhibitions and the Grassroot Storytellers project in Jalandhar…