The Awards were established to recognize and celebrate excellence in photography and visual storytelling in India and also emphasise on the under-recognized work of regional talent in India.

The awards offer recognition and cash prizes to both freelance documentary practitioners as well as press photographers. Upon feedback from partners, previous winners and advisors, CPBF have decided to change the categories to make them more inclusive of different genres of photography and have built an in-person outreach program for the upcoming edition. Two cash prizes will be given to photographers working with Climate, Environment and Conservation – Single image and Photo Story. This grant will support the two cash prizes and the outreach program in the context of the Awards.

Shared Ecologies is supporting awards in the following categories:

1. Climate Change, Environment and Conservation – Single Image

Single images documenting climate crisis, climate impact on land, communities and wildlife, vegetation, land, ecology, geography, natural resource management, ecotourism, local conservation traditions, and related issues.

2. Climate Change, Environment and Conservation – Photo Story

Photo Stories documenting climate crisis, climate impact on land, communities and wildlife, vegetation, land, ecology, geography, natural resource management, ecotourism, local conservation traditions, and related issues.

3. Nature and Wildlife – Single image

Nature and wildlife photography that highlights not just the beauty, but the importance of preservation of nature and our wildlife, national parks, bio zones, the relationship between humans and nature and wildlife, natural habitats, urbanisation’s impact on nature and wildlife, and related topics.

The Call is open between 5th November 2023 and 4th January 2024.