PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE
KEYNOTE SPEECH
SMITA SHARMA
The Long Frame : Dignity, Trust and Time in Documentary Photography
Date : Saturday 24 October, 2026
Time : 2:15 pm - 4:00 pm
Venue : GMBB Kuala Lumpur, GM5-13
Free to join, pre-registration required due to limited seating.
Long term visual stories aren't about dramatic moments but about building deeper understanding by looking beyond the surface. Smita's presentation will include a look into some of her projects and how she went from the ideation and research phases to completing them over a period of time.
She will also share the 'behind the scenes' stories and about problem solving in the field and how she approaches editors and publications. Smita will also present her thoughts on ethical responsibilities while documenting marginalised communities, conflict, gender, environmental, and social justice issues. She will also discuss how some of her work was able to foster dialogue and help in advocacy matters.
ABOUT SMITA SHARMA
Smita Sharma is a Delhi based photojournalist, visual storyteller and speaker focusing on human rights, gender, social and environmental issues in the Global South. A TED and IWMF fellow, she is a National Geographic photographer whose work on trafficking earned her the Amnesty International Media Award (UK) and the Fetisov Journalism Award (Switzerland). Her book We Cry In Silence won the POY International Award of Excellence and the 2023 Lucie Photo Book Prize.
She works on commission for The New York Times, WSJ,TIME, Human Rights Watch, The Nature Conservancy and more, and has exhibited globally, including at the UN headquarters in New York and Geneva, Xposure Photo Festival, Photoville, IPF amongst many others.She has taught at the International Center of Photography, New York, NYU, Foundry Photojournalism workshop and also serves as a jury member to grants and awards worldwide, including the Art Works Projects (Chicago), The Nature Conservancy (US), The Everyday Projects, The Indian Photo Festival amongst many others. Her honours include Indian of the Year 2017, Exceptional Women of Excellence 2018, One World Media Award 2019, Gender Warrior Award 2022, Las Fotos Advocacy Award 2022, and the 2025 Alexia Professional Vision Grant.