Photography as an expressive practice has faced several challenges - questions about its status have been grandly posed and announcements about its fall churlishly made. Over the years, however, it has managed to re-invent itself - with advancements in technology and in the presence of other art forms. How has Photography behaved in the company of other expressive practices? Has it given more than it has taken? Is that why we find it in the throes of a crisis? Which are the ways in which artists have explored its enthusiasms? These are some of the questions we ask in the course of this issue.

In the Lead Essay, Shukla Sawant looks at some of the ways in which the photograph has been resourcefully employed by artists and how it has grown to perform a variety of vital roles. The Panel Discussion with Ader Gandi, David De Souza, Matthieu Foss, Niyatee Shinde, and Shahid Datawala, takes the debate about the new turn in Photography forward. While in her Lead Feature, Sandhya Bordewekar traces the development of Photography in Baroda, in his piece, David De Souza critiques the poses and positions of Photography as a profession in India. We carry profiles of three important image-makers - Vishwas Kulkarni looks at Sunil Gupta's creative documentation of gay life, Peter Nagy dwells on issues underpinning Sheba Chhachhi's depiction of women sadhvis, and Marta Jakimowicz traces the movements in Avinash Veeraraghavan's oeuvre. There are two interviews - while Raghu Rai holds forth on topics like exotica and sexism in his chat with Meera Menezes, Dayanita Singh, in her tete-a-tete, discusses issues as varied as print technologies and stereotypes. In her Essay, Sasha Altaf engages with Nasreen Mohamedi's delicately wrought photographs which complement her drawings. While Quddus Mirza introduces us to some committed photographers from Pakistan in his piece, Beverly Yong introduces us to three exciting photographers from Malaysia in hers. We also carry reports of exhibitions by Samit Das, ­­Justin Ponmany, Atul Bhalla, and Rashid Rana - artists who have engaged critically with the photograph in their recent shows. Jehangir Sorabjee captures telling urban moments in his photographs featured in Showcase.

We carry all our other regular features.

Hope you enjoy this issue. Do let us know what you like and do not like about it.

Warm regards,