The world is full of diverse voices and experiences. Sharing those unique cultural identities and experiences can be unifying and eye-opening. Travel photographer Karthika Gupta wants to showcase these stories, because, as she says, “the more we understand each other, the more we appreciate one another.”
Karthika’s photographs celebrate cultural differences, elicit a sense of unity and belonging, and create a rich visual feast of color and culture, of place and story, of connection and inclusivity. With her images, Karthika shares honest visual stories in a time when cultivating understanding and tolerance is of paramount importance.
We couldn’t agree more with the purpose behind Karthika’s work and we’re thrilled to share Karthika’s journey with you as part of our “UNLIMITED — Conversations with Changemakers” series, made possible by a partnership with Fujifilm.
Meet Karthika Gupta
Karthika Gupta is a lifestyle, culture and travel photographer based in the Chicagoland area but originally from Bombay, India. Through her photography and storytelling skills she aims to bring cultural narratives to the forefront. She is also the founder of CulturallyOurs, a platform dedicated to promoting cultural understanding and celebrating global diversity. CulturallyOurs explores lifestyle, food, art, travel, and culture from around the world through retreats, narratives, stories and conversations.
You can find Karthika’s work at culturallyours.com, on Instagram @karthikagupta and @culturallyours.
Q: Can you share a bit about your photography journey?
A: My photography career started almost 11 years ago as a part-time hobby. I had just had my second child and wanted to document our life to share with my family back home in India. Being almost 8,000 miles away from everything that was near and dear to me had me wanting to share every moment.
Soon I started to teach myself the technical aspects of photography to get better at something that I considered a hobby. Soon my friends and family were reaching out asking me to photograph their lives as well.
I was a part-time photographer for a few years before I decided to take the plunge and do this as a career. During that time, I connected with other photographers, took online classes, rented gear, and taught myself everything I wanted to learn. I experimented with different genres and different styles to find my own unique voice. After a lot of trial and error, I found something that really spoke to me and that allowed me a way to express my voice, my individuality and my path as an artist and creative entrepreneur.
Now, 11 years in, I am proud of my journey. Sure, it has had many ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world because when I look back at where I started and where I am now, I realize the importance of perseverance, consistency and believing in yourself.
Q: What messages do you hope to convey with your photography?
A: I love this question because it really makes me think of my journey in this industry and what I set out to achieve right from the start — a sense of belonging. When I first started, I was an IT geek turned artist and I desperately wanted to feel like I belonged in this industry of super creative and talented storytellers. Years later, I find that feeling is still there.
As an immigrant, I still struggle with the dichotomy of my two identities — where I come from and where I am now. So, I use my art and my creativity to convey that message of belonging. One that says that no matter where you come from, who you are and where you are going, you belong on the path of your choosing just as much as anyone else. I find that when I use this message of belonging in my imagery, whether it is for myself or my clients, I am being true to who I am as an artist.
“As an immigrant, I still struggle with the dichotomy of my two identities — where I come from and where I am now.”
“The world is such a beautifully diverse place with so many unique cultures.”
Q: Can you tell us about your CulturallyOurs platform?
A: Much of my life has been a beautiful mix of technology and creativity. Having lived and worked in many parts of the world, I always find myself surrounded by amazing friends and co-workers who bring so much rich cultural diversity into my life. I am very much aware of how important culture and diversity are in life and in business, no matter where you are. The world is such a beautifully diverse place with so many unique cultures and I wanted to learn more and showcase these stories differently — by way of conversations, narratives, visuals, and hands-on experiences. @CulturallyOurs was born to share these unique stories with the world.
Today we live in a time where we are constantly connected by way of social media and 24/7 news. Yet more and more people have admitted to feeling isolated, misunderstood and alone. Even in a crowd, we often feel like we don’t know anyone or worse yet, that we don’t belong. Emotive heartfelt conversations get lost in a sea of texts, emails, and swipes. And that is why I created CulturallyOurs. It is a space to share stories and get connected to people from different parts of the world to explore cultural diversity without prejudice, religious bias, or a political agenda. When we are given an opportunity to share our story and offer our unique perspective, we feel welcome, included, and heard.
While diversity and inclusion can mean different things to different people across different languages, the importance of belonging is universal. The more we understand each other, the more we appreciate one another. Appreciation and understanding brings empathy and acceptance.
Q: What advice do you have for photographers hoping to tell stories of culture and identity?
A: One of the most important things to be aware of when telling stories of culture and identify is intention as this really sets the stage for our subsequent actions. So, when you are hoping to tell a story about culture and identify, ask yourself the following questions:
- Why do you want to take the picture?
- What is the narrative you hope to convey?
- Is the photograph self-serving, or is it for a greater purpose?
Photography is such a powerful medium, and I believe that photographers have an ethical responsibility to show an honest representation of people, culture, and society, with respect to their dignity. It isn’t about how we perceive people want to be seen, it is how they are that needs to be showcased to bring about a deeper understanding of culture, identity and belonging.
I believe that the opportunity to tell compelling global stories about culture is one that needs to be implemented, especially in a time like the present where fear, skepticism and mistrust are replacing compassion, understanding and tolerance in all walks of life.
Q: Who are the biggest inspirations or influences on your work?
A: My mom and my sister are two of the biggest influences in my work. Both are extremely creative and artistic in their own way. My mom was an oils and acrylics artist whereas my sister is a self-taught quilter, mandala artist and a yoga instructor. They taught me that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams irrespective of your skill set.
I love Vivian Maier’s work. Her images have so much depth and each frame tells a story in such a profound way. She was one of the best storytellers of her time. I also love Cristina Mittermeier’s imagery. Her passion for conservation comes across in all her images.
And of course, I am constantly blown away by the amazing talent of our Click Pros. They constantly inspire me and push me to do better in my work.
Q: Amplifying the voices of female artists is incredibly important. Can you tell us more about what it’s like to be a female artist?
A: I think voices of female artists or people who identify as female are innately strong. The World Economic Forum has numerous studies across almost every industry that shows gender biases still shape the role of engagement. In industries and teams where women were outnumbered, the researchers discovered that they were routinely seen as less competent and hence less influential in the group. This isn’t necessarily intentional bias but instead a systemic problem in our society.
Over the decades we have been sensitized to discount female expertise and perspectives and that is just not OK. We just see and process things differently and that comes across in a beautifully different way. In fact, a study done by Harvard Business Review shows that gender diversity in teams leads to more innovative thinking which in turn makes companies more productive.
Personally, I love seeing women not only grow but thrive in areas where they have traditionally not been seen and heard as this gives me hope for the future generation. I want my daughter to see that there is no limit to what women can achieve. And I want my son to get used to seeing women breaking all kinds of glass ceilings so that it becomes the norm.
Q: You’ve said “Photos are a window into our life stories and identities.” What do you hope to reveal about your subjects through your photos?
A: Photography is such a powerful tool. It is as if we are freezing a moment in time that would otherwise be lost or worse, be forgotten. As a storyteller, I am always looking for the story. What is the narrative in the scene that I am witnessing or the person I am interacting with. Who are they? What is their life journey? What is important to them? How are all the elements in the frame related? And then I ask myself how I can showcase all these factors so that it is a true representation of who they are at that moment in time.
I want my photos to tell an honest story — whether it is a person, a place, or an event. And that story is not how I see the world, it is how the subject wants to showcase their narrative.
I find that when I follow these guidelines, I open myself up to building meaningful relationships, learning about culture, customs, and traditions, and telling a true and honest story.
Q: Has travel been an important part of your life? How does that relate to your photography?
A: Travel is such an integral part of who I am as a person and an artist. Most of my childhood was spent in Bombay, India while my extended family lived in Chennai, about 850 miles away. So, every chance we got, my parents packed up the family and headed “home.” That continued through my early adulthood when I moved to the United States for school. I once again found myself away from home and quickly learned to view every trip as an adventure.
Now, as a travel and culture photographer, travel is my work and I couldn’t be happier. In the words of Gustave Flaubert, “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny space you occupy in the world.”
I find that travel has the power to open my mind to new possibilities and make me a more tolerant and conscious human. I see myself being curious about the world around me and this leads to some epic adventures. What might be simple, normal, and mundane to someone is often unique, challenging, and exciting to others and each perspective has its benefits.
Travel has also taught me to always be prepared. Often adventure is literally around the corner and being prepared means being able to experience and document it — like the time I got invited to participate in a dance ceremony honoring a lady who was believed to be possessed by the village goddess or the time a simple conversation with a fellow traveler led to an incredible night safari to find leopards in the wild.
Q: What did you discover about yourself or your work in 2020?
A: What a year. It started off with a bang when I was listed among 100 Female Photographers to Watch in 2020 by Click Community. Once the pandemic hit, I found myself shifting gears in my business. Cancelled shoots and rescheduled events made way for more writing assignments. I added travel journalist to my skill set and found work with many tourism boards and PR agencies in the travel industry. Now I love what I do even more.
As cliché as it sounds, 2020 has really taught me to be flexible and more importantly, to trust in the process. Early in the quarantine I discovered miniature photography and started working on a project with my kids to document some of our favorite outdoor spaces in miniature. This opened a different side of my creativity — one that I now share with my kids.
Now in a post-pandemic era, I find myself even more curious about the world around me. Everyone I speak to has a unique story and perspective of life and the world we live in. There are many more stories to be heard, documented, and shared, and I for one, cannot wait to experience them. Sure, things are different and perhaps life will never be the same again. But maybe that’s a good thing — because when faced with challenges we innovate and change. And change is the one constant in life, right?
Photos by Karthika Gupta
This post is made possible through a partnership with Fujifilm as part of our “UNLIMITED — Conversations with Changemakers” interview series. Unlimited honors powerful feminist photographers and spotlights the artistic voices of those seeking to change the narrative. We hope to help bring focus to storytellers with purpose who are sharing their diverse perspectives with the world. Through this beautiful tapestry of unique voices, we want to be part of a cohesive message of unity, equity and inclusion.
More “UNLIMITED — Conversations with Changemakers” right here:
Black photographer Murielle Cascone talks about changing the conversation for our daughters
Travel photographer Karthika Gupta shares unifying stories of culture and identity
Photographer Ashley Johnson’s work asks complex questions about Black identity
Photographer Cristal Veronica celebrates real LGBTQ+ and BIPOC stories
How Divya Wolf imbues strength and empowerment with whimsy in her photography
