Harsha Vadlamani

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HCL FOUNDATION

For HCL Foundation, I documented the impactful work of leading non-profits across India in environmental sustainability, livelihood generation, healthcare, and education. These organisations were finalists for the prestigious HCL Grant, which recognises and supports excellence in India’s development sector. The photographs were featured in the HCL Grant coffee table book, published by Roli Books, showcasing grassroots innovation and social impact.

Featured non-profits: LEPRA Society, Lutheran World Relief, CARE India, MV Foundation and India Foundation for Humanistic Development. 

A tribal woman cooking over a fuel-efficient stove in a remote village in Bhawanipatna, Odisha, IndiaAn initiative by Lepra Foundation NGO India.
Photograph of an empowered adivasi woman from a low-income background, smiling and positive, for non-profit organisations.
Water tank built by an NGO in Bhawanipatna, Odisha, to support drinking and agricultural needs of villagers, photographed by a non-profit photographer in India
Siddi Adivasi women foraging medicinal herbs in a forest, showcasing indigenous knowledge systems and community resilience, photographed by a non-profit photographer in India
Leprosy survivor picking cotton in a field in northern Telangana, showcasing livelihood generation and resilience, photographed by a CSR photographer in Hyderabad
Close-up of a beehive as part of a climate-resilient alternate livelihood initiative for farmers in rural India, photographed by a CSR photographer
Group of women beneficiaries in rural India attending a community meeting focused on empowerment and livelihood generation, photographed by a non-profit photographer in India
A health worker conducts a chest examination for a man at his home in rural India, checking for symptoms of TB and leprosy as part of a grassroots healthcare initiative, documented by a CSR photographer
Students in a rural school in southern Telangana, a region with high rates of child marriage and child labour. Education-focused interventions by NGOs have been instrumental in keeping children in classrooms. Captured by an NGO and CSR photographer working across Bangalore, Pune, and Hyderabad.
A woman sifts grain before cooking lunch in rural India, symbolizing everyday food security challenges in the face of climate change and hunger, photographed by a non-profit photographer
A smiling woman stands proudly inside a greenhouse built by an NGO in rural India, representing women’s empowerment, alternate livelihoods, and climate-resilient farming, photographed with empathy and dignity by a non-profit photographer
A patient undergoing a leprosy test at home in rural India, highlighting last-mile healthcare delivery by NGOs and photographed with empathy, respect, and privacy by a non-profit photographer
Solar panels providing clean energy to a remote Adivasi hamlet in Odisha, photographed by a non-profit and CSR photographer in India focused on climate resilience and rural development

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR)

In Hyderabad, southern India, I documented the lives of the Rohingya refugee community for UNHCR. Having fled persecution in Myanmar, these families have rebuilt their lives with support from humanitarian aid. My photography highlights their everyday experiences and the impact of refugee assistance programs on their safety, dignity, and well-being.

Rohingya refugee woman making flower garlands at home in Hyderabad, India — documented by a non-profit, NGO, and CSR photographer focused on livelihoods and dignity
Rohingya refugee boys playing football together in Hyderabad, India – captured by a CSR photographer documenting youth resilience
Rohingya refugee youth dribbling a football on a dusty ground in Hyderabad, India – photographed by an NGO and non-profit photographer
Rohingya teenage boys forming football teams in a refugee camp in Hyderabad – photographed by a CSR and NGO photographer in India
Rohingya refugee boys resting after a football game in Hyderabad, India – photographed by an NGO, non-profit, and CSR photographer
A young girl with disability from the Rohingya community in Hyderabad, India, sustained by NGO support – photographed by a non-profit and CSR photographer
Chronically ill Rohingya youth in Hyderabad, India, supported by an NGO – documented by a non-profit, CSR, and NGO photographer

HOWRAH SOUTH POINT

Father François Laborde, a French Jesuit priest and founder of the Kolkata-based non-profit Howrah South Point, is widely regarded as the inspiration for Dominique Lapierre’s novel City of Joy, set in the slums of Kolkata. Lapierre donated all royalties from the book to support the organisation’s humanitarian work. I photographed the ongoing activities of Howrah South Point and its current director, Father Laurent Bissara, for the French magazine Famille Chrétienne, documenting their continued commitment to serving the city’s most vulnerable communities.

Migrant children stand in prayer at an NGO-supported school in Kolkata – visual storytelling for non-profits by a CSR and NGO photographer in India
A young student attentively interacts with a teacher at an NGO-supported school for migrant children in Kolkata – communication for NGOs and ethical storytelling in education
Nighttime tea stall in a Kolkata slum supported by a non-profit organisation – NGO photographer India documenting livelihoods and dignity through ethical storytelling
Two smiling schoolgirls from a migrant community discuss a lesson inside a classroom at an NGO-supported school in Kolkata – visual storytelling for non-profits in India
Children from marginalised communities play carrom at a shelter home in Kolkata – NGO photographer India documenting childhood, play, and protection
Smiling women staff at a grassroots NGO office in a Kolkata slum – NGO and CSR photographer India highlighting women leadership and community development
Portrait of a quiet yet positive woman in a Kolkata slum – NGO and CSR photographer in India capturing dignity and resilience
Portrait of NGO head with residents of a Kolkata slum – CSR and NGO photographer in India capturing leadership and community engagement
Boys studying seriously in a classroom at an NGO-run school in Kolkata – captured by a non-profit and CSR photographer in India
Father Laurent Bissara at Howrah South Point

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO)

I photographed small-scale fisheries, aquaculture farms, and seafood processing facilities in Andhra Pradesh on India’s eastern coast for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). These coastal livelihoods form the backbone of the region’s marine economy and are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, including rising sea temperatures, shifting fish migration patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. Despite these challenges, seafood from this region, including high-value species like tuna, is exported across India and to international markets such as the United States.

Fishermen in Pudimadaka, Andhra Pradesh, preparing small motor-powered sailboats to head into the Bay of Bengal – CSR and NGO photographer in India documenting climate-impacted coastal livelihoods
Fisherman preparing traditional nets on the coast of Andhra Pradesh – ethical visual storytelling for NGOs and CSR projects in India
Fishing boats lined up on a sandy beach in coastal Andhra Pradesh – visual storytelling for NGOs focused on marine livelihoods and climate resilience in India
Women selling freshly caught fish at the harbour market in Visakhapatnam – NGO photographer capturing coastal livelihoods and gender empowerment in India
Fisherwomen engaged in selling fish at the bustling Visakhapatnam harbour market – NGO and CSR storytelling on gendered livelihoods in India
Smiling fisherman standing in shallow coastal waters near the beach in Andhra Pradesh – non-profit photographer documenting climate-affected fishing livelihoods in India
Fishermen push their boats through rough coastal waters to safety in Andhra Pradesh as a cyclone warning is issued – NGO visual storytelling on climate resilience and disaster preparedness
Traditional sail-powered fishing boats glide across the horizon off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, captured from the shoreline. This quiet but powerful image reflects the enduring strength of small-scale fishers who rely on inherited knowledge, wind patterns, and local ecosystems to survive. It contributes to long-form visual storytelling projects for NGOs working in climate resilience, sustainable food systems, and marine conservation across India. Photographed by a non-profit and CSR photographer based in Delhi and Hyderabad, this work emphasizes ethical storytelling and consent-driven documentation in communities affected by environmental and economic pressures.
Two shrimp harvested from a shrimp farm in coastal Andhra Pradesh – CSR and NGO photography highlighting industrial aquaculture, food security, and environmental impact in India
Fishermen drying their catch on boats at the fishing harbour in Visakhapatnam – NGO and CSR photography highlighting coastal livelihoods, food systems, and climate change in India
Women processing shrimp at a seafood factory in Andhra Pradesh – NGO and CSR photography highlighting women’s labour, export-driven food systems, and ethical livelihoods in India
Fishermen preparing and sorting nets before setting out to sea in Andhra Pradesh – NGO and CSR photography highlighting coastal livelihoods, traditional knowledge, and resilience
Fishermen hauling heavy nets full of fish to the shore in Andhra Pradesh – visual storytelling by NGO photographer documenting livelihoods, food systems, and resilience on India’s east coast

TWO WORLDS CANCER COLLABORATION

Since 2021, I have been documenting cancer care, screening programs, and palliative and end-of-life support at the Kumudini Devi Palliative Care Centre and the Mandara Hospice for Children in Hyderabad, India. This long-term relationship has allowed me to follow the evolving work of these institutions closely and build trust with patients, caregivers, and staff. Both centres provide compassionate, community-based care to individuals and families facing advanced illness, with a focus on dignity, pain management, and emotional support.

Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration
Harsha Vadlamani Photojournalist, Documentary Photographer and Filmmaker in India
Patient sitting quietly in a clinic corridor in India, photographed with empathy and permission by a non-profit photographer
Harsha Vadlamani Photojournalist, Documentary Photographer and Filmmaker in India
Portrait of a patient receiving respectful medical care, captured with informed consent in a non-profit healthcare setting in India
Harsha Vadlamani Photojournalist, Documentary Photographer and Filmmaker in India
This image captures a grassroots health worker tending to a patient during a home visit, part of a rural health outreach initiative. Photographed with care, consent, and ethical responsibility, the image showcases trust, compassion, and the vital role of non-profit efforts in delivering healthcare to underserved communities.
Harsha Vadlamani Photojournalist, Documentary Photographer and Filmmaker in India
Harsha Vadlamani Photojournalist, Documentary Photographer and Filmmaker in India
Portrait of a patient receiving respectful medical care, captured with informed consent in a non-profit healthcare setting in India