Nitin Rai is an internationally acclaimed multi-genre photographer, with 30 years of experience and the son of legendary photographer Raghu Rai.
Currently he is doing professional assignments for a range of clients, from corporates to publishing houses across the globe.
In a career spanning three and a half decades, he has done Landscapes, Documentary, Portraits, Fashion, Conceptual, Photo stories, Food,
Industrial, Real Estate & Architecture, and Interior photography.
His work has been featured prominently in international magazines such as TIME Magazine, Der Spiegel, Stern, Figaro, Facts, Tattler, The Sunday
Telegraph and The Independent.
In 1992 his photograph of the demolition of the Babri Masjid was on the cover of Time magazine.
He was the recipient of the prestigious NIKON International award in 1993.
He has worked for corporates such as Aditya Birla Group, DLF, MGF, Ansal API, Bhartia Industries, Oswal Industries, NTPC, Modis, etc.
Beginning as a photojournalist for SUNDAY magazine, India, and ASIA TIMES, a daily news paper published from New York, Singapore, Hongkong
& Bangkok, he has grown to a multi-genre photographer and a teacher of photography.
Work Experience
Freelance Work
Some of his prominent assignments were with:
• Photo Documentation of People living with HIV/AIDS in different states of India for Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi AIDS Foundation
• Covered the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya and the picture featured on the cover of TIME Magazine
• Photographed Indian troops at the freezing heights of Zoji La Pass during the Kargil war for Der Spiegel Magazine
• Covered earthquake in Gujarat in the year 2000 for Der Spiegel, and Time Magazine
Some of his prominent assignments were with:•
.Aditya Birla Group, DLF, EMMAR MGF, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Oswal Industries, Bhartia Industries, Imperial hotel and Modis.
• Aditya Birla Group temples for their yearly diary and photographs for their Coffee Table Book on Corporate Social Responsibility.
• EMMAR MGF group: Metropolitan Mall and Mega City Mall in Gurgaon and City Square Mall in Delhi.
• DLF group: Cyber Greens Building, City Centre Mall, Grand Mall, Mega Mall, Ship Building- Gateway Tower, and DLF Golf Club in Gurgaon, Emporio Mall, Promenade Mall, DLF Place Mall Saket
• Photographed Miss India models as well as creations of top fashion designer Rohit Khosla
Book
• A coffee Table book on India called “India 24 Hours”, put together by a select band of 16 leading Indian photographers. It was a bestseller. It is now being reprinted abroad as “A Day in the Life of India”
• Coffee table book on Madhya Pradesh, a state in central India, along with 16 leading Indian photographers
• Coffee Table Book on the beautiful coral islands of Lakshadweep with Raghu Rai
• Coffee Table book on IIT DELHI, which was conceptualized, designed, photographed and published by Nitin Rai for IIT Delhi in 2015.
• Currently working on Coffee Table book on India
Exhibitions
• September 2009, a first solo exhibition of photographs at the Triveni Kala Sangam titled “India Continent of Circe” hosted by Ebrahim Alkazi of Art Heritage
• Participated in a group show organized by Art Elements. The work was featured along with artists such as MF Hussain, Ram Kumar, Raza, and Raghu Rai
• Curated and participated in a show of Photographs of 13 national and international photographers for Global Buddhist Congregation at Visual arts gallery on 22 November 2011
• 16 January 2012: Joint Photography show with Raghu Rai, titled Father and Son, hosted by SINGH AND THAPAR PROJECTS at Dhoomimal Gallery.
Full-Time Work Experience
• Director, Nitin Rai Photography. (1990 to Present)
He leads a team of photographers to give top-quality images to clients. Apart from photography he visualizes, designs, and prints coffee table books, calendars, and diaries and gives clients a complete package.
. Former Director and Founder- Raghu Rai Center For Photography. (2012 to 2022)
He used to teach and runs Raghu Rai Center For Photography, an institute for photography, set up by Nitin Rai in 2012.
• Former Head of Department, Creative Photography, Sri Aurobindo Center for Arts and Communication. (2007 to 2011)
He was involved in teaching creative photography and training students to hone their artistic skills and enter the world of professional photography.
• Former Consulting Photo Editor, Business Today. (1999 to 2000)
The job entailed editing visuals, done by eight juniors and creating covers and taking pictures for the magazine as well as doing photo stories.
• Former Photo Editor, ASIA TIMES (1995 to 1996)
As Photo Editor (south Asia) with ASIA TIMES, an international newspaper brought out from New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok, he covered the South Asia region.
• Former Photo Editor, Sunday Magazine (1988 to 1995)
Worked with Sunday Magazine for eight years and covered stories across India. Led a team of 4 photographers and photographed the covers of the magazine and did photo stories.
Nitin now leads a team of photographers to give top-quality images to clients. Apart from photography, the team visualizes, designs, and prints coffee table books, calendars, and diaries.
For more on Nitin Rai log on to www.nitinrai.com