FTCCI’s ‘Telangana Through the Lens – 2026’ Photography Contest winners declared

FTCCI’s ‘Telangana Through the Lens – 2026’ Photography Contest winners declared

Hyderabad, Sept 24: The Tourism Committee of the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) declared winners of the  “Telangana Through the Lens – 2026,” an open photography contest which was aimed at celebrating and showcasing the vibrant, diverse and lesser-explored tourism potential of Telangana.

Themed “Explore, Experience and Exhibit the Spirit of Telangana Tourism,” the contest invitees entries from  photography enthusiasts from all walks of life to capture the essence of Telangana through their lenses. 

The response was overwhelming. It received 1400 plus submissions received from 554 photographers. 

Contest was organised to celebrate World Photography Day and photographers were urged to discover and showcase Telangana’s hidden tourism gems

The winners of ‘Telangana Through the Lens – 2026’ reflect the diversity of photographers who responded to FTCCI’s call to explore Telangana through a tourism lens. Mr. Shravan Thadanla, Photographer, S1 Studios, won the First Prize, followed by Mr. Mahimala Kyadhar Reddy, Photographer, who won the Second Prize, and Mr. H. Satish, Photographer, who secured the Third Prize.

Shravan, a photographer who runs a photo studio by nymae S1 Studio in Ramappa Village in Mulugu Dsitrict was selected as first prize winner for his picture on Cheriyal Painting. Cheriyal scroll painting is a critically endangered folk art form native to Telangana that is currently fighting against extinction.

The seven consolation prizes were won by Mr. Kishore Das, Mr. Kathroju Yadagiri, Mr. Vonteddu Nageswara Rao, Mr. Basheer, Mr. Tula Narendar, Mr. Aavula Srinivasulu and Mr. Veeragoni Rajinikanth Goud. Their photographs brought different facets of Telangana’s tourism landscape into focus, highlighting the State’s visual richness and the potential of photography to discover, document and promote its lesser-known tourism attractions.

The winners were selected by a jury comprised of  Yachendra Satyaprasad, a  landscape photographer, former President of Telangana Photographic society for several years; H. Satish, fromer Chief News Photo Journalist associated with the Hindu and K.N. Hari (Narahari K.), a prominent photojournalist associated with the Telugu daily newspaper Nava Telangana and serves as the general secretary—of the Telangana State Photo Journalists Association (TSPJA).

The contest carries attractive cash prizes. The first prize is ₹15,000, the second prize ₹10,000 and the third prize ₹7,500. In addition, five consolation prizes of ₹1,500 each will be presented.

The cash prizes will be presented in a function to be held on 28th September at FTCCI, Red Hills. 

FTCCI particularly encourages participants to venture beyond Telangana’s familiar tourist destinations and capture hidden gems, unexplored locations, lesser-known heritage sites, distinctive cultural practices, rural experiences, picturesque landscapes and other tourism attractions that deserve greater visibility. The contest seeks to use photography as a means of discovering and promoting new tourism possibilities across the State.