A Visual Storyteller’s Journey: An Interview with Akash Pamarthy

Akash Pamarthy is a photojournalist and documentary filmmaker whose work focuses on underrepresented and marginalized communities His acclaimed project Telugu Americans won first place in the Feature Picture Story category at the 2022 Ohio News Photographers Association contest and was featured on NPRrsquos Picture Show Pamarthy has also explored issues like homelessness in his documentary In or Out which earned accolades at the Whistleblower Summit amp Film Festival His recent projects include contributions to the America Reimagined Project the Medicaid Care Experience Simulation Project and awardwinning submissions to the NPPA Clips Regional Monthly Still Photojournalism Contest In this interview Pamarthy discusses his inspiration themes he explores in his work and his aspirations for the futureInterviewer Your project Telugu Americans gained significant recognition What inspired you to focus on this communityPamarthy The Indian community is the secondlargest immigrant group in the United States yet it remains underrepresented in media I wanted to spotlight Telugu Americans specifically as they are part of my own identity I noticed a lack of representation and felt compelled to tell our stories Telugu Americans explores four themes family keepsakes festivals and foodeach essential for cultural preservation and integration into American society For instance families often hold onto items that remind them of life in Indiaa traditional saree a recipe book or religious itemswhile adapting to a new American identity This project became a way to celebrate our traditions and challenges and help others understand them as wellInterviewer Your documentary In or Out tackles homelessness a complex issue How did this project come aboutPamarthy Living in Washington DC I saw the housing crisis up close In or Out focuses on two individuals whose lives were deeply affected by homelessness highlighting their daily struggles By showing the human side of homelessness I aimed to raise awareness of the complex relationship between housing policies and personal lives The filmrsquos reception at festivals like the Whistleblower Summit amp Film Festival has been incredibly rewarding as it shows that audiences are connecting with the story in the way I intended Interviewer Yoursquove been part of the America Reimagined Project What did you learn from this experience and how did it shape your perspective as a photojournalistPamarthy The America Reimagined Project allowed me to document the profound changes America experienced during the COVID19 pandemic It was an incredible opportunity to create a historical archive that captured shifts in daily life from how we interacted to how we marked milestones or even mourned Being part of this project reinforced the power of visual storytelling not just to record history but also to evoke shared memory and experience One of the most fulfilling moments was having my work exhibited at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center in Cincinnati where I could engage directly with the community Seeing people connect with the images as they recognized their own experiences in them was incredibly meaningfulInterviewer You recently won first place in the Photo StoryEssay category and third in the FeatureSingle category at the NPPA Clips Regional Monthly Still Photojournalism Contest What does this recognition mean to youPamarthy Itrsquos a huge honor The NPPA has high standards for visual journalism so to be recognized by them feels incredibly validating Competing alongside other talented journalists in the MidAtlantic region motivates me to keep raising the bar in my work For me these awards are about more than personal accoladesthey confirm that people are connecting with the stories Irsquom trying to tell Itrsquos fulfilling to know that these narratives especially of underrepresented communities resonate with othersInterviewer Looking ahead what kinds of stories or projects do you hope to pursuePamarthy Irsquom drawn to themes of migration culture identity and social justice and I want to keep exploring those particularly through longterm projects that can hopefully drive change Irsquom also interested in using new media technologies like VR and interactive online formats to tell stories in fresh ways However no matter what technology I use I want to stay true to the human element at the core of every story Ultimately storytelling is about capturing real experiences in ways that resonate and inspire empathy and thatrsquos what I aim to continue doingPamarthyrsquos journey as a visual storyteller reflects his dedication to highlighting underrepresented communities and exploring the human side of social issues His work from documenting Telugu Americans to shedding light on homelessness is a testament to the power of visual storytelling to foster empathy and understanding across cultures and experiences Through his lens he continues to set a standard for impactful journalism bridging connections between diverse stories and a broader audience

A Visual Storyteller’s Journey: An Interview with Akash Pamarthy

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A Visual Storyteller’s Journey: An Interview with Akash Pamarthy

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