Chennai-based photographer Ramya Sriram, the winner of the the 2026 contest for Nat Geo India Calendar with her incredibly fiery image of Kerala‘s Kandanar Kelan Theyyam, is the perfect encapsulation of how pure passion and hard work can elevate you to new heights in whatever field you choose to pursue.
For the much-deserved recognition she’s getting now and for the empowering, passionate creative she has always been, Ramya Sriram is our Monthly Muse this month.
Today, Ramya is a sensation, with her brilliant shot epitomising this year’s National Geographic India theme of ‘Capture In Motion’, placing her in the limelight. But long before she made headlines with her achievement and presence in photography, Ramya was simply a daughter drawn by her father’s passion for photography and travel.
She recounts, “I started my journey at a young age when my father started photography with his film camera – which I also used till 2000 before moving to phone and DSLR and mirrorless. What sparked my passion for photography was simply travel because my father used to do it – we still have so many of his black-and-white as well as sepia photos.”
From a youngster following her father’s footsteps to an established name in photography, Ramya describes her win at the Nat Geo India Calendar 2026 contest as a moment she “will always remember.”
Looking back at how it unfolded she says, ” This is the first I’ve entered this contest. Since I travel a lot, I had a lot of culture related images and one of them was Kandanar Kelan Theyyam. I submitted the image along with a few others and didn’t think too much of it. I was shocked to later receive a message from Nat Geo I had won – this every photographer’s dream frame, truly a photographer’s version of an Oscar award.”
The stunning shot that won her the contest with its fiery, intense and energetic allure is one image but behind it lies extensive efforts at documentation.
“I’d love to see more women come into this field and make it a form of income.”
For Ramya, her photography is about creating carefully crafted, long-lasting stories that awe us. Speaking of how she began to document Theyyam she says, ” I went to Kannur about four years ago and saw the Theyyam festival and found it so beautiful and interesting. So, I started learning about Theyyam, its different types and what communities perform it and how each community – and even each family – has different performance styles and rituals.”
“Some of these performances are very tough to document. Many tend to take place in remote places away from the main town, and we often not only have to arrange travel but also wait 8-10 hours or even the whole night for a single shot.”
Previously a male-dominated field rooted in genres in like studio or event photography, Ramya’s achievements in photography not only showcase the increasing popularity for genres like street, culture and aerial photography, but are proof of the sheer talent that women can display.
On her hopes for the future of photography, she says, “I’d love to see more women come into this field and make it a form of income.”
But that’s never to discount the amount of effort it takes to make photography a steady profession. Ramya reminds anyone wanting to take it up as a profession that it’s a knowledge-based craft, not just something for quick or easy money.
“I will try to tell more stories and try different compositions. I want my work to stand out, I want to keep learning and growing.”
She advices, “You need to pick your genre and what gadget you want to buy. Be aware that it requires a lot of financial involvement. Nowadays there’s more studies and courses based on photography and cinematography, so there are more opportunities to learn. It’s also always useful to have a mentor or attend workshops especially when you’re starting out.”
Gaining knowledge, however, is not just for beginners as Ramya expresses excitement for everything she’s yet to do, experience and learn.
Reflecting on other cultural stories she wants to document, she adds, “I want to experience Holi in North India as well as a few tribal festivals in the north-east – both of which I hope will happen this year. I also want to document the culture and landscapes of other parts of the world like Iceland, this is part of my bucket list for the near future.”
Having already earned several accolades for her photography including winning the 2022 Pro-Grade Godox contest for another Theyyam image, 2021 for Tamil Nadu Tourism as well as Street Photography India and more, Ramya’s crowning glory has been the Nat Geo win but nothing stops here.
She says, ” I’ve got the Nat Geo win once but that won’t stop me from applying next year and so forth. I also hope to someday win the HIPAE which is a worldwide contest which I’ve already been shortlisted for a few times.
“But, I’m not here just for the contests or awards, I will try to tell more stories and try different compositions. I want my work to stand out, I want to keep learning and growing.”
With a creative journey as engaging and inspiring as the person she is, Ramya Sriram’s name and her winning image echoes everywhere at the moment- but beyond that single image is a woman who proves passion and persistence never fails you in the pursuit of your dreams.
Check out more of Ramya’s incredible culture and travel photography on her Instagram or her website
(Images courtesy of Ramya Sriram)
If you loved reading about Ramya’s journey consider visiting Lyrical Muse for more Monthly Muse columns.
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