The kind of photography I do isn’t easy to sustain. Year after year, it takes everything from you.
People often say my photos are too sad or too heavy. They show poverty, pain, and struggle—realities many would rather not see. In a world that prefers beauty, luxury, and curated happiness, my images make some uncomfortable. They don’t hang on walls. They don’t sell. But they are real.
Still, I keep going.
Why?
Because someone must. Because these stories matter. Behind every image is a life that deserves to be seen.
As documentary photographers, we walk a lonely road. There is no industry behind us. No brands sponsoring our purpose. We carry our own weight—travel, gear, food, everything—because this work demands it. Not for profit, but for truth.
I want to bring positive change.
To show what must not continue. To highlight what needs our attention. If my work inspires someone to care, to act, to be more human—that’s the true reward. That’s the meaning of all our sacrifices.
This work isn’t easy, but it is necessary.
And as long as I have a camera, I’ll keep telling stories that matter.
_ GMB Akash
GMB AKASH 