Profile

” Today, I count myself blessed, having become a photographer. To be able  to articulate the experiences of  the voiceless,   to bring their identity to the forefront, gives meaning and purpose to my own life ” – Gmb Akash



GMB Akash is a compassionate and award-winning photographer from Bangladesh who dedicates his life to capturing the essence of people living on the edge of society around the world. Through his lens, he has a unique ability to translate the raw emotions and human experiences of marginalized and vulnerable communities into breathtaking visuals.


His photography transcends mere visual representation of poverty, oppression, and social injustice. It serves as a powerful tool for raising awareness and fostering social change. By capturing the beauty and dignity of individuals often ignored or forgotten by society, he inspires us to strive for a more just and equitable world.


GMB Akash’s photography is not only soulful and stirring but also a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. His work has been featured in over 100 major publications, including Vogue, Time, Sunday Times, Newsweek, Geo, Stern, Der Spiegel, The Fader, Brand Eins, The Guardian, Marie Claire, Colors, The Economist, The New Internationalist, Kontinente, Amnesty Journal, Courier International, PDN, Die Zeit, Days Japan, Hello, and the Sunday Telegraph of London.


His photographs have been exhibited worldwide, with solo exhibitions in Bangladesh, Laos, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, New York, Charleston (S.C.), Qatar, the Maldives, Finland, France, the Czech Republic, and Greece.


He has received more than 100 international photography awards and recognitions. Notably, in 2002, he became the first Bangladeshi selected for the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass in the Netherlands. He was also the first Bangladeshi to receive the Young Reporters Award 2004 at the Scope Photo Festival in Paris. In 2005, he was awarded ‘Best of Show’ at the Center for Fine Art Photography’s international competition in Colorado, USA. In 2006, he won the World Press Photo award and released his first book, FIRST LIGHT. He was again the first Bangladeshi selected for the PDN 30 (30 Emerging Photographers), sponsored by Photo District News Magazine, USA. In Switzerland, he won the 7th Vevey International Photography 2009 Grant. He was awarded the international ‘Travel Photographer of the Year’ 2009 (TPOY 2009) in the UK, the most prestigious award in travel photography. In 2011, Nikon selected GMB Akash as one of the 8 ‘influencers’ in Asia Pacific.


In 2012, he presented the results of his 10-year project Survivors, with proceeds from the publication supporting the subjects in establishing their own small businesses and becoming self-sufficient. This was his second book; he also published his first book, FIRST LIGHT.


He founded the GMB Akash Institute of Photography in Bangladesh in 2013, teaching students from around the world. The proceeds from his photography workshops support basic education for street children, underprivileged talented students, and child laborers.


GMB Akash has been invited to speak and present his work at the 2008 Fifth Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Norway. He has delivered six TEDx talks, including TEDxOporto 2011 in Portugal as the first Bangladeshi to speak at a TEDx event. He was subsequently invited to TEDxHyderabad 2017 and TEDxYouth 2019 at Sir John Wilson School in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was also invited to the 7th Forum of Emerging Leaders in Asian Journalism in 2017, Indonesia. At the National Geographic Exodus Fest in Portugal, he spoke, exhibited, and gave a master class. He was the featured speaker at FINE ART TALKS in Malé, Republic of Maldives, at the FE AUDITORIUM of The Maldives National University (MNU) in 2019. He was a plenary session speaker at the QATAR LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE in Doha in October 2019 and also conducted a workshop.


Various international photography contests have selected GMB Akash to be on their jury, including the Friends of the Earth International Photo Competition (Netherlands), Fine Art Photography Awards 2017 (UK), Worldwide Photography Gala Award (UK), UNESCO Silk Road Photography Contest 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 (France), Siena 2015 International Photography Awards (Italy), Urban Photo Award 2015, 2023, 2024 (Italy), VOUBS International Photography Awards 2016 (Italy), Humanity Photo Award 2017 (China), Visions International Photo Awards 2021 (France), World Water Day Photo Contest 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 (Italy), The Al-Hawar Photography Award 2022 (Iraq), Chromatic International Photo Contest 2023, 2024 (UK), Martial Arts Photo Contest in South Korea 2024, Rome Photo Lab International Photography Contest (Italy) 2024, KAAF International Photo Contest (Iran) 2024, and many more.




	


	






			

			40 thoughts on “Profile”		


		
		
    
					
  1. 
			
		
      
		
    1. 
			
		
      2. 

    

    2. 
		
  2. 
			
		
      
		
    1. 
			
		
      2. 

    

    3. 
		
  3. 
			
		
      
		
    1. 
			
      
				

				
      
					
      Unless I could not evince the feelings of the photograph through my camera, the photograph seems meaningless to me. For me the main challenge is to establish the deepest meaning of the photograph to its viewer’s heart
      

      Like
      
				
      

				
      Reply
      			
      
		
      2. 

    

    4. 
		
  4. 
			
		
      
		
    1. 
			
      
				

				
      
					
      Dear friend, Your words has light, thanks for stimulate me. I am in an endless journey towards an infinite route, only to find a real world of humanity. This thirst is eternal. I will keep walking, touching every faces I drop through my lens. I will show the world – those unknown stories of sufferings. If a single hand comes to give them a shade that will be the real honor of my sweat.
      

      Like
      
				
      

				
      Reply
      			
      
		
      2. 

    

    5. 
		
  5. 
			
		
      
		
    1. 
			
		
      2. 

    

    6. 
		
  6. 
			
		
      
		
    1. 
			
      
				

				
      
					
      my main award is when I reach to the people with my stories & open up a path to bring positive changes on those fates less people’s lives. I do no do photography to pursue certain things but to assign the power to me to live my life though photography.
      

      Like
      
				
      

				
      Reply
      			
      
		
      2. 

    

    7. 
		
  7. 
			
		
      
		
    1. 
			
      
				

				
      
					
      I am a navigator more than a traveler. Though out these journeys, every day I discover a new region in surroundings of mine. This unending travels has driven me to capture moments of journeys.
      

      Like
      
				
      

				
      Reply
      			
      
		
      2. 

    

    8. 
		
  8. 
			
    
				

				
    
					
    What an inspiration you are to photographers, and to all those who would like to contribute in some way to improve our society. Congratulations on what you’ve achieved, and all the best for your future undertakings.
    

    Like
    
				
    

				
    Reply
    			
    
		
    9. 
		
  9. 
			
		
    10. 
		
  10. 
			
    
				Pingback: factories of death—a reblog | shift 			
    
		
    11. 
		
  11. 
			
    
				Pingback: Take to the Streets: Online Photography Courses | IMPress 			
    
		
    12. 
		
  12. 
			
    
				

				
    
					
    The process of buying a car can be extremely taxing.
    
Some people might not know a lot about cars, but there are others who know too much and constantly feel like they aren’t getting a good deal. You can get the best car at the best price by following this advice.
    

    Like
    
				
    

				
    Reply
    			
    
		
    13. 
		
  13. 
			
		
    14. 
		
  14. 
			
    
				

				
    
					
    Bro, really great. You became an inspiration to the newbie photographer that, which country you are from doesn’t matter. How sincere you are with your work does matter. Thanx bro. And wanting more from you…. 🙂
    

    Like
    
				
    

				
    Reply
    			
    
		
    15. 
		
  15. 
			
		
    16. 
		
  16. 
			
		
    17. 
		
  17. 
			
		
    18. 
		
  18. 
			
		
    19. 
		
  19. 
			
		
    20. 
		
  20. 
			
    
				

				
    
					
    Hello I ‘d liked to communicate with you, what you’re showing us is amazing! I’m looking for photos made after the Rhana plaza Drama, for a little shot movie , can we email? thank’s Ariane
    

    Like
    
				
    

				
    Reply
    			
    
		
      
		
    1. 
			
		
      2. 

    

    21. 
		
  21. 
			
		
    22. 
		
  22. 
			
    
				

				
    
					
    I am a very small time photographer, basically a retired teacher, who tries to see as much of the world as can be seen from my disadvantaged vantage point. Have you a published book that I can buy? If so, from where? Please advise. Salil Biswas
    

    Like
    
				
    

				
    Reply
    			
    
		
    23. 
		
  23. 
			
		
    24. 
		
  24. 
			
    
				Pingback: Hello World – GMB Akash | Hello Lune 			
    
		
    25. 
		
  25. 
			
    
				

				
    
					
    Akash sir, hats off to you for the great work you are doing with your photographic skills. I had seen an article on you in Mathrubhumi ( Malayalam daily) Sunday suppliment and thus I decided to venture more about you… I’ve nothing to say sir… Keep going… You inspired me too… You inspired me to do whatever I can  with my little skills.. Thank you so much sir…
    

    Like
    
				
    

				
    Reply
    			
    
		
    26. 
		
  26. 
			
		
    27. 
		
  27. 
			
		
    28. 
		
  28. 
			
    
				

				
    
					
    Me gustaría ver una herramienta de traducción.
    
En facebook está la traducción.
    
En tu blog no la veo.
    
Te felicito por tú gran trabajo.
    

    Like
    
				
    

				
    Reply
    			
    
		
    29. 
		
  29. 
			
    
				

				
    
					
    udiyoman lekhok/lekhika der niye amader ekta notun proyas https://pandulipi.net . amader protita lekhar sathe prasongik chobi thakche. sobtai nijeder toiri kora. apnake amontron roilo amader site e. Valo lagle Amder sathe jog o dite paren.  Apnar oti priyo lekha/srishti/chobi guli amader din, amra jotner sathe sokoler samokhe tule dhorbo. 
    

    pandulipi.net e chokh rakhte onurodh kori.
    

    Er modhye amra photo story section chalu korte cholechi. Apnar kaj valo laglo. Apnake amontron roilo.
    

    Kichu jante iche hole doya kore amader page visit korun ba message korun. Khub khusi hobo apnake amader sathe pele.
    

    Like
    
				
    

				
    Reply
    			
    
		
    30. 
		
  30. 
			
		
    31. 
		
  31. 
			
		
    32. 
		
  32. 
			
		
    33. 
		


		
	
	
		

		
Leave a reply to elmediat Cancel reply