About

I am Jyothy Karat, a filmmaker and photographer based in Bangalore, India. 

I am happiest telling stories. Sometimes they take the form of a photo essay, other times I write and illustrate. More often than not, I find documentary films to be an effective medium.

I began my career as a Photo Editor with AOL (America Online). I was 22 when I was selected by the Angkor Photo Festival for a workshop for Emerging Photographers in Asia in 2009. It changed my life. Within the next two months, I would quit my job and set out to become a freelance photojournalist. Since taking that leap of faith, I have travelled to and reported from 20 countries, won a Fellowship from World Press Photo and Konrad Adenauer to study Multimedia Journalism in the Philippines and worked for some of the biggest media brands in the world. Along the way, I picked up some skills, including underwater photography, video editing, long form writing, sketching, rock climbing and even surfing, all of which has shaped my worldview and brought new perspectives to my stories.

When I am not working, I like to crawl under a rock with a book. But when I come out and the sunshine hits my face, I have an intense desire to tell the stories that matter to me. About my village, its people, the animals, the water we drink. Most stories on my website were born from questioning the realities of our lives in India. I'd like to invite you to be part of these conversations. Welcome.