Arati Kumar-Rao

Arati Kumar-Rao is an environmental photographer, writer, artist and National Geographic Explorer documenting the effects of environmental degradation. Working primarily in the Indian subcontinent, she chronicles anthropogenic changes in landscapes and their fallouts on livelihood, culture and biodiversity. She communicates through still and moving images, soundscapes, longform narratives and art. Her work has appeared in National Geographic Magazine, Hindu, Guardian, Hindustan Times, Mint and BBC Outside Source, among other outlets. She was named in the BBC 100 Women list of 2023.
When not on assignment, she divides her time between the Western Ghats and Bangalore, where she is a happy mother to three rescued indoor cats.