Vital Impacts Awards $50,000 in Environmental Photography Fellowships to Supratim Bhattacharjee and Others
Ami Vitale and Eileen Mignoni founded Vital Impacts, a women-led non-profit organization, which has just announced the recipients of the 2026 Environmental Photography Fellowships worth a total of $50,000. This initiative honors figures like Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Sylvia Earle. Supratim Bhattacharjee, a renowned photographer from Kolkata, received the Ian Lemaiyan Environmental Photography Fellowship for his project "The Cost of Coal," focusing on coal mining's effects in India amid the country's transition to renewable energy. The fellowship includes a $20,000 grant and six $5,000 grants for project development over a year, along with mentorship for eleven emerging photographers. The judging panel consisted of notable figures like Alessia Glaviano and Azu Nwagbogu. Vital Impacts has raised $3.5 million for conservation and reached 30,000 youth through its educational initiatives.
Key facts
- Vital Impacts awarded $50,000 in Environmental Photography Fellowships for 2026.
- Supratim Bhattacharjee received the Ian Lemaiyan Environmental Photography Fellowship.
- Bhattacharjee's project 'The Cost of Coal' examines coal mining in India.
- Fellowships honor Jane Goodall, Sylvia Earle, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chico Mendes, Madonna Thunder Hawk, E.O. Wilson, and Ian Lemaiyan.
- Eleven emerging photographers received year-long mentorships.
- Judging panel included Alessia Glaviano, Azu Nwagbogu, Evgenia Arbugaeva, Kathy Moran, and Pat Kane.
- Vital Impacts has raised $3.5 million for conservation initiatives.
- The non-profit has reached 30,000 young people through student programs.
Entities
Artists
- Supratim Bhattacharjee
- Ami Vitale
- Eileen Mignoni
- Dr. Jane Goodall
- Dr. Sylvia Earle
- Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim
- Chico Mendes
- Madonna Thunder Hawk
- E.O. Wilson
- Ian Lemaiyan
- Alessia Glaviano
- Azu Nwagbogu
- Evgenia Arbugaeva
- Kathy Moran
- Pat Kane
- Tommaso Protti
- Bruno Pereira
- Dom Phillips
Institutions
- Vital Impacts
- National Geographic
- PhotoVogue
- African Artists’ Foundation
- Lagos Photo Festival
- UNICEF
- Royal Photographic Society
- Visa Pour l’Image
- La Gacilly Photo Festival
- Climate Adaptation Summit
- Global Center on Adaptation
- Time
- The Guardian
- United Nations
- African Artists' Foundation
- The Wall Street Journal
- Le Monde
- The New Yorker
- The New York Times
- TIME
- The Washington Post
- Saatchi Gallery
- Maison Européenne de la Photographie
- Benaki Museum
- University of Rome Tre
- London College of Communication
- Global Witness
- Pictures of the Year International
- Carmignac Photojournalism Award
- North Carolina Media and Journalism Hall of Fame
- Conservation International
- Lenscratch
Locations
- India
- Kolkata
- Sundarbans
- Frazerganj
- Bay of Bengal
- Jharia
- Jharkhand
- Dhanbad
- Maharashtra
- Madhya Pradesh
- Chhattisgarh
- Odisha
- Sagar Island
- Mousuni Island
- Parsa-Besan coal belt
- Hariharpur
- Fatehpur
- Slahi
- Kenya
- Brazil
- Vale do Javari
- Brazilian Amazon
- Amazonas
- Atalaia do Norte
- Solimões River
- Colombia
- Peru
- Pará
- Santa Cruz
- Itaquai River
- Boa Esperanca
- London
- Paris
- Athens
- Rome
- United States
Sources
- Lenscratch —
- Lenscratch —