- HOMEGROWN WORLD
- #HGCREATORS
- #HGEXPLORE
- #HGVOICES
- #HGSHOP
- CAREERS
- ABOUT US
- CONTACT US
My first encounter with photographer Dimpy Bhalotia's work was through 'Flying Boys' — a black and white photograph of three boys, caught mid-flight, as they leap into the Ganges from a ghat in Varanasi. Shot by Bhalotia on her iPhone X in 2020, the photograph was widely featured in leading newspapers and magazines like the The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Telegraph, GQ, BBC News, NPR, Insider, and the British Journal of Photography; and received the Grand Prize and Photographer of the Year awards at the 2020 IPPAwards. It is one of the most iconic photographs ever made with a smartphone, and — in many ways — a definitive representation of contemporary street photography.
Born in Mumbai and currently based in London, Bhalotia's contributions to contemporary street photography extend far beyond her own lens. In 2020, she co-founded Pure Street Photography (PSP) — a global platform committed to uplifting underrepresented voices in street photography, particularly those from non-Western and marginalised backgrounds. Today, PSP is a vibrant international network of over 2,16,000 street photographers and street photography enthusiasts on Instagram, and promotes the art and craft of candid, slice-of-life street photography through mentorship, awards, grants, international exhibitions, and expeditions.
"At Pure Street Photography, we go far beyond just featuring photographers from underrepresented or non-Western backgrounds — we've built a platform rooted in fairness, merit, and global inclusivity," Bhalotia says. "From day one, we've made a conscious decision to remove the traditional gatekeeping that often favours photographers with access, privilege, or geography on their side. Our curation process is blind to fame, follower count, or location — we focus solely on the power of the photograph itself."
This approach is deeply personal for Bhalotia. As a woman photographer and creative director navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry, she brings a distinct sensitivity and perspective to community-building. "I've experienced firsthand how invisible you can feel, no matter how strong your work is,” she says, and this lived experience has shaped PSP's culture — one rooted in emotional sensitivity, intuition, and deep connection.
"My curation and portfolio reviews go beyond the technical," Bhalotia explains. "I look deeply into the emotion, the intent, the story behind the image — offering insights many haven't experienced before. I'm deeply attuned to nature, to people's emotions, and to the unseen layers of an image. That sensitivity becomes a strength — allowing me to nurture photographers with honesty and care. We don't only make space for women, but also for artists from working-class backgrounds, for self-taught photographers, and for those outside the traditional networks of power."
"I believe in nurturing originality above everything," Bhalotia says about her curatorial process. "While audience feedback is valuable, it's never the only compass I use when curating portfolios. In fact, some of our most awarded work defied trends entirely but carried unmistakable emotional weight. One of our finalists last year barely posted online — but their work had emotional depth no algorithm could replicate."
"It's a delicate balance," Bhalotia says, "but I always prioritise growth, depth, and authenticity over popularity. That's how real artistic voices emerge — slowly, but unmistakably."
And the results speak for themselves. Several PSP photographers have seen their work go viral, leading to features by major photography organisations as well as online and traditional publishers and aggregators. The platform plans to expand into the real world with an exhibition scheduled in Rome in September 2025, and a Grand Annual Exhibition planned for Mumbai in 2026. It also plans to launch a print sales initiative, giving photographers a tangible way to derive both emotional and financial value from their work.
"Beyond that, we're amplifying the voices behind the work," Bhalotia says. "Many of our members are being interviewed for the first time ever, and those stories are reaching wider audiences. We're also running photography camps for underprivileged children in India — kids who have never even held a camera before. Through this, we're planting seeds where it matters most. Anyone who wants to support can do so through our donation page."
"This is just the start," Bhalotia says. "Pure Street Photography is growing — in five years, I see it as a living, breathing ecosystem that continues to uplift, educate, and connect street photographers across every continent."
