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, Emergence Magazine, Hindu, Guardian, Hindustan Times, Mint and BBC Outside Source, among other outlets.
Her first book, Marginlands: Landscapes on the Brink, was shortlisted for the 2023 Tata Literature Live! First Book Award (Non-fiction) and longlisted for the 2023 Atta Galatta Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize. Arati is also recognized as one of BBC’s 100 Inspiring and Influential Women of 2023.