Smart Photography – September 2026

Summary

Devotees walk up to 250km to the Shri Vitthal Rukmani Temple during the Pandharpur Wari Festival, an 800-year-old Maharashtra pilgrimage, and Fahim Sayed's coverage of it opens the Showcase section at page 40 of Smart Photography September 2026, the issue built around the EISA Awards 2026-2027 winners.

The EISA material takes three pages. Winners of the Expert Imaging and Sound Association's 2026-27 Awards appear at page 14, the EISA Maestro International Photography Contest 2026 results at page 30, and public-vote winners for single photograph and series on the Travelling theme at page 36. Elsewhere, Mohit Ghatak photographs the Mekong Delta's loading season and Gunjan Patro shoots food.

Practical pages stay grounded in hardware. Hoshang Billimoria reviews the Panasonic Lumix L10 at page 78, Ashok Kandimalla works through Luminar Neo at page 66, and Deepak Pande argues at page 71 that a photographic journey should end in a printed photobook. Subscriptions run ₹1800 for one year against ₹2400 at cover price.

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Content Guide

▸ Showcase

p.40 · SHOWCASE
Fahim Sayed, a street and landscape photographer from Mumbai, joins the Pandharpur Wari Festival, an 800-year-old annual walking pilgrimage in Maharashtra. Devotees walk up to 250km to the Shri Vitthal Rukmani Temple to honour Lord Vitthal. The scale of the walk gives the portfolio its structure rather than a single picture. Plan your own pilgrimage coverage around the walking stages, not the temple arrival.

p.48 · SHOWCASE
Mohit Ghatak, working from Singapore, takes a visual journey to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam and covers what locals call the loading season. The subject is riverine labour rather than scenery. Naming the season makes the work specific to a working calendar. Check the delta's cargo timings before booking a trip there.

p.56 · SHOWCASE
Gunjan Patro, described as a lover of light, composition and storytelling, shows a selection of food shots. The three named concerns tell you what to look for in the frames. Food photography gets portfolio space here rather than a tutorial. Set up one dish and study how Patro handles the light direction.

▸ Awards

p.14 · EISA AWARDS 2026-2027
The winners of the EISA, the Expert Imaging and Sound Association, 2026-27 Awards are revealed across the page. The association's name is spelled out, which matters when comparing these results to other award bodies. Winners are presented by category rather than ranked. Check the categories against your own next camera or lens purchase.

p.30 · EISA MAESTRO AWARDS ANNOUNCED
The winners of the EISA Maestro International Photography Contest 2026 are announced. Separating the Maestro contest from the main EISA Awards avoids confusing two different judging processes. Photographers get a target for next year's entry. Note the contest structure before you submit.

p.36 · EISA MAESTRO PUBLIC CHOICE AWARDS
Public voting results for single photograph and photography series are declared, on the Travelling theme for 2026. Two distinct categories and a stated theme make the results usable as a brief. Reader-voted outcomes show what working photographers and viewers actually responded to. Enter the next round with a Travelling series rather than single frames.

▸ Learning And Craft

p.66 · LEARNING
Ashok Kandimalla discusses Luminar Neo, described as low-cost, easy-to-use software suited to post-processing for most users. The piece is aimed at photographers who want results without a steep learning curve. Software coverage is rare enough in camera-led titles. Try one of Kandimalla's adjustments on a file you have already given up on.

p.71 · PRINTING & BEYOND
Deepak Pande believes every meaningful photographic journey should culminate in a beautifully printed photobook. The argument is about finishing work rather than storing it. Print and finishing get a regular slot here, which is unusual. Take one series you have never printed and lay it out as a book.

▸ Review And Regulars

p.78 · REVIEW
Hoshang Billimoria reviews the Panasonic Lumix L10, called probably the best fixed zoom compact camera on the market today. The reviewer's name and the specific claim make the verdict checkable rather than vague praise. It is the issue's only hardware review. Compare the L10's fixed zoom against whatever compact you currently carry.

p.08 · NEWSWATCH
Industry news arrives fresh, covering launches and announcements at the front of the issue. Newswatch works as a quick scan before the features. Readers tracking Indian launches get the local angle. Check the product names here against the review later in the issue.

p.81 · DID YOU KNOW
The slot presents the Digitek DCL-150 W Combo Bi-Color COB LED Video Light under the line ULTRA BRIGHT 150W COB POWER. Listed features are 150W COB LED output, bi-colour lighting, an included reflector and six built-in lighting effects. A named product with stated specifications beats a generic accessory round-up. Check the bi-colour range before you buy a light for video.

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Editor's Take

The September issue is strongest when it hands the pages to working photographers: Fahim Sayed on an 800-year-old Maharashtra pilgrimage with a 250km walk, Mohit Ghatak on the Mekong Delta's loading season and Gunjan Patro's food work give three distinct portfolios with real subjects behind them. The EISA coverage across pages 14, 30 and 36 is properly separated into awards, Maestro contest and public choice, which is more than most titles manage. The weakness is hardware. One review, the Panasonic Lumix L10 from Hoshang Billimoria, carries the entire buying-decision load, and the Learning and Printing pages lean on Luminar Neo and a photobook argument rather than testing anything. Digitek, Seagate and BenQ advertising sits through the issue. Best for photographers who want portfolios and awards rather than gear tests.

Strengths
• Three portfolios with named photographers and real subjects, including an 800-year-old pilgrimage
• EISA Awards, Maestro contest and public choice split into three separate pages
• Subscriptions priced against cover price, at ₹1800 for one year

Weaknesses
• A single hardware review, the Lumix L10, carries all the buying advice
• Digitek, Seagate and BenQ advertising runs through the issue

Verdict: Selective read — the portfolios and EISA results justify it; gear buyers get only one review.