The Snow Illusion

Smita Sharma reveals a landscape that looks like the Arctic yet bakes under desert sun. Kishangarh Dumping Yard, a vast white expanse near Jaipur, appears to be snow but is marble ash from India’s largest marble industry. Its deceptive beauty draws influencers, local tourists, and pre-wedding shoots, while beneath the surface lie toxicity, dust exposure, and environmental harm. Over four years, Sharma has documented this paradox where waste meets wonder, with the first chapter on tourism in an industrial wasteland set for publication in National Geographic in January 2026.

This talk traces her discovery while researching silicosis, her two year effort to gain access and trust with the powerful Marble Association, and the practical realities of working in a place that is both breathtaking and hazardous. Through field notes, images, and production insights, she examines how visual storytelling can reveal hidden costs, inform policy dialogue, and challenge audiences to question what looks beautiful yet damages people and place.

What you will take away:
• How to investigate and photograph deceptive landscapes: research methods, on the ground verification, visual cues for truth
• Practical safety and ethics when working in contaminated environments: PPE, risk assessments, consent, and community considerations
• Strategies for access and stakeholder trust: negotiating with industry bodies, gathering testimonies, and balancing neutrality with public interest

Who this is for:
• Photojournalists, filmmakers, and editors covering environment, labour, and public health
• Students and educators in visual journalism, environmental studies, and development
• Curators, commissioners, and advocates seeking rigorous, audience ready storytelling on industry and impact