At noon on April 25, 2015, Nepal was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Visuals depicting shocking devastation began pouring out through social media almost immediately; people who had 3G internet access in Kathmandu were sharing what they could see around them. The visuals were distressing and therefore powerful, but there was very little information supporting them, triggering little more than panic in viewers. And one could access them only if the people posting them were in your immediate social media networks.

A group of 6 photographer friends started a Facebook messaging group to discuss how to tackle this. They felt it was an appropriate time to bring everyone together and create a common platform to document what was happening on the ground through photos and videos and share critical information pertaining to rescue and relief efforts. Everyone agreed that an Instagram feed would be the best way forward. Nepal Photo Project went live on April 26.

From a team of 6 contributors, Nepal Photo Project now has over 80 regular contributors. Many others use the #nepalphotoproject hashtag, which enables access to a wide range of visuals from social media users all over Nepal. Contributors have ranged from photographers to volunteers on the ground to educators and health workers. This has creates rich variety in content.

For many photographers, Nepal Photo Project has been a unique effort where they have worked together to share photos and stories in real time to bring attention to and incite action in an emergency situation such as the earthquake Nepal lived through earlier this year.

Most posts on Nepal Photo Project are personal accounts of what our contributors are experiencing on the ground. By commenting, sharing, tagging others – these images have prompted interaction and action.

Within 3 hours of posting a photo of Ishwari Sahi from Sindhupalchowk, who lost his home, and had a daughter and wife in hospital, offers for over Rs. 30,000 in donations came for his family through Nepal Photo Project posts. Another post of Dolma, who was evacuated from Langtang, and had a severely fractured leg, helped to facilitate a speedy surgery and post surgical support for her.

As news headlines have moved on, Nepal will continue to fight forward and Nepal Photo Project hopes to be a platform that will document this process and continue to give the world access to stories on the ground as they unfold.

This exhibition represents Nepal Photo Project’s live feed. Use the hashtag #nepalphotoproject to contribute to this project this week! If selected, your images will be added to this wall every morning.