What began as a humble Facebook group named Exploring Nature has now blossomed into the GENC Foundation (GENCF), a vibrant community of nature enthusiasts, photographers, and conservation-minded individuals.

The journey started on 19th August 2021, World Photography Day, a day that changed everything for our founder, Mukul Mukherjee. While photographing at Baner Tekdi, he was the victim of a robbery. The news of the incident spread rapidly and became the headline in almost twenty prominent newspapers across Pune and Maharashtra. What could have remained only as a disheartening memory instead became the spark of a vision. Mukul decided to bring together like-minded people creating a Facebook group, so that they could visit places as a group, ensuring both safety and companionship while exploring nature.

In just a few weeks, the gatherings transformed into something greater. Soon the group turned out to be a Photo gallery and from September onwards Photo of the day were being declared and photo of the Month became every month's Monthly awards and thus the journey started with a mission to create awareness for conservation purposes through photography.

By September 2021, Photo of the Day began to be declared, and soon afterwards, Photo of the Month was introduced as a monthly recognition of talent and dedication. The initiative gradually turned the group into a living gallery, filled with captivating moments of wilderness captured through countless lenses.

As the community flourished, its purpose became clearer. Photography was no longer only about artistic expression; it became a means to create awareness about the beauty and fragility of the natural world. Each image told a story, inspired curiosity, and nurtured respect for wildlife and the environment.

The vision found a new milestone in January 2023, when GENCF launched its very own wildlife magazine, Whispering Wilds. This publication provided a platform to showcase talent, share knowledge, and foster conservation through visual storytelling. All the award-winning photographs since the inception of the group found their place within its pages, making the magazine both a record of achievements and a source of inspiration.

With every milestone, the journey continued to grow stronger. What began with daily recognitions evolved into monthly awards. The magazine added further depth, while community-driven initiatives expanded the reach of the foundation. The natural progression of this growth is the launch of the GENCF Photographer of the Year (POTY) 2025. This annual celebration brought together the best of our collective efforts, honour outstanding talent, and highlight the shared passion for preserving the beauty of the natural world for generations to come.