Young Photographers at work

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The  first year students pursuing MA Mass Communication in PU put up a public photo exhibition from Oct 30 to Nov 4 at Exhibition House, opposite The Promenade hotel, Beach Road.

This was their second attempt at photo journalistic work after a maiden attempt on the topic ‘Hope’.

Children studying, playing, young girls supporting their families, working women and men. These became the subjects as the students attempted to document the ordinary workers and their struggle for livelihood   Wordsworth could see the humble work of ‘The Solitary Reaper’ in the Highlands and make a poem out of it. Her sweet singing and pleasure at work charmed him. How many of us really put a thought over the amount of tilling, ploughing, sowing, hard labour of days under the scorching sun as we stop awhile on the roadside to feast our eyes on the golden harvest of the fields?

For most human beings, work is life and life is work. The work becomes worthwhile as one sees efforts come to fruition. That was the kind of euphoria the first year Mass Communication students were in as they visualized their photographs, printed and framed in Sri Aurobindo Ashram’s Gallery. For majority of them, their companionship with the camera was just three months old and putting up a public photo exhibition was undreamt of. Yet the six days proved to them, that even their wildest dreams can be realized.

“If not for the effervescent spirit of our mentor Ms. Radhika Khanna, the thoughtful and timely assistance from Prof. J. A. K. Tareen, Vice Chancellor of Pondicherry University, adjunct faculty Mr. Gopinath S, Mr. Navroze Contractor, Mr. Nicolas Joffroy and Ms. Soudhamini, our photographs would have remained an unnoticed folder in our desktops…” recalls Haseeba Ashraf, a first year Mass Communication student.

“It was not that they were behind us with a stick all the time…they first gave us the equipment, the spark needed to pursue our goal and told us to spend as much time as possible with our subjects. The right frame will appear in front of us 101%”.

It is not just the ‘Work’ photo exhibition that the first years had in their mettle. This year’s NAAC visit to the University also saw them working in full swing for their first photo exhibition ‘Hope’; whose success gave enough confidence to realize this public exhibition of over 100 prints.

The students themselves had prepared the panels for display and volunteered despite internal examination throughout the exhibition week, with clear guidance from their faculty.

“It is not just bookish knowledge but the real competence and practical skills required to survive in the media field that we get from these tasks entrusted upon us,” says Maneesha, another first year student. Thousands from in and around Puducherry visited the exhibition. They appreciated and critiqued the amateur photojournalists through written comments as well as face to face. The way visitors took time to interact with the young photographers helped them further in their learning. G. S. Pattnaik feels, “It gave some insight to the world through the eyes of the present generation. Sensitive, has a message therein.” Raju asks, “How about going one step further? I saw a photo where a person was cooking for many boys in the hostel mess. Can it at least be tried that the fellow gets paid more?”

Trupti Doshi of Sri Aurobindo Society says the exhibition was deeply reflective and made her see what we tend to overlook in everyday life. Mr. Selloyee Ponooswami from Mauritius calls it, “An excellent initiative of students to value people’s work and its dignity.” Simran Gopal (9) from Pune says, “I like the picture in which the girls are working hard while the boys are sitting idle at home. The message was what I liked.”

Ashwin Kumar, a student says, “Getting comments for one’s work is normal but we got a chance to hear varied opinions and suggestions, which I believe is the greatest merit of such an exhibition. I got to know where I stand and how I should improve. The feedback, I feel has given me confidence and inputs required to fine tune my work. The support we got from every corner was fantastic. We owe a lot to the gallery where we hosted this exhibition. It was nice to see leading dailies like ‘The Hindu’ covering our event. It was quite an experience. I’ll cherish it for my entire life.”

 Shruthy K

1st yr. M.A Mass communication

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