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| Tolls of the trade,
a photograph by Peter Maystrenko |
Chhayapath, one of the leading
photographic clubs in Calcutta, had posted their 11th international
salon at the Academy of Fine Arts. There were 126 photographs
in all — 38 in black and white and 88 in colour.
A range of images, supported by
a technical understanding, saw the photographers adhering
to the rules of conventional salon style compositions.
In the black and white section,
the tremendous stress and strain of a hurdler crossing the
hurdles is manifest in Fung Man-yu Alex’s creation,
Competition. This may be considered as a good example
of sports photography. In the morning visit is yet
another good example of contemporary photography. Peter
Maystrenko’s Tolls of the trade depict the strength
of pattern in colour. In this frame, two shoppers are seen
walking leisurely on the street under a colourful umbrella.
One side of the street is neatly lined up with pavement
cafés. The row of tables and chairs make an impact, while
the top angle, along with the placement of shoppers at the
bottom of the frame, adds a touch of completion.
The clarion call of the hour is
to “save the water” for the sake of the human
race. The government of India’s photo division presented
an exhibition, Water and Life, that dealt with one
of the most pressing problems today.
The photographs, including 49
in black and white and 84 in colour, were no less than a
delightful, visual treat.
The images creatively brought
out the various sources of water and its significance in
our lives by means of both usual and unusual metaphors.
Equally powerful were frames addressing
the issue of water scarcity. Interestingly, the equations
between the animal world and water were also dealt with.
What deserves mention is that the photographers did not
employ cheap gimmicks to impress viewers. Instead, they
resorted to a straight narrative form, which was at once
lucid yet layered.
While Jayanta Roy’s photograph
showing two women carrying pitchers of water on their heads
down a long winding path through a remote village depicted
the hardships against a lively backdrop of green meadows,
Debasish Ghosh Roy’s Monsoon Music featuring
a colourfully dressed girl dancing in the rains imparted
a lyrical quality to the photograph.
However, a homogeneity in some
of the works was a little disappointing. |
