Masterclass on Social Photography kicks off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 11 2022: A 2-day Masterclass on Social Photography facilitated by Padma Shri and renowned Mumbai-based photojournalist, Sudharak Olwe began today at the Preview Theatre, MFSDS, Palace Gate.

The masterclass is being held on the theme 'Authentic narratives driven by empathy and an archive of images that represent an India that is often hidden away' .

The first ever masterclass on photography is organized by Win Foundation Manipur in association with Photography Promotion Trust, Mumbai and Photo SouthAsia, USA, said a press release by Win Foundation.

Sunzu Bachaspatimayum, Managing Trustee of Win Foundation, Manipur introduced the masterclass with a brief objective of the Trust and said it is founded by media professionals who want to empower the marginalized, especially the youth by skilling them in media tools.

He also said that the Win Foundation also identifies deserving students and provides them scholarships for their careers.

Masterclass on Social Photography kicks off

Manipur's famed photo-artist and journalist, Ratan Luwang, opened the class with an introduction to the status of photography in Manipur and its growth over the years.

He said that local photographers need to stay updated with the changing photo technology and be aware of how to present a story.

He welcomed Sudharak Olwe who he met in Bangladesh in an international photo exhibition and appreciated his photo presentation style and his perseverance to get to the essence of his story.

"It's the first Masterclass in Social photography held in Manipur.

There is a need to understand the importance of storytelling through images.

We struggled a lot in the initial days as we were unaware of how to present a powerful story that evokes emotions and human aspect through images.

But today visual storytelling has gained a lot of currency and it is crucial for all of us to understand these nuances.

This is a much-needed Masterclass," Luwang said.

Sudharak Olwe has traversed the length and breadth of the country over the years and documented the lives of the people who hail from marginalized backgrounds.

He was conferred the Padma Shri, India's 4th Highest Civilian Award by the President of India in 2016.Through this masterclass, he apprised the participants of his journey into the field of photography and also his process of visual documentation on social issues.

Be it his rare projects on Manipur like Meira Paibis - grandmothers of Manipur from Ima Market or The Refugee - photos of children from refugee camps, or the project of maternal and child malnutrition in tribal areas, the project of documenting the lives of the women in the sex trade in Kamathipura - the red-light area of Mumbai, Maharashtra, the participants were familiarized on the nuances of throwing light on the human aspect through visual storytelling when it comes to social issues.

The Masterclass saw participants, comprising professional photographers, amateurs and university students enthusiastic to learn about photography and visual storytelling, engaged in discussions on the art and process of storytelling, consent in photography and so on.

The participants also got a chance to share their own pictures, and their photo-stories and received feedback from Olwe and Luwang.

For the second day, the participants were asked to shoot a batch photo to tell untold stories and bring them for critical analysis and inputs.