PHOTOGRAPHS

TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Mother-and-Child by Shakyasom Majumdar

A commendable take! An authentic portrayal of a timeless bonding that reveals the very essence of natural propagation of life. Nice presentation resulting from a very good sense of timing. A darker background and proper use of lighting could lend a greater feeling of depth. We would love to see what else the artist’s camera captures to unveil the glory of the living planet in the future.

DREAMSPINNER AWARD

Old Age by Suvajit Chanda
A poetic rendering of the prosaic aging process of living beings. The inexorable anguish of old age is captured in the wrinkles and freckles of the aging face. As if, scarred by prickly leafless branches of timeworn trees, it is about to dissolve into formless mists and clouds. A very good attempt. The concept is shaped competently into a visually engaging form, but lacks in the required technical perfection. The effect applied on the face seems to be a bit on the harsh side. We would love to see more of daring imaginings of the artist’s creative mind

Untitled by Gour Malakar
A powerful message. A forlorn storm-struck tree stands in an expansive landscape of the sea and its muddy beach. Evokes the spirit of invincibility of life braving all worldly torments. Good use of (negative) space and the (black-and-white) colour tone enhance the mood of the shot. Use of higher contrast in the foreground could have further honed the image of this everlasting contest of physical powers, so aptly captured in the shot.

MASTERCRAFTER AWARD

Untitled by Andem Sai Srivathsav
An alluring abstraction very simply expressed. The appeal is superb, but open to interpretation. Displays commendable application of editing skills. The idea may perhaps be deeper than what one can visualise. It uses too few elements but inspires a quest of wisdom. Surely, the artist will have much more to offer in the future.

Hoopoe Tossing up its Prey by Shakyasom Majumdar
Interesting choice of subject and excellent application of technical skills. Perfect timing, nice framing and appropriate exposure have helped the photographer in capturing the elegance of the subject beautifully, and all in sharp focus. Expecting many more skilful rendering of wonderful nature from the artist.

The Sacred Night by Shakyasom Majumder
A hard-to-turn-away-from visual created with rare photographic skills. The star trails captured in the shot demonstrates the earthlings’ illusion that the universe revolves around the pole star and this planet. A difficult exposure made to look easy. We expect more such pictures on wonders of the nature from the artist.

UNTITLED by Souvik Bose
A good idea indeed. The subject is a small bunch of joyful working-class children revelling in their freedom of playful running through dusty fields. We trust, once the artist pays greater attention to better use of natural light and imaginative framing, he will have much more to offer.

Play Time by Anneysha Chatterjee
A perfect candid shot of rejoicing childhood. It captures a moment of a purposeless act of fun-loving rural children in a brick field. Very good timing. Wish to see the artist capturing more such lively moments in her camera that are simple expression of joy of living.

Cycle-Of-Life-II by  Somdip Roy
A truthful depiction of the subtle rhythm of a common traditional-skill-based livelihood. Thoughtful composition bears the imprint of the photographer’s yearning compassion for the artisan’s life and captures the ambience of his workplace with natural elegance. Excellent lighting lends an extra depth to the visual. We expect to have many more such refreshing portrayal of Indian  andicrafts from the artist in the future.

Brother and sister by Suvajit Chanda
An excellent choice of subject framed in a distinctly matured composition. Perfect use of natural light accentuates the atypical maturity of a pre-adolescent sister and the absolute reliance of her younger brother she holds. Editing is on the whole skilful, though the skin tone is affected by excessive use of blackening. Like to see what the artist’s flair of capturing stories of struggle for subsistence gives us in the future.

Untitled by Sashank Macharla
An excellent instantaneous shot, with a powerful message. The blurb “great taste delivered at door” is displayed in front of a door-less shelter of a family of pavement dwellers. Indeed, a tell-tale exposure of imperfections of our civilisation. We expect the artist, with his acute sense of contrast and further refining of his framing and exposure skills, will capture many such insightful moments in excellent snapshots.

BUDDING WEAVER  AWARD

Untitled BY Aniket Datta
Good idea. The picture is so rife with the soothing blue that the viewers get a taste of freshness of the tranquil lower Bengal countryside. It is most pleasing to the eyes. Artist’s taste for and ability of recognising serene beauty, which with keener sense of framing, we expect, will produce many more pleasing creations in the future.

 SHORT FILMS