PHOENIX PHOTOGRAPHY

World Photo Freaks has completed it’s second year of existence on 18th May 2021. Thanks to it’s members for their regular support and love towards the group in Facebook.

To celebrate the second anniversary, the Board of Directors had decided to keep a month long photography championship in which the given theme was LIGHT & SHADOW.

In the contest several talented photographers from India and abroad had participated. Few photographers were truly exceptional.

In this blog series, some of the choicest images of few participants are showcased as Honorable Mentions along with an interview of the championship winner.

In conversation with the championship winner – Mr. Dipanjan Chakraborty.

23 years old Dipanjan Chakraborty is a Kolkata based street and documentary photographer. He has been into street photography since 2017. In his photographs one can feel the essence of Kolkata. He says photography is his passion and the key to his happiness. Currently he is preparing for the civil service examination. Here in this interview few of his other photographs are published along with those submitted during the competition.

Dipanjan, how do you feel after winning the World Photo Freaks APERTURE 2.0 Anniversary Celebration Championship Cup 2021 ?

The competition Aperture 2.0 was a brilliant initiative in true sense and I am overwhelmed to have this award and I would like to thank the entire team of World Photo Freaks for this award.

What brought you into street photography?

Actually I am very much affected towards the life style of people from the very beginning of my childhood and when I grew up somewhere I found that I have to showcase those subtle things of the people’s life and this is the main reason behind myself being into street photography.

What are the difficulties you faced while starting street photography and how do you cope up with it now?

Street photography is uncertain in various aspects. It is hard to assume that what difficulties are waiting for you. At the very beginning of my journey I have faced lot of difficulties on street. Among them the major problem which I faced was the misbehaviour of people as they are not accustomed with the camera.
But day by day I learned to deal with these problems. Now I try to convince people and take their photographs with a smile.

Tell us about the benefits of street photography?

Street photography is a vast platform of visual arts. Street photography reveals the inner artistic essence. Lots of experience can be gained about the way of human life and we can learn their daily hurdle through the medium of street photography.

Your thoughts on photo walks ?

Photowalk is absolutely a healthy practice. Experience sharing is such a thing which is very important in street photography. Though photowalk can be done alone or it can be done together in group , while in a group there is a huge opportunity for everyone to gain experience.

How has social media played a role in your photography ?

Social media has played a major role in improving my photography carrier. Nowadays social media is the best way to see huge number of photographs by other people and present my own work to the world.

If given a chance, with which photographer (alive or dead) you would like to go out for a photo walk ?

If I am given any such opportunity I would like to go take pictures with Steve McCurry , Raghu Rai , Raghubir Singh and Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Do you think adhering to rules of composition is that important ?

Rules are very important for a good composition and a good composition can make a good frame. In my opinion rules need to be practiced to make a good frame but in my opinion if ever have to break the rules for the sake of a good picture then breaking those rules are healthy. Ultimately everything is for good picture and for good composition.

Which is dream camera and lens?

My dream camera is Leica SL2, lens is Leica Noctilux-M 50mm.

What is your preferred style of photography – color or monochrome ?

Normally I like to do both color as well as monochrome . But most of the time I value one thing that is the remarkable quotation of Ted Grant “When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls.” I value these words because these lines are absolutely compatible with street photography.

Do you have any particular photograph which is memorable or quite special to you ?

I have a photograph named – ‘The Storm’ which is quite memorable for me. This picture was taken on a cloudy day , when a strong wind was blowing all around and a lady was in trouble to collect her clothes from drying field and kites were flying in a good number. In my opinion when a picture satisfies me most I find that particular picture good for me and this picture ‘The Storm’ did exactly that to my soul, that’s why the picture is quite memorable.

Your most frequently visited place for street photography ?

As a Kolkata based street photographer I like to visit all the places and pockets of Kolkata to innovate this town in an unique way but I visit very often the lanes of North Kolkata. Though entire Kolkata is special to me but Noth Kolkata and it’s lanes , pockets attracts me most and I like to visit here frequently with my camera.

Whenever you are out on the street for shooting, do you have a particular theme in your mind ?

In my opinion street photography is such a genre which cannot be done with a particular theme in mind. For street photography it is very difficult to assume what to get or what not to get on street. So assuming theme is not my way to do street photography.

Finally your thoughts on World Photo Freaks as a global photography platform ?

World Photo Freak is a brilliant global photography platform. Especially the contests and competitions which has been usually initiated by this group is fantastic to showcase various works. Hope this group will grow vast as a global photography platform.

HONORABLE MENTION TO SOME BEAUTIFUL WORKS OF FEW OTHER BRILLIANT PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE APERTURE 2.0 CHAMPIONSHIP 2021.

Dr. Hiroj Bagde – Runners up.

Ayan Samanta – Runners up.

Pushpendu Paul

Saurabh Sirohiya

Dr. Mrinal Barman

Joy Karmakar

Subrata Paul

Dibakar Roy

Abir Saha

Tanmoy Dey

Kishore Das

Hirak Mitra

Promit Das

Er. Vijay Richhiya

Bibhas Barui

Cover image :- Engr. Jharna Das.

Interview : As told by Dipanjan Chakraborty to the editor Dr.Devdoot Roy Choudhury.

Photographs curated by the Board of Directors : Dr. Devdoot Roy Choudhury, Engr. Sayon Sinha Ray & Engr. Ambar Saha.

World Photo Freaks APERTURE 2.0 Anniversary edition championship cup sponsored by : Denta Life Multispeciality Dental Clinic Guwahati, Ambar Saha Photography & The Looney Bongs YouTube channel.