Feature

Through the lens of the young at EWU

Yamin Tauseef Jahangir

I never had the chance of visiting a photo exhibition before and I always regretted this fact, until the day I managed to attend one organized by East West University. The 2nd Intra-University Photography Exhibition 2006 was arranged and sponsored by EWU and was held from 2nd-6th December at DRIK GALLERY, Dhanmondi. The chief guest Shankar Shawjal and the Acting Vice Chancellor of EWU, Dr. Mohammad Musa, inaugurated the event. Along with a team of fifteen photographers, club moderators and the members of East West University Cine and Photography Club (EWUCPC), the institution managed to launch a wonderful exhibition. Among 1000 photographs by 57 photographers, 40 were selected by the judges of Drik Gallery, and from these the best three were awarded. I myself, after having a conversation with the talents behind the lens, definitely got interested in this field.

When M.M. Kawshik, the photographer of the year in EWUCPC, was asked about his views on taking pictures, he said it is related to the lifestyle of people that he wants other people to see, their hardship, their joy, the phases they go through, so that we can understand what life is all about. For him, camera is his best friend in sorrows. I then spoke to Easel Mortuza, the 1st and 3rd prizewinner. He got interested photography when he was in class 8. His mother being an artist, he always had a knack towards capturing the beauties of nature. Soon it became his company in sadness, solitude and despair. He once saw an exhibition and tried to figure out the meaning of the picture that won the 1st prize. Since then, he started pondering on the different themes of photographs. His inspiration was mainly from his teacher Shanto sir, and also his dad who gave him ideas on photography. Nafisa Haque, 2nd prizewinner and the Organizing President of the photography club said, “It's an expensive hobby, and not everybody can afford it. You need to have a good camera and moreover there has to be family support.” Her mother, who has passed away, inspired her. She used to see her picture collections, and that encouraged her in this field, a hobby that later turned into a passion. According to Fazle Rabbi, the acting President of the club, the main objective of an exhibition is to promote new students with unique creativity, to give them a platform to express their feelings and thoughts by changing the shutter speed. Time waits for none, and in our daily life we hardly notice the changes that go around us. It is only through the lens we that can capture the moments that can help us see life from a different perspective. For Md. Sajidul Alam and Ishtiaq Ahmed Tamim, two photographers, the beauty of the creator should always be appreciated and efforts must be made to show others what we have gained and lost in our lives.

The writer is a student of EWU, Dept. of pharmacy