::: Star Insight :::

Photography Contest Winner

Photography Contest Winner Rahul Talukder

Rahul Talukder

Rahul Talukder is the winner of the first prize of Celebrating Life Photography Contest 2012. He is a 2nd year first semester student of Pathshala. He won numerous awards in photography from home and abroad. His ambition is to be the best photographer that he can be, always challenging his own limits. In an interview with The Daily Star, he shared his story and his views about photography.
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Interviewed by Sadia Khalid

Sadia Khalid: How did you first get involved with photography?

Rahul Talukder: It was the year 2009, when I discovered my interest in photography. Back then I used to take photos with my phone since I didn't have a good camera. Sometimes I borrowed cameras from friends and took photos with those. From 2010, I started pursuing photography more seriously and focused completely on it.

SK: Tell us about the background of how you took this winning photograph?
RT: This year I went to Old Dhaka to take photographs of the Holi celebrations. I had to cover my camera in a plastic bag to protect it from at the colours that were being splashed here and there. I was capturing candid moments with interesting expressions and colours that were changing with the rhythm and music. When I shot this particular boy, I knew I had the photo I was looking for there.

SK: What do you think of the Celebrating Life Photography Contest?
RT: I have heard of this contest in 2010. It is one of the top competitions in Bangladesh that photographers wait all year for. It inspires the young photographers to take great photographs. This year was the first year that I entered this contest. It is also the first time I am having my photograph published in a calendar.

SK: What are you busy with at the moment?
RT: At the moment, I am busy with taking photos for myself and my class assignments.

SK: What kind of photographs do you like to take?
RT: I like to do street photography. When I am taking photographs, I like to capture human moments, action, humour, epic drama and things like that.

SK: Who is your favourite photographer?
RT: My inspirations are Elliott Erwitt. Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastião Salgado, Josef Koudelka, Joel Meyerowitz, Raghu rai, Trent parke, Bruce Gilden, Pedro Mayer, Daido moriyama and many others; and from the Bangledeshi photographers Rashid Talukder, Bijon Sarker, Hasan Chandan, Anwar Hossain, Abir Abdullah, Shehzad Noorani, Munem Wasif, G.M.B Akash, Andrew Biraj and many more.

SK: Do you have any favourite quotes regarding photography?
RT: “To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” (Elliott Erwitt)

SK: Do you have any interests other than photography?
RT: My life is centered around photography. The people around me are either photographers or subjects of my photographs. However, in my leisure time, I do like to listen to music and watch movies like Shawshank Redemption, Schindler's List and so on.

Photography Contest 1st runner-up Rezwan Razzaq

Rezwan Razzaq

Rezwan Razzaq is the 2nd prize winner of Celebrating Life Photography Contest 2012. He is a multi-talented individual who has not only won numerous awards in photography, but also won such in poetry recitation, debate and painting. He is currently working for i-positive, an advertising agency. In an interview with The Daily Star, he shared his story and his views about photography.
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Interviewed by Sadia Khalid

Sadia Khalid: How did you first get involved with photography?
Rezwn Razzaq: I started taking photographs in 2001 after joining North South University Photography Club (NSUPC). My first camera was a Nikon N75. Back then photography was done in films. So we always had to be careful about not wasting films and think twice before taking a photo. I bought his first DSLR camera in 2009 and started doing photography whole heartedly.

SK: Tell us about the background of how you took this winning photograph?
RR: There was a masquerade party earlier this year. I went there and mixed with the crowd. When I saw that I gained the trust of the people around me and that they were comfortable having me around, I took out my camera and started taking candid photos like an invisible photographer. The lights were changing with the beats of the music. I tried to follow the rhythm and click whenever it felt right.

SK: Who is your favourite photographer?
RR: There are many such as Steve Mercurry, Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier Bresson, Bruce Gilden, Raghu Rai, Alex Webb, GMB Akash and Andrew Biraj.

SK: Do you have any favourite quotes regarding photography?
RR: My most favourite quote is- “Actually, I'm not all that interested in the subject of photography. Once the picture is in the box, I'm not all that interested in what happens next. Hunters, after all, aren't cooks.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson

SK: What kind of photographs do you like?
RR: Photographs that transcend but do not deny their literal situation appeal to me. In my opinion, a picture is never good just because the subject is interesting. On the contrary, a great composition does not make a good picture either; you absolutely must balance them together.

SK: What kind of photographs do you like to take?
RR: I enjoy meeting new faces. I don't set out to take photographs; I set out to meet people. Probably that is one of the reasons that I actually am into taking portraits. Environmental portraits you can say. The most difficult thing for me is a portrait. You have to try and put your camera between the souls of that person and yourself. Most of my portraits are taken out on the roads that I travel, they're not studio portraits. And most importantly, they are the result of a connection, the final act in a conversation. It's like capturing the life, making room for instincts, telling a story. In terms of composition, I often play with shallow depths of field and selective colors. I love colors. But I'm not into art photography.

SK: What is the secret behind a good photograph?
RR: There is no secret! Good scenes don't come up often so if you are not up for it, even the best gears won't be of any use. One has to spend worthy amount of time and wait for it. Then some aptitude, curiosity and idea are needed to turn these scenes into a good photograph.

Photography Contest 2nd runner-up Suvasish Paul

Suvasish Paul

Suvashish Paul is the winner of the third prize of Celebrating Life Photography Contest 2012. He is a 3rd semester Computer Science student in the University of Computer Science and Technology, Chittagong. He learned the basics of photography from Photo Art Institute, Chittagong. We got to know about his insights on photography in an interview with The Daily Star.
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Interviewed by Sadia Khalid

Sadia Khalid: Tell us about the background of your winning photograph?
Suvasish Paul: Near the time of the Bengali New Year, I went to Cox's Bazar to enjoy the celebrations of the Rakhine water festival. I stayed there for 3 days and tried to capture the essence of the festival through my photographs. When I took this photo, I didn't think it would win such a huge award.

SK: What do you think of the Celebrating Life Photography Contest?
SP: It is one of the top competitions in Bangladesh. It inspires young photographers like me to pursue photography more seriously. It is the first time that I am winning any prize for photography. This year out of the 24 photographs in the Celebrating Life Photography Exhibition, 7 people are from the Photo Art Institute, Chittagong. this accomplishment wouldn't have been possible without our beloved founder Shoeb Faruquee.

SK: How did you first get involved with photography?
SP: The Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of Kevin Carter in 1994, first inspired me to take photographs. I saw how photographs could give voice to the voiceless. I started taking photographs just last year. My brother, Debashish Paul, who is a marine engineer, bought me a DSLR camera with his first salary and encouraged me to take photos.

SK: What kind of photographs do you like to take?
SP: I like to take lifestyle photos. Right now I am doing a photostory on a garbage dumping yard.

SK: Who is your favourite photographer?
SP: when it comes to photography, G.M.B Akash inspires me the most.

SK: Do you have any interests other than photography?
SP:I like to recite poetry. I am a member of Badhon Abritti Parishad, where I get to recite regularly. I also like to write. Some of my writings were published in Prothom Alo.

SK: What are your future plans with photography?
SP: I want to become a photojournalist for any renowned international publication. I never want to give up on photography no matter what.