Amateur lensmen get their day in sun

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Karl Lagerfeld, a German fashion designer, artist and photographer had said: “What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” And photojournalist, Ted Grant went on to say: “When you photograph people in colour, you photograph their clothes.

But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls!”
At Indian Habitat Centre in the national capital, it was the day of the amateur lensmen, who tried to capture people and their souls. The Delhi Photography Club, a non-profit initiative, organised an event, “International celebration of amateur photography”.
A quote of celebrated American photographer Ansel Admas read: “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” And on the walls the pictures spoke in hundred voices, silently yet eloquently.
The week-long event organised at the Open Palm Court at the Indian Habitat Centre (IHC) opened on July 8. This was the third edition of DPC’s Nicefoto exhibition. Apart from India, amateur lensmen from China, Netherlands, Iran, Italy, England, Germany, France, Spain, Singapore and Malaysia sent in their entries.
The exhibition was mainly to showcase the works of the commoner, who has often found it difficult to “imagine beyond the auto mode of their cameras”.
It was claimed that the exhibition was a unique platform prepared for enthusiasts to showcase their photographs as an expression of fun and joy. The organisers also said “participating in the exhibition is a high point for amateur photographers since they can’t afford to organise a solo exhibition for themselves, for various reasons”.
For them, the exhibition intends to spread the understanding of photography and the promotion of social connection among the amateur photographers.
“Of nearly 500 entries, 140 photographs were selected for the exhibition. The subjects ranged from everyday life to wildlife. In other words the photographs selected for this exhibit represents a sampling of the vibrant views of the enthusiasts from all walks of life,” the organisers said. Selected photos from the exhibits will travel overseas for international exhibitions, honouring amateur photographers. This will also create a global platform for photography enthusiasts.
The DPC also intends to encourage photography enthusiast in understanding techniques, identifying opportunities by providing openness and motivation to learn photography in the most exciting ways, the organisers said.
The DPC incidentally was set up with the intent of taking photography to homes. It is said that the “purpose of the DPC is to stimulate, enable, and nurture a fraternity of photography enthusiasts for mutual benefit”. The DPC also organises free photo walks every month. “The club also helps underserved children express themselves,” the DPC release stated.