World Photography Day observed in Guwahati

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 19: World Photography Day was observed by Assam Photojournalists Association at Guwahati Press Club in the city on Sunday. While noted litterateur and Assam Police DGP Kuladhar Saikia attended the programme as the chief guest, others who were present were senior photographer Tapan Das, Guwahati Press Club secretary Naba Thakuria and senior journalist Munin Bayan, to name just a few.

The function held on the occasion witnessed senior photographer Kiron Kr Mukherjee being felicitated. Significantly, at the age of 60 Mukherjee has called it a day from professional photography today.

Addressing the gathering, Kuladhar Saikia said that the photographers of the bygone days had to work much harder than their counterparts of today. He said that it is heartening to see that a good number of youth of today are taking to photography. So far as photographs are concerned , Saikia said that a photographer speaks through the lens of the camera and does not need words. He expressed his delight to be a part of the programme despit the fact that he is not related to photography.

On the other hand, Tapan Das said that a sea change has overtaken the world of photography with technology having made huge strides. He said that in the good old days, a photograph was considered as a rich possession with a photographer having to rely on film reels. However, with digital photography having come to stay, a photographer does not have to depend on film reel and the labour involved has lessened a great deal.

Recalling the hard labour put in by Kiron Kr Mukherjee, he said that from the very beginning Mukherjee made his way to the photography spot on cycle and even today he uses his cycle - a reflection of the real hard labour behind every photograph produced by the senior photographer.

On his part Naba Thakuria said that the need of the hour is to have a photography archive in the State to preserve the photographs of the good old days, adding that it would be a huge asset for the upcoming generation.