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TANGENTS

Through The Lens

BY IHTISHAM KABIR
Are you feeling adventurous enough to join other photographers on a trip to see horse-racing in Norail?
Or a Jatra (village play) in Srimongol? Or perhaps explore remote but beautiful places such as Tanguar Haor or Nijhum Dweep? Maybe after reading last week's Tangents on street photography, you want to try taking pictures in Dhaka streets?
Through The Lens (TTL) is a voluntary group that organizes photographer outings. These include photo-walks in and around Dhaka, often led by knowledgeable guides. TTL also offers “Photo Safaris” every month to places like those listed above. These tours typically last two to three days and attract 30-40 photographers.
However, that is not all the group does.
TTL started in 2008 as an online group (on flickr.com) for Bangladeshi photographers to share and discuss photographs and critique each other's work. Then, one day, the members met face-to-face and went out taking pictures. Since then, TTL has grown to over 4000 members on flickr.
"We arrange the only organized photo tours in Bangladesh," said Shudipto Das, "and photographers of all ages join our photo-walks and photo safaris."
Shudipto is a moderator of the group with eleven others. Saud al Faisal is the administrator.
I asked Shudipto about participants in the photo safaris. “They average between 25 and 30 years old. They are mostly hobbyist photographers from all professions: doctors, engineers, bankers, students... you name it.” Do they need fancy cameras? “No. They can even come without cameras if they want to.” Can women also join? “About a quarter of our tour groups are women and they face no trouble.”
TTL also organises an annual photography exhibition called Bangladesh in Frames. This year, 105 photographs were on display at Drik Gallery. They were selected by a committee from over 1200 photographs submitted by members.
When I visited the exhibition, the sheer variety of the subject matter struck me. Many photos were unexpected renderings of everyday subjects, reminding me how photographs can unlock the immense beauty packed inside the relatively small area of Bangladesh.
While covering a broad range of human activity, the exhibition also showed landscapes, still lives, abstracts, wildlife, portraits and architectural photos.
In Mobasser Hussain's “In These Hands," the signature photo for the exhibition, a foundry worker with sweaty muscles looked like a mythical figure, reminiscent of Prometheus who stole fire for humans in Greek mythology.
Shudipto Das's camera captured the intense concentration of a young jockey, whistle in mouth, leading the horserace in Narail.
Hameem Shakhawat's "Seascape", taken at Patenga, rewarded contemplative viewing by evoking a variety of serene moods.
In “Window of Scope” by MMZ Khan, an old woman sat in an empty room, facing a door whose outline was mysteriously lit up. It showed the magic of light in a way that only a photograph can.
Want to expand your photographic horizons and perhaps make photographs like these while making friends with other photographers? You can visit www.ttlbd.com for more information on joining.
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