Photo finish

Anantha Subramanyam K., photo editor of DNA, Bangalore, won the first runner-up award at the Canon India contest for press photographers earlier this month. In DNA of June 4, he wrote about the picture that got him the prize; he also elaborated on the professional demands made on photojournalists today. A must-read for media students:

‘Awards are just a part of the profession’

‘A photojournalist should never go to an assignment with a preconceived idea as he would not know what exactly he’s in for. It’s only on reaching the spot that he can look for opportunities and make plans.’  — This is what a senior photojournalist had told me when I was new to this field. And today when I look back I realise that his words were true to a great extent.

Back in those days, we used film (as opposed to the digital system we use today) and had to be very careful with our shoots as we did not know the fate of our photos until the film was developed. And, today, even though we have the advantage of looking at our shots before they come in print, the challenges and expectations have only increased. Not only does the newspaper expect great work from us, we also constantly strive to achieve perfection.

In a typical setup, page editors and photojournalists meet to discuss what the best shots are after the photos are taken. But in DNA — where I work now — things are different. There is continuous planning about the subject we are dealing with, what kind of pictures we are looking at, etc., etc. Whether the article is big or small, pictures are given a lot of importance in DNA — and I like it this way. And, as my senior journalist friend had said, things can’t always go according to plan, and even here, despite all the planning and advance detailing, we have the flexibility to shoot differently as per the spot. I feel that this exercise teaches a photojournalist how to think on his or her feet during assignments as well as be disciplined to a large extent.  And, since DNA gives a lot of importance to pictures, a photojournalist here has more responsibilities.

The picture that won me the 1st runner-up award is of the prime minister addressing party workers from the dais. There was hardly any room for creativity as the security was very tight that day. But I didn’t give up and then it struck my eye — the low lighting on the PM’s face and an illuminated backdrop of Sonia Gandhi. I knew the picture itself conveyed what I had seen.  It depicted the real scenario — Sonia Gandhi stealing the limelight, as always. The picture showed the irony very clearly — PM, the ‘man in control’, in the foreground while his ‘Remote Control’ raises her arm in the background.

I usually look at others’ pictures to understand how I can improve mine further. Whether it is a senior photographer or a newcomer, I respect everyone’s talent and try to learn from the same. Ultimately, what matters is whether  you can make readers look at your photos or not — once that is achieved, the purpose is served.

Also, I don’t think there can be any training for how to shoot an award-winning-picture; awards are just a part of the profession and not the profession itself.

• Courtesy: DNA (go to Page 8)