The photograph of the three-year-old drowned Syrian migrant who was washed ashore in Turkey while trying to escape the war, shook the entire world in 2015. The mind-numbing visual still haunts us. The Afghan Girl, who appeared on the cover of National Geographic in June 1985, remains iconic till today. There are several other stunning images that have left a lasting impact on our minds. As we celebrate World Photography Day on August 19, we talk to photographers to find out how the medium is being used to create awareness and helping individuals think, act and unite for a cause.
Kolkata-based photographer Indranil Aditya feels that the purpose of an image should be to convey information to viewers as part of visual communication. He believes that it takes the viewer to the place of the photograph, conveys the emotions felt by the subject and makes the viewer feel the same.
“Protest photography is a step towards creating awareness in society in a positive manner, which can have a huge impact globally, depending on the issue of the protest,” says Aditya.
He firmly thinks that protest photography helps people understand the other side of the story. “Expressions like crying, shouting, anger and pain help people understand the gravity of the situation and make the authorities aware so that they can resolve the crisis,” says Aditya.
For Kolkata-based photographer Debarchan Chatterjee, who won the Andrei Stenin Photojournalism Award, Russia, in 2019, protest category is all about raw human emotions and energy. He believes that protests show the passion of a community towards a cause and for this very reason, every protest photograph is important and as a journalist, it is one’s duty to document this for the world to see. “Protest photography helps a nation think about the cause of the conflict, and help bring about a change in the thought process of the common people in a way that it has an impact on the entire society,” says Chatterjee.
Sharing his experience of covering conflict, he says the one thing that has always caught his attention is the positive side of human nature. “A protest in my opinion shows the unity of common people who are coming together for a cause to bring a positive change. Whether it’s people demanding justice for a minor’s rape, or an individual risking his own life to save a fellow protester from lathi charge, or students joining hands to fight against the atrocities of a government — every protest has a positive side of human emotions,” says Chatterjee.
From stone pelters in Kashmir to a mother walking miles in a drought-stricken area to fetch water, to political unrest, Chatterjee says that every image is important and needs to be documented for its historical significance to the nation.
Photographers are like artists and they talk through their photographs,” says Garima Bhaskar, a Noida-based photographer who recently shot a conceptual photo series. She adds, “If you can make the person looking at your art understand what your thought process was while creating it, the mission has been accomplished.” A photograph should depict a moment, an emotion or a motive to the viewer.
Bhaskar says that since any medium of art has the power to leave an impact on people, it should be used in a way to create awareness for issues that have impacted the world and lives of people. “Climate change is something that is happening and our very own existence is threatened by the alarming rate at which we are depleting our resources. What is unfortunate is that many think that climate change is not true,” she says.
Bhaskar is of the opinion that people will believe in things only if they see it. “More than words, people tend to trust images. But sometimes, the images are morphed,” says the young photographer.
Telling us how she would like to contribute towards a greener planet, Bhaskar says, “Amidst the numerous things happening around us, if I have the chance to spread awareness about our dying Mother Earth through my photographs, I would take it. Every effort counts,” she says adding, “If we are not concerned about our existence as a species or even as an individual, then who will be?”
Many think that photography is all about showcasing the better version of the world around us but it is more than that. “Photography can and should be used as a medium to show the grim reality because a picture speaks a thousand words. They should be intriguing enough to leave an impact on the viewer but not strong enough to hurt someone’s feelings,” she says.
Amsterdam-based photographer Marinka Masséus, who won the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards under the professional category, says, “Once a photo is released, the only purpose of an image is to communicate thoughts and concepts to its onlookers or audiences.”
Masséus has undertaken many photo series that highlight the plight of women. One of her series — ‘The Silent Voices’ — reflects on the vulnerable condition of women and LGBTQ+ women. Her photographs talk about gender inequality. She believes that every change in the world begins with awareness. “As a photographer, I will continue to do my part in raising awareness on topics I feel strongly about,” she says.
According to her, photography has no boundaries, no language. “Visuals need no filter, no translation, they enter the brain on a different level and therefore have a very direct, fast and inescapable impact,” explains Masséus.
She strongly believes that images enter our minds on a very profound level. “They can move, touch, surprise, educate and show us the world and from a different perspective, give us a glimpse into other people’s realities and emotions,” she adds.
When asked if beauty should always be the focus while photographing women, she says that first, people need to realise that there are many forms of beauty and that the current standardised hyper Photoshop-ed version is established through how men want to see women. “With the rise of more female photographers, we can see this one-dimensional, plastic imagery changing into more realistic images, which show a much more varied and natural depiction of true women,” adds Masséus.
When photographing women, a photographer can focus on her personality, strength, character and essence, preferably in a natural way. “Women should be allowed to be who they are, instead of being forced to morph into some idealised version of male fantasies,” she says adding that such kind of images are not only unrealistic and boring, but they are also damaging to women’s self-esteem as many struggle with their body image.
Photographs can communicate universal feelings and can help embolden and empower individuals. Masséus believes that in the age of social media, a lot can be accomplished by empowering each other.
Mumbai-based photographer Rohan Tulpule believes that like in any form of art, the purpose is always to provoke thought and if a photograph makes a person think, it has served its purpose. Also, photographs should express the beauty of individuals regardless of size, shape, colour, belief or gender preference. “I like to explore and find ways to show that in my photographs and when people see these shots, I hope they see the beauty in those who are considered socially different,” shares Tulpule.
He believes that visuals are one of the most powerful ways for empowering women and transgenders. It’s an important tool to communicate with the masses.
Tulpule also believes that beautiful photographs need not only depict all things pretty and nice. “It is way beyond that — there is beauty in expressing pain, sadness, anger and fear. Photography is just a creative outlet to show the beauty in it all,” he adds.
