Photographers demand more sops from government

Hyderabad, May 12: Last seven years of photography industry has seen more technological revolutions than the 177-year history of photography, observed photography industry veteran in Telugu States S.K. Hussain. Addressing the media conference organized by Villart to brief details about the forthcoming Photo Expo at JRC Convention, here today, Hussain said there are several lakhs of photographers, 90 per cent of them are self-employed. “Governments spend crores of rupees on grooming doctors, engineers, lawyers but spend nothing to develop skills of photographers. They have increasing number of seats in professional colleges for doctors, engineers, lawyers. But, there is only one BFA College at JNTC for both the Telugu States put together that too with limited seats”, he said and urged the government to look into the same and increase educational facilities for more people to learn photography. VV Ramana, the man behind Photography exhibitions in Telugu States said due to increasing use of smart phones, mobiles devices and tablets, few people are looking for a low end photographer. “Smart phones have become mainstream and have been affecting the photography. That is why photographer needs to gain more skills and must be in a position to do hi-end jobs, then only he will survive”, Ramana inforned. He also said several well established studios have shut their shops, and a few talented young clicked like hot cakes. Photographers should understand that people are carrying with them at least one camera always with them. This means they can capture any moment. So, professional photographer must provide much higher quality than their clients can do on their own with their mobile capturing devices like smart phones, tablets and so on, Ramana added. “Every change brings an opportunity. The way photographs are taken is changing every half an hour. We must accept this change and change along with the times. If photographers don’t shape up, they will be shipped out of the industry”, informed Venu Bhagawan, who has been teaching photographers, how they consider photography as a business. The photographers who don’t treat their photography like a business and get serious about marketing, pricing, and business are not going to make it. The most successful and sought after event for the imaging industry in the State of Telangana, ‘Photo Expo’ and ‘Broadcast & Film Expo’ will be held from May 13 to 15 at JRC Convention Centre, Narne Road, adjacent to Whisper Valley, Film Nagar, Jubilee Hills. It will be formally inaugurated tomorrow by Devi Sri Prasad, music composer, singer, and director on Friday morning at 10 am. The three-day expo will remain open to public from Friday to Sunday.