A Picture Speaks...
on From Banglatown to Bangladesh (Bangladesh), 19/May/2010 15:25, 34 days ago
It's no secret that I'm terrible with cameras. In my head, it is words that are the building blocks. They are the things that can be arranged, placed side-by-side or stacked one-on-top-of-another, to create impressions, convey meanings, capture emotions. While I have plenty of admiration for the polished (or deliberately gritty) photographs and paintings of others, the required eye and imagination behind these are not things I have.Adding Distance?And it's not just a question of artistic talent. There's something about carrying a camera that makes me feel self-conscious; it’s as if by adding this small piece of technological equipment to interactions, I am somehow creating distance between myself and my surroundings. For many people I know the opposite seems to exist: taking photos has been a way of them creating connections to the people and places around them. Butfor me - and especially in the Desh, in which the production of a camera can bring even more attention than usual - my self-imposed awkwardness with photography has only increased.The Irony, The Deshi Special, and The TrainingSo it's somewhat ironic that I found myself organising a training for my colleagues on taking photos. But after months of trying to find 'good' photos for our website and publications, I was tired of searching through files of what is too often 'The Deshi Special': straight lines, rigid backs, stern faces. While there have been some definite diamonds amongst the rough, too few of our photos captured our essence: the communities we work with, the challenges they face, and the changes we contribute to.After spending a morning talking about the messages photos give and the stories they can tell, with a few basic photo-taking techniques thrown in, groups were sent out into the sunshine. Their task was to capture a‘day in the life’ of some of Khagrachari’s people, and here, for your viewing pleasure, are their self-chosen 'best' photographs.And the Pictures Speak...Especially given my own creative lackings, I’m proud of my colleagues and the photos they have taken. So, for today, enough of the words. I’ll let the pictures speak instead.