OVERALL
COMMENT FROM THE JURY
We were pleased to note that a number of people are trying
to think about photography in new ways – trying to uncover its capacity not
only to hold a mirror up to the world, but to also comment upon, reveal and
critique that world too. This is where photography is at its most powerful and
we’re glad to see that the younger generation of photographers in India is
working in this way.
Nikhil Patel (Winner) for 'Surface with Memories'
This series first caught the judge’s attention for its
unusual and creative presentation. The work physically layers two images on top
of each other to create poignant juxtapositions. Two time frames exist
simultaneously and the photographer has used this device to comment on the
changing urban landscape in India. The nostalgia we feel when we witness old
places being transformed into new places is common in all of us, and we found
this series of photographs a thoughtful lament on this process. In an age of
digital technology, this project could have been easily achieved on a computer.
However, the tactile nature of the collages encourages a more human reading of
the photographer’s concept, emphasizing the power of a simple idea.
Niha Masih (Winner) for 'Heart of Darkness'
We
found 'Heart of Darkness' series to be evocative, powerful and disturbing with a
moral centre to its expression. What we also appreciated about it is that the
photographer used a literary title to describe his own work. 'Heart of Darkness' is the title of Conrad's book about a man traveling down a
river looking for a monster of sorts, with all the excuses people use to reduce
their own culpability. The
protagonist finally finds instead a reflection of his own dark
self. Conrad revealed the horror of colonialism and the dark violence
that exists in human nature with his writing. This photographer has made
photographs in diptych form to tell a larger story, not excluding himself/herself or
our own larger responsibility and connectedness from the same story.
Shuvankur Ghosh (Jury Commendation) for 'Urban Gypsies'
'Urban Gypsies' is a hard-hitting piece of photojournalism. The judges were impressed by the direct,
honest and straight-up expose of a serious issue. Whilst contemporary
photography may have moved beyond the black and white documentary genre, this
series acts as a reminder that this method of image making is unmatched in its
ability to encourage empathy and understanding on behalf of the viewer. The
series may deal specifically with displaced people in Kolkata, but it also
reveals and exposes an issue prevalent across the whole country, and on the
strength of this, the judges wanted to recognize the series, and commend the
photographer.
Soumita Bhattacharya (Jury Commendation) for 'Body City-scape'
The judges liked this series for the questions it seems to
ask the viewer; it hints at certain narratives without completely revealing
them - making it playful, ambiguous and full of possible meanings. Each staged image
from the series is technically strong and whilst humorous, one gets the sense
of an intellectual curious and ambitious photographer whose future projects we greatly
look forward to seeing.
