Catching young shutterbugs in Bangalore

Twelve-year-old Sakshi Dutt’s love for photography began when she was 10 as she played with her mum’s camera phone, clicking a series of pictures whenever she got the permission to use it. Soon, she coaxed her parents into buying her a camera. And now, on most Sundays, she and her dad, Ram Dutt, take-off on a photography spree.

With the advent of digital cameras it has become easier for amateurs as well as children to experiment with photography. R Raja, director of Visual Arts Workshop (VAW), an art and photography workshop for children says, “These days photography is a much cheaper hobby with the availability of camera phones, which give you quality pictures.”

According to Raja, a simple digital camera is adequate to get kids
acquainted with photography. What they need to be taught he says is “to transform something seemingly simple into an extraordinary piece of art”. And that he says is a challenge, as they’ll have to learn to look at things around them differently.

Anish V, photographer and trainer at Wiztoonz Animation Academy, feels that photography is an expensive hobby. “Photography is viewed more as a commercial medium, than a mere art form. It’s no doubt an expensive hobby, which requires practical exposure rather than theoretical knowledge.”

But, he says that the idea that good photography only means expensive cameras is wrong. “Initially, what matters is mastering the technique,” he says. Children must be allowed to pursue an interest of their choice,” advices Anish.

“Many children today are fascinated by cameras, and love to click pictures,” says Anisha Motwani, chief operating officer, Max New York Life Insurance, which has announced an innovative photography contest under the banner of its I-Genius programme. The contest seeks participation from parents and children between the ages of five and 18.

Some experts believe that learning professional photography as early as five or six might hinder the child’s creativity. It’s best to wait till they are a little older, they feel.

Helmuth Conz, a Bangalore-based photographer who teaches photography at city colleges says, “Young photographers generally have a better eye when it comes to framing and composition. But the right age bracket to start learning will be between eight to 16 years when they have a more focussed frame.”

Child and adolescent psychologist and remediation expert Dr Meera Jain says, “Creative skills like photography are best developed during pre-adolescence when children are mentally and physically more mature. At that age they will also be able to think and reason better.”

Thirteen-year-old Harshita C, who is currently learning photography at VAW is enjoying her love affair with the camera. “I like the way I can translate my thoughts into something permanent, which can be cherished forever through my photographs,” she says.

So is a career in photography a viable option today? Most parents are apprehensive about letting their children go off the beaten track. Conz has noticed that many who are passionate about photography try out other degrees like engineering or commerce before considering photography as a career option. “It is important to make parents and children aware of the numerous options that photography offers today,” he says.

Saroja Chandrashekhar, parent of a photography enthusiast, says, “My 12-year-old son has been attending a photography workshop for almost three years. I see a remarkable improvement in his skills. If he decides to pursue this as a career, I’ll let him do so.”

I-Genius registrations are open till June 30. Log on to www.igenius.com