Photojournalism and Visual Storytelling

First, let me confess, this is a lately published blog and this one has seen the light of the day because of the lockdown. Please note, that this blog was written on the last day of the workshop which was conducted a week before the biennale (2019) Drafted and kept waiting till today. So please go back in time and read this since I might be urging you to visit the bienalle which was happening at that time!

This blog is about my experience with the Chennai Photo Biennale. We are still in the early days of CPB2019 - Day 4 to be precise but I decided to write a blog instead of a review based on the experience I had when I attended the Four-day workshop on photojournalism and visual storytelling conducted by Dimitri Becks.

if you are in Chennai and a photo freak or even if you are just a photo enthusiast, then don't miss it at any cost, you cannot certainly miss this since it’s a one-month-long event and not a one day or a weekend workshop on photography, that we conduct.

Even though I couldn't connect with some of the works displayed in the sprawling senate house, this is one of the best things that can happen to you if you are photographer no matter regardless of your experience in the field or even if you just interested in photography and don’t own a camera for yourself. I would be using the tips and expert advice I received also in my wedding photography narrations.

Coming back to the 4 days workshop, there were totally 9 members and I'm pretty sure that each one of us who attended the workshop enjoyed it to the core, some of the participants were photojournalists working for reputed news agencies, some photo enthusiast and a couple of wedding photographers like me. It was wonderful to be among photojournalists who were sharing their first-hand experience from the field and for someone like me who has spent most of the time in a wedding venue and rarely in the streets, each story that I got to hear was an eye-opener.

Four days is a "lot a time" you can easily get bored in four hours. easily one of the best workshops I have attended so far.

Dimitri Becks is a photojournalist who has covered events from the conflict zones, he was the editor of the Afghan news agency website and is currently the manager of the French magazine Polka. I consider myself lucky to have signed up for the workshop through an email that I received only a couple of days before when I was in the middle of a birthday shoot!

During the workshop, we are asked to present a story which we had previously done and I present the final hours of a Dravidian king and we are also asked to submit a story which was given as an assignment.

The workshop has taught us the different kinds of narrating a story, the difference between documentary photography and reportage and some very valuable insight on composing a story in a presentable way and there were sessions which explained on presenting our works professionally and getting it published in magazines. The most important lesson for me personally was being introduced to world-famous photographers like and going through some of their mind blowing works.

A big shout out for Dimitri Becks who was patient and matured enough to understand, appreciate, and help us all in understanding photojournalism. For photographers who are coming from extremely diverse backgrounds.

This is exactly what I always wanted to learn, I would say that this workshop is tailor-made to me and I would consider my self lucky for making the right decision and deciding to switch off myself from the outside world between 10.00 am to 4.00 pm which I thought was impossible.

Most of us who Attended the event attend his talk which was scheduled on Saturday, a 45-minute talk. I was expecting him to summaries but I was in for a great surprise when he talked about the journey" throwing more light on his journey so far and introducing some more international works, like a “walk to the paradise garden”

The second and third day of the comprised of plenty of artists talks and everything was absolutely free at a fabulous venue, Gothe institute. Check out their Facebook page, visit their website, and support and make use of all the good things that are made available.

Thank you CPB for documenting and sharing all the wonderful talks online

And the last but not the least, the fees., fees I paid for the workshop was a steal and that was the case with most of the workshops that were conducted. This is less than one-third of the actual fee that is usually charged for a workshop which teaches on such topics.

The bottom line is don't miss the biennale, at any cost, it’s an international event that is happening for a month at our doorstep. there are plenty of artists talks and displays that are absolutely free, you may not like or understand everything that is been discussed or displayed but there will be something that you can take back.

Thank you Cpb, Tamil Nadu government and a host sponsors for supporting the initiative and the volunteers who are doing an endless job right from helping the organizers to photo-documenting each event.

Blog by Sujith.