photo.circle has the same principle. Throughout these two and a half years, and though it started out as a small project involving a group of young enthusiastic photographers, it is now an arena that highlights the strength of visual storytelling.
“I was taking pictures during the Jana Andolan (People’s Movement 2007) when I met many photojournalists,” says Nayan Tara Gurung Kakshapati, one of the founders of photo.circle. “It was then that I realized that we needed a strong photo community in Nepal that involved young photographers.”
The project had begun informally when Kakshapati was working with Bhushan Shilpakar, an ardent designer. It was not a club, but a professional network that involved ideas of great photojournalists which has now turned into an organization by adding Suraj Shakya, who works with multimedia, and Nishant Shilpakar who looks after administration.
When its first venture “War Photography,” a documentary about the challenges and passions of a war photographer was demonstrated, photo.circle was then only a monthly event.
Through a small exertion like this, the project slowly expanded their contacts, slowly drawing youths, and students of various colleges into the circle through their innovative ways.
After struggling to draw people to exhibitions they organized, photo.circle has come a long way, and it now acts as a venture that provides a platform for amateur photographers to expose their hidden talents.
“I make reports and documentaries and I have always been interested in it. Photo.circle has thus helped me become active in doing things I like,” says Suraj.
photo.circle has been hosting exhibitions, presentations, discussions, film screenings and workshops for interested photographers. It features ongoing photo exhibitions at Pulchowk Bakery Café. Moreover, its take on photo exhibitions is without profit motives. “Rental fees are nominal and we take just a little commission, if at all, which we use for providing frames,” says Nayan Tara.
photo.circle involves itself in organizing several presentations that involve telling stories through photography. Through exhibitions like these, it intends to create an opportunity for photographers to communicate directly with the audience, thereby getting critical responses.
So far, it has also showcased unique exhibitions like those on designs, as designs are usually narrowed down, and not considered as an art and are overlooked.
photo.circle remains active in encouraging young people through contests, like the one in January 2009, when six young photographers below thirty years of age, were selected to participate in a big international photography festival in Bangladesh named Chobi Mela.
“We then hosted a ‘mini-Chobi Mela’ here. We showcased 12 exhibitions by artists from nine countries at Nepal Art Council,” informs Nayan Tara. They also organized various workshops for young people during the festival.
When it comes to being a photographer, most Nepalis are under the impression that their profession would be limited only to working for newspapers or magazines. Thus, one of the incentives of Photo.circle is to broaden young photographers’ horizons.
“It’s not only about being a press photographer,” says Nayan Tara. “We want to create opportunities for youth to explore. So we facilitate their explorations by providing learning opportunities,” she adds.
Be it a presentation on refugees on World Refugee Day, or Hajur Ama – a book and exhibition project on grandmothers – photo.circle’s ventures remain unique and exemplary. It plans to organize workshops for young photographers by inviting prominent photographers and photo editors from around the world.
The next workshop will be facilitated by the Photo Editor of the New York-based GEO magazine in January 2010.
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