The Third Eye

Photo: Ajrin Afrin

Photography crosses the boundaries of mundane and becomes art when realism meets vision. It's a way of seeing and appreciating objects through the lens and immortalising moments. It encourages the person behind the lens to constantly think outside the clichéd 'box'. In recent years, photography has become a craze among the young, with DSLRs becoming more accessible and smartphones, equipped with decent cameras, becoming more widely available.
Dhaka University Photographic Society (DUPS), since its inception in 1999, has been trying to promote photography among the students. With the slogan “Look Through the Lens,” the non-profit student organisation -- based at the Teacher-Students Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University -- has come a long way to become a significant platform for young photographers.
As part of its wide range of activities, DUPS recently arranged its 6th Annual Photography Exhibition at Zainul Gallery, Faculty of Fine Arts, DU. From February 2 evening till February 5, a total of 42 photographs remained on display at the gallery for public viewing. The exhibition was a platform for demonstrating the photographers' visions, and each photograph, displayed at the exhibition, carried a message.
Dhaka University Vice Chancellor, Professor A.A.M.S.  Arefin Siddique, inaugurated the exhibition. Dean of Faculty of Fine Arts, Professor Dr. Syed Abul Barq Alvi; Chairman of the Department of Television and Film Studies, Professor Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan, and Senior Photographer Rafikul Islam were present at the inauguration as special guests. Eminent educationist and the founder of Bishwa Shahitya Kendra, Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, was also there as chief guest to inspire the photographers.
The photographs, ranging from portraits to landscapes, were worthy of attention. Powerful portraits made impact with their underlying messages, while landscapes soothed the eyes. All photographs at the exhibition were taken by members of DUPS, and represented the varied tastes of the photographers.
Before going on display, the images went through a rigorous screening process. The jury -- formed by eminent photographers Abir Abdullah, Probal Rashid and Mahfuzul Hasan Rana -- carefully evaluated and selected photos for the exhibition. The photos were divided into four categories: Portrait, Fine Art, Landscape and Life. In each category, one photo was selected as the winner. “Absence and Presence” by Md. Moshiur Rahman received Special Jury Award.
Under the Portrait category, “Waves of Life” came first. The photo, taken by Sarjina Trima features a young girl and her reflection in the water. The photo articulates the introspective nature of humans. “Representation” by Imtiaz-Al-Tareq is another striking portrait that belongs to the present, yet represents the past. The old man in the photo bridges the gap between generations past and present. A shadowy, mysterious portrait, “Ghost of Truth”, taken by Md. Paris Talukder, came first in Fine Art category. Tanim Anwar Xabid's “Winter Foggy Morning”, a conceptual landscape featuring a young girl in a misty paddy field, was selected as first in Landscape category. “Colourful Freedom” portrays a happy moment in Old Dhaka. The photo came first in Festival category. On the day of Shakrain, the sky above the rows of congested buildings gets painted by scores of colourful kites. Each kite is a representation of freedom.    
“Corrupted Mind” by Md. Nafiul Islam expresses melancholia. The photograph articulates the inexplicable nature of human mind, the coexistence of positive and negative, and the feeling of alienation. Another photograph, “Space” shows a bird, flying against the backdrop of a gloomy sky. One can relate it to the urge to go beyond limits and break the shackles of monotony.
“Calmness of Nature” invoked a sense of serenity. The resting boats refer to nature in its ideal state.  
The photograph that stood out was “The Survivor.” It's the story of a construction worker toiling away on the roof of a building on a stormy day. It's the eternal story of man struggling against the elements in a hostile world.
“The goal of the exhibition was to present the diverse works of young photographers to the public. It was an exhibition by a group of energetic, enthusiastic and talented photographers,” said Imtiaz-Al-Tareq, General Secretary of DUPS. “However, members of the organisation had to work hard to arrange this exhibition and make it a success. We had to skip classes at times,” said Mohosin Kabir, President of the organisation. “We would like to thank the jury, patrons and our seniors who helped us,” he added.
In Bangladesh, photography has seen a silent revolution in the last decade. More young Bangladeshi photographers are finding recognition on the global stage with their creative angles and unique visions. Certainly something to be proud of.