“Tea? Why not! A photo by Dr. Mohammed Rashid | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
It is hard not to forget the joy on Dr. Mohammed Rashid’s face the moment he steps into the State Art Gallery in Hyderabad. One of the five winners of The Global Ability Photography Challenge, the Delhi-based assistant professor at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences is battling acute flaccid paralysis that causes locomotor disability. “Disability has never come between me and my photography,” says Dr. Rashid. The other four winners of this unique challenge are Sherlyn Akhtar from Dhaka, Bangladesh, Srivatsan Sankaran and Arvind R from Chennai and Ashwin Babu from Mumbai.
(From left) Srivatsan Sankaran, Dr Mohd Rashid, Arvind R and Ashwin Babu | photo credit: special arrangement
The Global Ability Photography Challenge, launched by Not Just Art, a part of Hyderabad-based Youth4Jobs (Y4J) Foundation, is celebrating the artistic talents of people with disabilities. These five winners from 137 participants and 15 finalists have been awarded a cash prize of ₹25,000.
“Life and Livelihood Despite Challenges” A photograph by Sherlyn Akhtar | photo credit: special arrangement
Photography as a form of self-expression can say a thousand words or even brighten up someone’s mood. It is a powerful visual medium for the deaf with communication challenges. Photography as an asset helps them to explore, express and showcase their efforts to maximize their special talents. For example, Rashid’s photo captures a squirrel trying to pick it up. Tea From a glass against the background of Qutub Minar.
“Being in Delhi, I have had the advantage of visiting many structures and monuments,” says Rashid who loves architecture and travel photography. His friends initially forbade him from photography saying, ‘You have difficulty in walking, how will you photograph?’ Rashid would sometimes shoot while sitting on the streets with his Canon 1300D. Your disability and path may be different, but if you work hard enough, you will reach your goal.”
positive outlook
Chennai-based Sreevatsan Sankaran uses photography to announce and advocate for people with their disabilities. Madras photo blogger and founder of Deaf Collective, Srivatsan conducts photography workshops for the deaf community.
He worked as a developer for two years before quitting his job in 2014 and taking up photography as a weekend hobby. “My personality changed because of photography,” says Srivatsan, who did not like meeting people because he had trouble communicating. Thanks to photography, he started traveling and meeting people, which led to many changes. i “Now my body language has changed; I smile more often and come across as a confident person. If I don’t understand something, I ask people to speak more slowly. It is very important to bring a positive attitude about the community. He says
Srivatsan communicates through sign language in his photography workshops for the deaf. His winning picture is from the turmeric festival held at Pattankodoli in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.
Trance – Yellow Festival” by Srivatsan Sankaran | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Ashwin Babu and Arvind R communicate with us with the help of sign language interpreters. Ashwin, a Mumbaikar working at Cinegence Media Pvt Ltd, takes pleasure in black and white photographs. With Charlie Chaplin as inspiration, Ashwin’s photograph of a man and a cat titled ‘Man and His Soul’ is an anthem for pet lovers. He explains his love for photography: “I like realistic subjects and photographs that reflect someone.” His picture of two palms turned around – a deafening symbol – has a mild effect. He calls them the talking hands, “we speak with our hands.” He recalls the challenges, “Earlier people used to think I was cocky as I would not respond to their requests to take photographs at events. When he came to know that I was deaf, he realized his mistake.” Ashwin hopes that “many people like him take up photography to bring out their talents”.
“The Old Man and His Soul” by Ashwin Babu | photo credit: special arrangement
Interested in bird photography, Arvind discovered his passion during his final year of high school. After doing a three-month course in photo editing through Madras Photo Blogger, he is working there as an assistant. One of his favorite photographs – also his award winning one – depicts a fishing boat on Marina Beach with a bird ready to take off. Arvind says, ‘I used to click photos casually with my mobile phone, but when I learned the nuances of it, I understood the importance of camera position, angle and lighting. Just having the passion is not enough, one needs to be trained to understand the techniques.”
Unknown Smile by Arvind R | photo credit: special arrangement
With plans to make the Global Ability Photography Challenge an annual event, Mira says, “Now that we have the Indian Photography Society as a partner, we hope to make it bigger and better.”
The photographs of the top 15 finalists in The Global Ability Photography Challenge are on display at the State Art Gallery, Madhapur till 18 December.