July 15, 2020
Author: Ipsita Sarkar
In the Third Session of the popular webinar series on Photography, more than 80 scholars of the Kashmir Education Initiative (KEI), came prepared to learn from their own photographs aided by Mr Suhail Mir’s feedback on each picture. Mr Suhail, a qualified attorney and a veteran photographer, began the session by sharing a vital trick of the trade- the magic of photography didn’t just lie in camera handling skills but also in the ability to observe and capture stories around you. He advised the scholars to make their photos unique by training their eyes and becoming more curious about the world around them. The photo could be taken from a different angle, different emotions and expressions of people could be captured and a story could also be composed within a frame. He added, “While taking photographs, when you start paying attention to people, you become a better person. It is actually a life-saving experience.” Mr Suhail was ready to review each scholar’s photographs this time and share tips for improvement. He started the reviewing session by recalling his own story from 15 years ago. Already an established photographer, Mr Suhail was invited to a Board Meeting by a leading MNC in the US. Expecting praise for his work, he was in for a rude shock, when the seniors at the meeting started pointing out the flaws in his photographs instead and that too in front of half a dozen people! A humiliated Mr Suhail returned home that evening and quietly resolved to prove his critiques wrong. Today, he meticulously posts only those photographs that appeal to him quality-wise. Also, he would request for feedback strictly from people who would be honest, respectful and straightforward instead of well wishers who would share mis-leading views. He highlighted that one could only become better at their craft if they would be open to constructive criticism in a positive way. From appreciating the simple composition and clarity in Abdul’s flower pot to the perfect lighting in Faraz’s snail, from the Rule of Third application in Mashd’s car to Shimayal’s perfect capture of rainbows in Kashmir, Mr Suhail pointed out the unique qualities of each photograph and how each scholar had skilfully attempted to apply techniques taught by him in the earlier sessions. He also spoke about the various areas that needed improvement in each photograph- from the improper placement of the subject, to choosing another time slot for clicking the picture to adjusting the frame in the best possible manner and to making the foreground more prominent. Indeed, Mr Suhail had several useful tips to share to attain the best possible version of the same picture. The parting advice from Mr Suhail to the scholars was to never let criticism hold them back from playing with the camera and sharing their photographs for feedback. He encouraged the scholars to return to the same spot and retry taking the same photographs this time following the suggestions that he had given them. This time, Mr Suhail enjoyed being a student himself, as he learned from the scholar’s photography!