A couple of years ago, the suggestion of photography as a profession,
would not have been taken seriously. Photography has mostly been
considered a hobby , and at best, a part-time, extra pocket-money earning
activity. But today, photographers are so much in the news, in demand
and respected financially, that those who have the talent and interest in
photography can now seriously consider this a viable career option.
With the explosion of the communication network, the growth of advertising
and media and the fashion boom, photography has now become a profession
with great commercial value. It has become a good source of income
and a means to a comfortable life. Although it is mainly men that dominate
this profession, there are now a fair number of well-known women
photographers, But women still have a little more difficulty than men gaining
entry, especially to press photography.
Photography is both a science and an art. It is an artistic means of expression,
the camera replacing the pen or the paint brush. A photographer must be
able to create a good composition of any subject , a piece of machinery,
a scenery or a child's smile. It is rightly said that a single picture can
sometimes say more than a thousand words.
WORK
There are several areas of specialisations for photographers :
Press photographers supply pictures to the national and local press, and
must be versatile with an ability to photograph all kinds of subjects.
They must have journalistic instincts, know what makes a good news picture,
be able to write accurate captions, work well with reporters, be quick and often
work under difficult conditions.
Feature photography essentially involves telling a story in pictures and
therefore requires knowledge of the subject.Many photographers specialise
in the photography of wildlife, sports travel, environment etc.
In Commercial photography, a photographer takes pictures of merchandise,
exteriors and interiors of factories, and machinery both indoors and
outdoors to be used for company brochures, annual reports, and in
advertising and selling, although this area has its own particular
specialisation.Portrait and wedding photographers take pictures of
individuals or small groups, handling subjects like pets, children, families,
weddings, functions and activities of sports and social clubs.
Advertising photographs are taken either by the photographic departments
of adverising agencies, by photographic studios, or by freelance photographers.
Advertising photography is possibly the best paid and most competitive branch;
success depends entirely on ability, efficiency and the right personality.
Fashion photography has developed recently in India. Most fashion photography
is done by specialist studios or freelancers who are commissioned by fashion
houses of advertising agencies.
Other photographic specialities include aerial photography, scientific
photography, film and television photography and so on.
ENTRY
It is possible to become a photographer without a college education.
Photography basically requires a keen, observant eye, and an intelligent,
curious and perceptive mind . It is an art and a craft and thus the more a
person practises the better he gets. It is essentially a training of the
eye, and thus no amount of training enables a photographer to `see
things' without an intrinsic inner ability.
However, training provides the know-how for taking pictures and getting the
best from any camera. photographer must have full knowledge and command
over the variety of cameras, lights and props, and all kinds of
photographictechniques. Training also hones the creative skills in the candidate.
Eligibility:
Photography has been introduced at the 10+2 stage as a vocational subject in
several schools. There are no specific academic requirements for the full time
courses in photography, however, candidates who have cleared the 10+2 exam
are eligible for the diploma/ certificate courses in photography. Photography is
also offered as an optional subject for a bachelor's degree in fine arts.
Duration :
While the short-term courses vary from three to six months, the degree
programmes can be of three - four years duration in different institutions.
A three-year diploma in motion picture photography is offered by the Film and
Television Institute, Pune, while the Mass Communication Research
Centre (MCRC), Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi offers a 2-year post-graduate
diploma in motion picture photography to graduates in any discipline.
Institutions:
Quite a large number of institutions are now offering courses in photography.
These include a number of government recognised institutions providing
diploma courses/ training in photography. Photography is also a subject
taught for the Applied Art/ Commercial Art degree programmes at the Govt
Art Colleges, of which there are six in several parts of the country. Some of the
prominent institutions offering Diploma and Certificate courses in photography a
re listed below :
- College of Art, New Delhi
- Bharitya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi
- MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
- JJ School of Art, Bombay
- Film and Television Institute, Pune.
- Academy of Photography, Calcutta.
- Jawaharlal Technological University, Hyderabad.
JOB PROSPECTS
There is no clear cut career graph in the profession of photography. A photogra-
pher's prospects depend entirely upon the calibre of work that is done, and
ability.Opportunities in the field of photography are plenty.
In the world of advertising alone, there are tremendous opportunities for
photographers .
Freelancing which is an exciting option in this field is very popular amongst a
large number of photographers.
Many photographers join newspapers and magazines for regular full-time
employment, to cover news, current affairs, features, or any other subject they
have specialised in.
The government employs photographers on a regular government pay scales
to do general photography documentation, for covering day-to-day events and
functions and for making photo features.
Careers
