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‘Our reality is shaped by the medium we use’

A panel of media experts and photographers weighed in on the purportedly ‘dying’ art of photojournalism, at Max Mueller Bhavan.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Who says photojournalism is dying? Or to put it another way, who says photojournalism is still alive?

A talk at Max Mueller Bhavan, Mumbai, titled ‘Wanted: Dialog on Photojournalism’ saw noted news photographer Sudharak Olwe, journalist and teacher Sanjay Ranade and Mid Day Executive Editor Sachin Kalbag give their views on the relevance of photojournalism in today’s times, and whether there was ever a chance of the art dying out completely in an era of smart gizmos.

Sanjay RanadeExpectedly, each of the speakers debunked the notion that photojournalism was dying out, though they did concede that the “message was certainly diluted” in certain cases. Said Ranade (in pic on left) , “Our reality is changed by the medium we use. Contemporary users are ‘pickled’ in user-generated content – they are negotiating their realities with the devices they own. Users are filtering the news they want, they are free to click a picture and instantly put it out there for everyone else to see, so why should they read newspapers?

“The statement being made often is that with everybody owning a smartphone, what is the need for photographers? But the difference is, these users are not professionals, so they cannot ‘design’ a picture, a moment, the way a professional can. A photojournalist performs an important function – he gives ‘context’ to a picture.”

Kalbag said, “We (the Mid Day newspaper) are a third or fourth choice newspaper in Mumbai. What do we do to get picked up, to get Sachin Kalbagnoticed? In Mumbai, and for a paper that caters exclusively to the city, we cannot not have a strong visual connect with our readers. There is no greater way than photojournalism to chronicle a great city.”

Olwe continued this train of thought thus: “In my work, I have seen that a bigger impact [is created] through a series of photographs on one subject, instead of just one picture. But this is not always true as well; it depends on the picture.” He went on to explain why he felt photojournalism could never die. “How can anyone say that photojournalism is dying? We have to create newer spaces [for more media]. Even with digital cameras, with the most advanced equipment, the photographer still has to follow the due ‘process’ of taking the right picture. You cannot have this process with an iPhone or a smartphone.”

Kalbag ended his talk by saying, “I honestly feel that reports of photojournalism dying or having died already are vastly exaggerated.”

(Featured image courtesy www.mid-day.com)

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Mumbai to go on a flamingo ‘fotothon’

This event will combine photography with a desire to conserve the coastal environment for the welfare and protection of flamingos.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

This month on, the coastline of Mumbai is going to play host to flamingos. The pink beauties visit the city just as the weather dips in the last months of the year. However, rising pollution in our seas and the fact that these beautiful birds are being increasingly poached each year, has lessened their numbers somewhat.

But shutterbugs in the city are going to do their bit to conserve the ecology for flamingos and have some photographic fun doing so – they are going to arm themselves with their cameras and head to Maharashtra Nature Park for a 24-hour live photo-marathon that will go a long way in helping to conserve flamingos and the ecology that sustains them. It’s simple: the photo-marathon is a 24-hour race that tests your photography skills and creativity, as also your passion for nature. Every participating photographer gets a span of 24 hours to ‘shoot and submit’ their work.

fotothonThe ‘Friends of Flamingos’ is a year-long initiative conceived by Fotothon, which is a unique 24-hour live photography challenge held annually in Mumbai and which is supported by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). The two-day campaign will flag off on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 10 am.

Paresh Pimpale, Director for Fotothon said, “Through Fotothon, we aim to encourage photographers to use their cameras for conservation. This year, we are using Fotothon to spread awareness about these beautiful birds that arrive in huge numbers in Mumbai but due to extensive pollution and also poaching, they have become vulnerable here.”

Pimpale added that through the campaign, FOF will have series of lectures, photowalks, and photo exhibition at several locations of Mumbai so that people understand how fortunate the city is to play host to flamingos every year. The campaign will start from tomorrow. Said Avinash Kubal, deputy director, MNP and Honorary Chief Patron for Fotothon, “Photographers love flamingos as they get beautiful images, and hence we want them to also stand for conserving these birds. We will have a signature petition of hundreds of photographers from Mumbai to save the mudflats from pollution and dumping.”Kubal added that the conservation of these pink beauties includes conserving their habitat, which is our coastal ecology. “Saving the sea coasts from pollution is therefore a prime need. Mumbaikars therefore need to monitor effluents so that they do not enter into our coastal waters. Also, we must see that we protect their habitat areas from encroachment and also from noise pollution, as these birds are extremely sensitive towards any man-made or man-induced noises”.

Fotothon is supported by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Maharashtra Nature Park Society, Royal Photographic Society (RPS) UK, and Photographic Society of India. For details, call 9224765619/ 9967620103. 

(Pictures courtesy fotothonian.blogspot.com, www.fantom-xp.com) 

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Arty Thursday: ‘Representations of Power’

SA artist Maximo Gonzales will discuss the ethos of his work and the values that shape it, at Fort today.

This one’s for art students and art lovers. Today, November 14, 2013, Jnanapravaha will play host to artist South American Maximo Gonzales (in picture above) as he talks about his work and his philosophies in a lecture titled ‘Representations of Power’.

representations of powerMaximo Gonzalez’s elaborate installations are rooted in craft; however the manifest issues pertain to political process, social values and economy. His projects address ‘material’ at a symbolic level, playing with the origin and the context where such materials are normally found, transforming them, often through poetic language games to slant their symbolic impact. Examples include tapestries made out of the discarded margins of Mexican pesos, massive archways made of inflatable globes, nets made from school-kids’ notebooks, and military costumes made of sequins and dried chillies. His broad oeuvre is always rooted in social concerns and ethical paradigms of the globalised world.

Born in Argentina and living in Mexico City for over a decade, Maximo Gonzales has exhibited around the world in a range institutions. His solo shows include ‘Magnificent Warning at the Rubin Centre’, ‘El Paso’ (Texas), Playful at CAFAM, Los Angeles and Walk among worlds at the Fowler Museum, UCLA and Casa America, Madrid.

Entry is free but seating is limited so make sure you reach early. Head to Jnanapravaha, Queen’s Mansion, 3rd floor, Ghanshyam Talwatkar Marg, beside Cathedral Middle School, Fort. Tea will be served at 6 pm and the lecture begins at 6.30 pm. Call 022 2207 2974/75 or look up www.jp-india.org for details.

(Compiled by Medha Kulkarni. Picture courtesy facebook.com/JnanapravahaAtMumbai and www.artbusiness.com)

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Massive diabetes awareness drive in Mumbai today

BMC and CII join hands for ‘Drive against diabetes’ across city; want to screen 2,00,000 Mumbaikars across the city today.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

With World Diabetes Day around the corner, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) launched a  ‘Drive against Diabetes’ campaign yesterday. The public private partnership model hopes to mobilise people to join the fight against diabetes – they are aiming to screen at least 2,00,000 people across the city today.

Corporates like Apollo Hospitals, Apollo Munich, OneTouch, Abbott, SANOFI and several others have come forward to support the initiative. Screening centres will be marked by blue balloons – citizens must simply walk in and ask to be screened.

Prabhu said, “Today, diabetes is one of the major conditions affecting people’s health and lifestyle. It is estimated that by 2030, the diabetic population will be around 10 crore. Out of which 6.2 per cent are expected to be suffering from diabetes and 15 per cent from blood pressure. Within India, Mumbai is leading this race to the top – the city experiences a hectic work culture, high levels of stress and fewer sleeping hours. During the drive, we expect that even if 10,000 to 12,000 people are tested positive for diabetes, we will incorporate that in the MCGM’s database and an SMS alert will be sent to them after three months suggesting the next level of detailed diagnostics. The testing of 2,00,000 people in a single drive is a record in itself, but I will be happy if 5,00,000 people are tested in the next drive and fewer are diagnosed positive for diabetes.”

The BMC had started a drive against diabetes in 2011, when 21,700 people were diagnosed with diabetes at the dispensary level. Currently, there are more than 86,000 diabetics on the BMC database. “Of these, 15 per cent who are at the initial stage [of the disease] are being suggested lifestyle modifications and 61 per cent and 22 per cent detected with controlled and uncontrolled diabetes respectively are under the MCGM medical care programme,” says Manisha Patankar-Mhaiskar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western suburbs). “But the ambition is to create awareness of diabetes and not to focus on numbers,” she adds.

Over 500 screening centres will be set up today across the BMC’s ward offices and in over 40 member companies of CII (Reliance, Larsen & Toubro, ICICI, Star Indian, Mahindra, Bajaj, Blue Dart, etc.), chemists, pharmacists and public places in Mumbai that will target to screen over 2,00,000 individuals reaching out to the workforce as well as the larger community. Blue balloons will identify these centres. Over 700 paramedics will also be mobilised across Mumbai to test individuals across industries. The private sector has come forward to provide screening kits including glucometers, strips, swabs, lancets, information booklets and questionnaires alongside training and capacity building for the paramedics.

“This drive will generate significant data which will help understand the incidence and prevalence of diabetes,” Patankar-Mhaiskar says. “It will be analysed to generate a final report on the state of diabetes prevalence in Mumbai, generic recommendations on the way forward as well as lessons learnt during this massive community led drive. Such a report will be useful to policy makers, programme officers, healthcare providers as well as other agencies working in the area of diabetes.”

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John Abraham, Raageshwari flag off ‘diabetic walk’

PD Hinduja Hospital, Mahim, marks World Diabetes Day with over 125 participants from the hospital to Shivaji Park and back.

Bright and early on Sunday, November 10, 2013, Mumbai witnessed a one-of its kind ‘Diabetic Walk’ anchored by PD Hinduja Hospital to mark World Diabetes Day (WDD). WDD is observed every year on November 14.

The Walk saw the participation from over 125 people from Mumbai, and was flagged off singer Raageshwari. The event also saw the presence of actor, producer John Abraham at the awareness programme held later by the hospital staff. The participants began the walk from Hinduja Hospital, Mahim and moved on to the prominent landmark of the city – Shivaji Park – before returning to the hospital.

John Abraham addressing the audience at the Diabetes Awareness Programme by P D Hinduja HospitalFitness enthusiast John extended his support to the Diabetes awareness programme and addressed the participating group, wherein he shared insights on the importance of exercise in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially for diabetic patients. In addition, educative talks were also held by doctors and dietitians from the hospital’s endocrinologist department to reiterate the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to both prevent and live with the disease.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Phulrenu Chauhan, Consultant Endocrinologist and Head, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, said, “Diabetes has emerged as a major healthcare problem in India. It is estimated that every fifth person with diabetes will be an Indian. The transition from a traditional to modern lifestyle, consumption of diets rich in fat and calories combined with a high level of mental stress and lack of physical activity in daily life has compounded the problem further. Due to these sheer numbers, the economic burden on account of diabetes in India is amongst the highest in the world. At our hospital, our vision is to get the masses to take notice of the ailment and prevent it through physical activity and lifestyle modifications, along with medications. If not controlled, the hazardous complications invariably follow in a poorly controlled diabetic.”

Some facts and figures for diabetes:

– India has 61 million diabetics between the ages of 20 to 79 years, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

– By 2030, this figure is estimated to go up to 101.1 million

– Maharashtra State ranks second in the country as regards to the total number of young diabetics. These young diabetics can be as young as 20 years of age.

– 35 minutes of exercise may reduce the risk of diabetes by 80 per cent.

– Burning 100 calories a day through walking, running or other exercise may help you prevent gaining about 2 to 5 kilos a year.

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When softball comes to Mumbai

Exhibition softball match and special outdoor screening of ‘The Only Real Game’ took place at BKC on Saturday, October 26.
by The US Consulate General, Mumbai

The US Consulate General Mumbai and Namaste America co-hosted an exhibition softball match and a special outdoor screening of the American documentary The Only Real Game on Saturday, October 26, 2013.  The event was held in association with the American School of Bombay and the Mumbai City Baseball Association.

baseballThis year, The Only Real Game made its Asian debut at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF).  Previously, the film was named the best Documentary Film at the New York Indian Film Festival. In honour of the film, Consul General Peter Haas, President of Namaste America Atul Nisar, actor Prateik Babbar, filmmaker Kailash Surendranath, and other guests took to the field for an exhibition softball match.  Dave Thoudam, a young filmmaker and musician from Manipur opened the exhibition match by singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ in English and Manipuri.

After the match, the Consulate hosted an outdoor screening of The Only Real Game.  Among others in attendance were the film’s Director Mirra Bank, Producer Muriel Peter, and Indian columnist Anil Dharker.

The Only Real Game documents the work of a group of baseball-loving New Yorkers and two Major League Baseball Envoy coaches who team up with Manipuri men, women and children to share their love of the sport.

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