Focusing with artistry
Amalshan GUNERATHNE
Capturing the scenic beauty of life with crystallized snapshots is an
art which demands extreme skill and proficiency from the photographer.
The scenes when captured with an artistic eye could turn out to be a
bracing sight for the sore heart.
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Priscilla Fox’s Transylvania |
The 'Focus 2011' photography exhibition promises to be one such
refreshing event, where the students from the 2011 batch of the
'Photographic Society of Sri Lanka' will get together to showcase their
impressive talents at a major public exhibition. The exhibition is set
to unravel to the public this weekend at the Alliance Francaise de
Colombo, Barnes Place, Colombo 07. The exhibition is free for public
viewing on July 16 and 17. The exhibition will go on from 10 am to 5 pm.
None of them is professional, but the talents and skills they possess
are immense. Blessed with an artistic eye to capture the essence of
life, they portray the routine moments in life in a way that many have
not seen them before. Around fifty to sixty photographers, all of whom
who followed the certificate course offered by the Photographic Society
of Sri Lanka will portray their works at the exhibition. The ten week
course programme provided them with the basic acumen which is needed to
excel at the art of the photography.
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Jayaruwan’s Joy of One |
Photography in Sri Lanka is not a field where many opt to follow as a
profession. Though the island is filled with great photography
opportunities, not many resolve to follow it with great passion.
However, if followed with passion, it is a field which could open many
doors for anyone.
Speaking to Daily News, Jayaruwan Gunathilake, a young photographer
who will showcase his talents at the exhibition, noted: "For me it is
more or less a hobby than a profession. There's a famous quote in
photography; 'You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow
it.' It has a therapeutic effect on the soul. As for professional wise,
true opportunities are there, if someone has a liking towards the
subject, there is no reason why he or she should not make a career out
of photography."
Expressing himself further on the exhibition, Jayaruwan explained,
"Most of us are not professionals. We followed the certificate course
programme offered to us by the Photographic Society of Sri Lanka and we
thought an exhibition would give us the ideal platform to showcase our
talents to the others."
The exhibition will showcase their art in various categories such as
landscapes, portraiture real and abstract photography. The exhibition is
sponsored by Singer Group.
The Photographic Society of Sri Lanka is the oldest photographic
Society in the country that fosters the art of photography in all
amateurs as well as professionals.
The society conducts classes for three batches per year for the
'Certificate Course in Photography', where the students gain knowledge
on the finer aspects of photography with lectures and practical sessions
conducted by eminent professionals in the field.
The committee members of the FOCUS exhibition are Chetra Gunathilake,
President, Anushka Ahmed, Secretary, Nihara Bandaranaike, Treasurer,
Gehan Ranawana, Cheruka Pathirana, Isuru Ponnamperuma, Peshan Uluwitiya,
Supun Weerasinghe, Gayan Rajapakse and Mahinda Jeewananda. |
