Israeli photographer Sephi Bergerson has been living in India for the last 15 years during which he has come to be known for his unique style of photography particularly wedding photography, which was extensively documented in the book “Behind The Indian Veil”. The artiste is now kicking off a wedding festival “Silk Inspire 2016” to be held annually in Goa. Spread across four days, the festival will have masterclasses with photographers, awards, workshops and seminars with international and Indian photographers like Joseph Radhik, Mahesh Shantaram, Christopher Viseux, Franck Boutonnet, Susana Barbara, Two Mann Studio, Apresh Chavda.
The seasoned lensman talks to us about his plans. Excerpts from an interview:
Why do we need such a niche photography festival like a wedding photography festival?
Indian wedding photographers need an affordable place to meet, interact and be inspired, and this is an opportunity to learn from photographers who are otherwise inaccessible. Many of them have never been to India before. It’s been happening a lot in Europe and the US. Just not in India. I've always been inviting one or more photographers for my workshops and this has always been good. We just decided to take it up a notch, or three, and bring eight photographers together.
What is the objective?
We want to inspire wedding photographers here to start creating original work. Meeting so many great photographers on a platform like this is a great learning experience
But why not a generic photography festival?
There are more wedding photographers than in any other fields in photography. Most of them have not studied photography at all.
But what is your opinion of the quality of wedding photography happening in India now?
The standard has gone up but it is still very low. The photographers are still looking the same way. I don't recognise the individual style at all. And this is what we are trying to encourage. To have a distinct style. After all, Indian weddings are more colourful and beautiful than any other wedding. There is so much to say but everyone is saying the same thing in the same way.
But one would need to buy the ticket for Rs. 17,500. Not everybody can afford it.
Tickets are a fraction of the cost they are abroad. It is a very affordable price for the kind of event we put together. No, but we have opened a documentary wedding photography award, Silk Awards, which is free and has prizes of Rs. 1,00,000. There is no need to buy a ticket for the festival to submit work for the awards.
(The festival will take place in Goa from October 4-7. For details on the festival and to register to participate in Silk Awards, visit www. inspire.silkphotos.com)
