For all the photographers out there, this is a call to arms--or cameras. The submission deadline for the second edition of the Delhi Photo Festival, April 20, is around the corner. The theme for this year's print exhibition is 'Grace', a tribute to the late Prabuddha Dasgupta.
Organised by the Nazar Foundation and held at the India Habitat Centre, the Delhi Photo Festival is one of the largest photography festivals in the country. A non-commercial venture (entry is free.) the event aims to "bring photography, the real democratic form, into a public space." This culminates in an exhibition of print, film and digital media.
Though there are no age, gender, genre, or nationality restrictions, the organisers urge Indian photographers to send in their work. In fact, one of the Nazar Foundation's aims is to provide both a platform and a learning community to photographers in India, where the art form remains largely unrecognized.
Prospective participants are required to submit a 6 to 20 image body of work, along with a form that is available on the website. Halfway through the March 4 to April 20 submission window, the application team notes that they would love to have more local participants. They also encourage artists to come up with imaginative interpretations to the theme.
Organised by photographers Prashant Panjiar and Dinesh Khanna, Delhi Photo Festival's initial offering showcased works from Indian artists and a number of international participants as well. One entire exhibition was captured with only a cell phone camera; testimony to the ethic of ‘democratisation’.
For those who have spent the whole of last year wondering why the exhibition shows up only once in two years, the festival is scheduled for September 27 to October 11 this year.
