The 10-episode National Geographic channel’s “Covershot (season 3), a photography-based television reality show, will be aired from January 31 onwards. It reflects the change in our society, what with its 16 participants sharing different demographics vying to win the opportunity to have the image clicked by them on the cover of National Geographic Traveller India magazine. Ranging from 19 to 54 years, the participants hail from different professions, regions and backgrounds and include Sajjad (26), a civil engineer from Srinagar, Sharad Vegda (21) from Mumbai, a pujari’s son, Sumedh Sawant (19), the youngest participant, and Naina Kapoor the oldest (54) who is a lawyer and equality expert.
According to well known lensman Samar Singh Jodha, a judge on the show besides Abhinay Deo, filmmaker, and Raghu Rai, a world renowned photographer, photography which was “elitist” for many years has ceased to be so. Why? “Photography was limited to the rich who could buy a camera, or the professionally qualified who could handle it, or amateurs driven by sheer passion. For the rest of the world, it was a mystery.”
The advent of digital cameras and smart phones demolished the barrier. “The wall fell, after which anybody and anyone can be a photographer, thus making it democratic.” It has moved from been technology driven to vision oriented, he feels.
The 10 men and six women contestants were chosen by a team which reviewed the portfolio and video statement submitted by many hundreds reflecting their vision and approach. The reality show is for a serious audience devoted to photography and photographers.
“It is an amazing platform to be seen on and exposed to even for qualifiers who did not win,” comments Samar. It assumes significance as it is difficult for its practitioners to promote the art.
The focus of this third edition of the show is Mumbai, known from its culture, festivals, diversity of life and profession, public transport system, dabbawalas, etc. “It is easy to click images in exotic locales as it offers one or more specific aspects, like a tribe or landscape. On the contrary, Mumbai is very diverse, encompassing cultures and sub-cultures, and has several layers,” says Samar. “Though it has been documented by many well known photographers, it has something new and different to offer.”
Starting in groups of four, every episode will see eliminations to arrive at five quarter finalists, four semi-finalists and three finalists. Each episode offers challenges on different topics. These include Ganpati visarjan, malkhambh and akhada, colour wallpaper, faith, traffic cops, Dharavi, the Koli community, Lohagad among others. The selection of topics has been made keeping in mind the challenges thrown up as well as audience engagement and diversity.
What makes the contest is the inclusion of a last-minute challenge in the episode. At Lohagad, a suburb, the camera’s viewing screen of the contestants was masked, while at another locale they were asked to shoot using a normal lens (which cannot be used as a zoom). “These created unfavourable zone thereby challenging their creativity,” explains Samar.
Terming the judging process comfortable, Samar points out, “Abhinay and I are both storytellers, he does it through films and I with still imagery. Having mutual respect for each other, our chemistry was remarkable.”
The parameters adopted to judge the pictures were composition, approach to the subject and whether it narrates a story. “The real challenge is if in limited frames one is able to highlight the story.”
Raghu Rai is part of the finals bringing in his rich experience and knowledge of the subject.
The novelty of the show is that Samar discusses and demonstrates do-it-yourself methods for the benefit of the audience, besides providing useful tips while clicking pictures in different situations and locales. For example viewers will get to see how to work in the absence of a tripod, or to waterproof their equipment during monsoons, and of course to keep one’s essential gear as light as possible.
(On air from January 31, Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.)
