Photography must be regarded as an industry for effective career development of professionals

Kathmandu:

To mark the166th World Photography Day, photography enthusiasts and professionals have begun a week-long photo exhibition that includes photographs taken half a century ago alongwith shots by contemporary photographers at Nepal Art Council, Babar Mahal, from August 19.

Twelve seniormost photographers of the nation, Bakhat Bahadur Chitrakar, Madan Babu Bajracharya, Mangal Bahadur Shrestha, Praksh Bahadur Shrestha, Pushpa Chitrakar, DB Thapa, Mukunda Bahadur Shrestha, Shambhulal Kayastha, Shyam Das Shakya, Shreedhar Lal Manandhar, Purna Bahadur Shakya and Puskar Chitrakar were felicitated by Prof. Basudev Tripathi, vice chancellor of Royal Nepal Academy, upon inauguration of the exposition.

The exhibited photographs include historical pieces taken as early as 1946.

A 75-year-old Bakhat Bahadur told the celebration that the photographers had to work for two days to produce a picture. “These days machines do the magic. You get pictures within a few minute,” he said. The speakers at the programme expressed that photography be declared an industry. Kushan Pradhan, executive director of DG Plus, opined, “For effective career development of professionals, the entire field should be taken as an industry.” Hundreds of people have made photography a career and are entirely dependent on it.

However, people involved in the industry believe the business is given not due

attention.

Chandi Raj Dhakal, president, FNCCI, also supported Pradhan’s idea and even promised support. Some photographers also celebrated the day at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal Forum of Photojournalists secretary Dhruba Ale said.