MENTOR AND STUDENT. Photographer Morten Krogvold is pleased with student Prasit Stapith’s picture in the photo exhibition. Photo: Sigrun Aker NordengLast updated:?27/01/2011 //??How do you want to display Bangladesh to the world?? Norwegian photographer Morten Krogvold asked his students during his workshop at the Chobi Mela festival this month. The result: A diverse portrait of Dhaka and Bangladesh.
?The Slum Trap?
Photo: Faisal AzaminKrogvold wanted to challenge his students to show a Bangladesh that was different from the traditional pictures the world so often is presented-?It is all too easy to get stuck in the ?Slum trap?. To bring your camera down to the slum is for me the easy way out ? you?ll get touching pictures without putting in any effort at all. I tried to challenge the students to think in new ways and focus on their Dhaka, says Krogvold.
Easier said than done. Almost all of the participants were first year students and with minimal experience in photography. After the students returned from their first photo trip, Krogvold had jokingly proclaimed that he wanted to ?shoot them all in the backyard?.
Still, student Anja Maharja merely has positive things to say about her mentor.
-?I have learned a lot from Morten. He can be strict, but he pushed us to be better photographers, says Maharja, who is represented with two pictures in the exhibition.
Asia?s largest Photo Festival
After one week of intense photo lessons, combined with inspirational classes on art history, music and movies, the students could this week present their own exhibition:?Self-discovery?. Krogvold is impressed with the students work.
-?The exhibition today is a more accurate portrait of Dhaka. It?s not just poverty and misery, but also growth, roller blades and development. This is a picture of this crazy town that I recognize, says Krogvold.
Photo: Farzana HossenThe exhibition is a part of the Chobi Mela festivalen, which is said to be Asia?s largest photo festival, with exhibitions from 31 different countries. Krogvold is also represented in the festival with his exhibition?Encounters?.
MAJESTIC PICTURES. Norwegian photographer Morten Krogvold will be presenting his pictures at the Chobi Mela VI photo festival, arranged by Drik and the photography academy Pathshala from the 21st of January to February 3rd. . Photo: Morten KrogvoldLast updated:?19/01/2011 //?Morten Krogvold, Norway’s most famous photopgrapher, is currently in Bangladesh. Be sure not to miss his exhibiton at the Chobi Mela festival!
Morten KrogvoldPhoto festvial
As a part of the?Chobi Mela photo?festival, Krogvold will be presenting?a collection of his?pictures?in an exhibition at the national art gallery,Bangladesh?Shilpakala Academy from the?21st January?until the 3rd of?February.
During the festival Krogvold will also?be holding a picture presentation in the Goethe Institute in Dhanmondi. This presentation will take place?on the?22nd??of January, 7pm.
Student workshops
Krogvold is no stranger to Bangladesh. Rather, he has been conducting photo workshops for students since 2002. This year, Krogvold will once again?be conducting?a workshop?for?photo students in Dhaka.?28 students from Nepal and Bangladesh?is scheduled to participate.
The student exhibition ?Self-discovery? will be upon for public from January 25th until 3rd of February at the Asiatic Gallery of Fine Arts in Dhaka.
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