Category: Drik and its initiatives

Archiving 1971


Photo: Don Mccullin

Archiving?1971

By Sharmin Ahmed

Star Weekend

Winston Churchill said, ?History is written by the victors.? And when history is one-sided, it becomes a propaganda instrument. Archiving is a form of respecting not only history but the truth, and it is with the motive of promoting the truth that documentation of history must be done. ?Archiving 1971?, a programme by Drik to collect oral, textual and visual resources to establish a one stop repository of the historical 1971 War of Liberation for Bangladesh began on that promise

The aim is to bring together a team of researchers, social scientists, historians, archivists and other professionals to assemble definitive archives of this important chapter in the country’s history. The 10-year plan includes not only collating materials from across the world but also generate the economic resources necessary to build permanent physical archives. It will help academics, researchers and others to make rigorous analysis and draw inspiration from the repository.

Continue reading “Archiving 1971”

Public talk at National Geographic

Subscribe to ShahidulNews


Share



When the lions find their storytellers: A public talk by Dr Shahidul Alam
October 4th, 6 p.m.
National Geographic Store
83-97 Regent Street
London
Internationally renowned Bangladeshi photographer, writer, curator and teacher Dr Shahidul Alam, will lead a free public talk at the National Geographic Store next week.
During the 40 minute talk Dr Alam, a National Geographic juror and photographer, will discuss his 30 year career in documentary photography, as well as his role as one of the most respected photography educators in the world.
Dr Alam?s work in establishing networks for photography and media professionals in his native Bangladesh has opened up the medium to an entirely new generation of artists. As a result, Bangladesh now has the highest number of documentary photographers in the world, some of whom, thanks to his efforts, are becoming internationally acclaimed. Alam founded the award-winning Drik Picture Library (www.drik.net) in 1989; the Bangladesh Photographic Institute in 1990; Pathshala, the South Asian Institute of Photography – considered one of the finest schools of photography in the world – (www.pathshala.net) and ?Chobi Mela? (www.chobimela.org), a biennial international festival of photography, which is held in the capital, Dhaka. Alam’s most recent project is the founding of Majority World, a photo agency dedicated to providing a platform for non-Western photographers.
A jury member of numerous competitions including World Press Photo, for which he has been a judge on four occasions and recently the first non-Western person to chair the international jury, Alam was also the first Asian recipient of the prestigious Mother Jones Award for Documentary Photography. His work has been exhibited internationally, including: the MOMA, New York; the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; the Royal Albert Hall, London; and The Museum of Contemporary Arts, Tehran.
Dr Alam’s week-long visit to the UK is a result of his first retrospective photography exhibition at the Wilmotte Gallery at Lichfield Studios (http://www.tristanhoare.co.uk/) from 5th October -18 November, and the release of his forthcoming book, SHAHIDUL ALAM: My Journey as a Witness, published by Skira, Milan, and edited by Rosa Maria Falvo. The book will be launched at the Grand Hyatt Churchill Hotel in London at 5.30 pm.

22 years of Drik

Subscribe to ShahidulNews

Share

Drik Day 24 september



On the 4th Septeber 1989, something remarkable happened in Bangladesh. Please join us as Drik joyously celebrates 22 years of distinctive creativity
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Programme
6.00 pm?Welcome Dr. Shahidul Alam
6.10 pm?Memories 2010-2011
6.20 pm?Golam Kasem Daddy Memorial Lecture III?by Catherine Masud
7.00 pm?Photo exhibition by Drik?s staff photographers: Mahabub Alam Khan, Saikat Mojumder and Wahid Adnan
Opening by Guest of Honour?Frederiek Biemans, World Press Photo
7.30 pm?Refreshments
Photo Exhibition:?25-30 September, 2011, 3 pm-8 pm
Venue:
Golam Kasem Daddy Memorial Lecture::?Drik Rooftop
Photo Exhibition:?Drik Gallery 1 (first ?oor)?House 58, Road 15 A (New)?Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1209
Lookout for the newly launched Drik website

For those of you who cannot come to the book launch of “My journey as a witness” watch it live at Drik TV

Learning Rights to Make a Difference

Subscribe to ShahidulNews

Share

Awards Ceremony
Award ceremony Invitation card

Learning Rights to Make a Difference

Human Rights Training for Journalists in Bangladesh

Monirul Alam of Prothom Alo Newspaper talks about his project on drug addiction. Photo (c) Saikat Majumder/DrikNews

Drik and INTERNEWS network request the pleasure of your company at the Awards Ceremony of ?Learning Rights to Make a Difference? a human rights training for journalists in Bangladesh on Thursday 11 August, 2011 at 5:00 pm at Drik Gallery, Dhaka.



Facilitator Sanaiyya Ansari with participants of workshop. Photo (c) Habibul Haque/DrikNews

Participating organisations:?Daily Shokaler Khobor,?Daily Sun,?Prothom Alo,?The Independent,?Independent Television,Diganta Television,?Odhikar,?New Age,?The New Nation,?The Daily Ittefaq,?Dhaka Courier,?UNB,?BLAST,?Daily Inquilab,ASK,?Boishakhi TV, BNHRC



Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul the CEO of Boishakhi Television, giving feedback to the participants as Shahidul Alam (centre) and Rezaur Rahman (right) of Drik look on. Photo: (c) Saikat Majumder/DrikNews

The event will be live-streamed on Drik TV
Chief Guest
Dr. Mizanur Rahman
Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh
Guest of Honour
Mr. Nurul Kabir
Editor, New Age
Selected work of the 17 mainstream journalists who participated in the human rights training course will be presented at this event.
Programme
Drik Gallery, Dhaka ? 11 August 2011 ? Thursday
5:00 pm (GMT +6): Audiovisual Documentation of ?Learning Rights to Make a Difference?
5:05 pm: Welcome by Shahidul Alam
5:15 pm: Presentation of Electronic Report
5:20 pm: Speech by participant (electronic)
5:25 pm: Speech by participant (print)
5:30 pm: Speech by participant (photography)
5:35 pm: Speech by Guest of Honour
5:45 pm: Speech by Chief Guest
5:55 pm: Awards Presentation
6:20 pm: Vote of Thanks by Shahidul Alam



Facilitator Sanaiyya Ansari summing up one of the sessions. Photo: (c) Qamruzzaman/DrikNews

Journalists play an important role as both, providers of information to the public and as a resource for human rights defenders demanding accountability amongst all those who wield power in the public and private domain. Shahidul Alam, Managing Director of Drik at the opening address of the training course said, ?With Bangladesh gaining geopolitical importance, many forces are at play and human rights violations have dramatically escalated with perpetrators operating with impunity. Trained journalists will play a vital role in challenging the abuse of power.?



Trainer Shahidul Alam critiquing the work of participants. Photo: (c) Saikat Majumder/DrikNews

Journalists? right to information and the right to report are the lifeblood of their profession. However, reporting on human rights issues that plague any country is a formidable task for many. The journalists often come under threats and unwarranted arrests leading to abuse by the very authorities that have been elected to provide and protect their human rights.
Drik as a premier visual media communication provider and an organisation committed to social justice, has always aspired to make Bangladesh a country where people can exercise their right to express dissent peacefully, where information will flow freely and where knowledge and skills needed for individuals to attain their full potential are made available.



Trainer Reaz Ahmed, news editor of the Daily Star in a heated debate with the participants. Photo: (c) Qamruzzaman/DrikNews

The Learning Rights to Make a Difference, human rights training was thus formulated in partnership with Internews Network to train Bangladeshi journalists to learn new skills and examine in depth the special role accurate, fair and professional reporting and analysis play, in upholding human rights and supporting the peaceful resistance to human rights abuses.
The first part of the course from 19-21 July was instructional which used creative, interactive teaching methods, including presentations and discussion by guest lecturers and exchanges with human rights defenders, activists as well as victims. During the second part of the programme the participants were assigned to report on human rights issues under the supervision of trainers and mentors. The final part of the training was a review programme on 8-9 August where the assignments were openly evaluated by the trainers, mentors and the participants themselves.



Freelance photojournalist Prito Reza (left), Monirul Alam of Prothom Alo (centre) and Ahmed Rezwanul Zaki of Independent Television watching Prito's photo essay on access to health services. Photo: (c) Qamruzzaman/DrikNews

It is expected that the training will help the journalists contribute towards greater transparency and accountability leading to a more participatory democracy where rights of all citizens are respected.

My Journey as a Witness

Subscribe to ShahidulNews

Share

Shahidul Alam: My Journey as a Witness

Edited by Rosa Maria Falvo

  • September 23, 2011
  • Hardcover
  • Photography – Individual Photographer
  • Skira
  • 9-1/2 x 11
  • $50.00
  • $57.00
  • 978-88-572-0966-1

About This Book

An insight into the evolution of one of the most significant movements in contemporary photography, through the eyes and voice of the man who shaped it. An extraordinary artist, Shahidul Alam is a photographer, writer, activist, and social entrepreneur who used his art to chronicle the social and artistic struggles in a country known largely for poverty and disasters.
Lucid and personal, this much-awaited book includes over 100 photographs tracing Alam?s artistic career, activism, and the founding of photography organizations. From early images shot in England to photographs of the last two decades in his native Bangladesh, this is a journey from photojournalism into social justice. Alam?s superb imagery is matched by his perceptive accounts, at once deeply intimate and bitingly satirical.

About the Author

Shahidul Alam, profoundly influenced by inequality in his native Bangladesh and The Liberation War, pursued a life in photography to challenge oppression and imperialism in all its forms. Attacked, arrested, and threatened with death, Alam built what many consider to be the finest photography school in the world, an award-winning agency, and the world?s most diverse photography festival. Widely celebrated, Alam claims as his achievements not the awards and exhibitions but the people he has trained and the lives he has transformed.?Rosa Maria Falvo is a writer and curator, and Skira?s international commissions editor, specializing in Asian contemporary art.
Introductions by:
Sebasti?o Salgado
Shahidul has managed to create a community, giving it a framework and creating links, as he has already done in Bangladesh. This is not merely another virtual community, like so many others, which have undoubtedly demonstrated their utility, but a truly concrete ensemble, which is a composite of all generations attached to their native soil, who share a much vaster territory than that of any one country. The territory I speak of is, of course, the photographic world of Shahidul Alam, which is also mine, as well as each and every one of ours. A world where we can daily sense our conscience and our faith in our planet.
and
Raghu Rai
In India we have many more photographers, some of them very good, and there are many galleries for art and especially photography. As well as reputed newspapers and magazines ? much is happening on many levels. But we don?t have a Shahidul Alam, who can combine them into a cohesive social and creative force.
The book was launched in Dhaka on the 23rd September 2011
The touring version on the exhibition will open at the Wilmotte Gallery (formerly Patrick Litchfield’s studio) in London on the 6th October 2011
The London launch (Grand Hyatt Churchill) will take place on the 10th October 2011
The New Delhi launch (Habitat Centre) will take place on the 15th October 2011
The New York launch (Rizolli Book Store) is on the 10th November 2011
A trailer for the book:

Majority World Agency poised for lift off

London, 16th March 2011.

MAJORITY WORLD?, the socially responsible image agency, announces major expansion plan at ?Responsible Business?, Business Design Centre, London, 17-18 March 2011 Inspiring images, responsibly sourced MAJORITY WORLD? is a picture agency with a difference. It promotes the work of talented local photographers in the majority world ? Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East – enabling them to gain a fairer share of the global image market. Their work is often overlooked through inadequate access to global markets, or when organisations fly in western photographers for assignments rather than choosing to use and nurture local talent. It will also increasingly reveal the unique insider perspective that comes from local photographers? images and stories. Hence its wider mission to ?open doors and open minds?. MAJORITY WORLD? is pleased to announce that it has secured vital new start up investment from Stichting DOEN in the Netherlands as well as from two of its founder directors. As a result of this vote of confidence, MAJORITY WORLD? can now embark on its ambitious expansion plan. A new full time team will provide the expertise and dynamism needed to boost revenue growth, which in turn translates directly into increasing flows of commission funds into majority world economies. MAJORITY WORLD? is registered in the UK as a Community Interest Company. Talking of its socially responsible brand, Ben Marshall, Creative Director, Landor Associates, worldwide branding & design consultants confirms, ?The global potential of the MAJORITY WORLD? brand is massive.? Dr. Colin Hastings, Co-founder of MAJORITY WORLD?, speaks of the opportunities the organisation?s new investment can realise. ?We are much more than a photo library; we are a cause. To date we have been refining and testing our business model and our social impact. Now we can actually make it happen? Dr Shahidul Alam, Co-Founder, Chairman and International Ambassador, will also be speaking at the event on 18th March, 11.00 ? 11.30. The title of his presentation is ?Behaving responsibly towards the developing world: the secrets of successful north/south partnerships?. The MAJORITY WORLD? founders will be at the exhibition to explain their innovative approach which helps photographic entrepreneurs in the majority world to build sustainable businesses whilst creating new added value opportunities for CSR professionals in the minority world. To understand the full picture: ? Visit MAJORITY WORLD? on stand 126 at Responsible Business 2011, Business Design Centre, London, 17 ? 18 March 2011. ? Visit www.majorityworld.com ? For interviews with Shahidul Alam or Colin Hastings, contact Clare Puddifoot +44(0)7876553879. – ENDS – Dr Colin Hastings www.majorityworld.com/ Visit Majority World on stand 126 at Responsible Business 2011 www.responsiblebusinessevent.org/

Pathshala excels in Sony World Photography Awards

Subscribe to ShahidulNews

Share

Tushikur Rahman and GMB Akash shortlisted in prestigious photo contest.

Tushikur Rahman, a second year student of the three year BA programme in photography at Pathshala South Asian Media Academy, was yesterday announced as one of the 10 photographers from across the world who have been short listed for the 2011 Sony World Photography Awards Student Focus competition.
Tushikur’s short listed images have triumphed over hundreds of images entered from around the world into the world’s one of the most high profile student photography programme and award, says a press release issued from London yesterday.

Photo: Tushikur Rahman

Being shortlisted, Tushikur has two parts to his prize. Firstly, his image will be exhibited as part of the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House in London and secondly, he will be flown to London in April to take part in the World Photography Festival London and in the final stage of the competition.

Pathshala is one of the ten academic institutions and the only one from Asia to be shortlisted.

Former student GMB Akash?s pictures of people travelling, precariously, on the roofs on trains in Bangladesh has been shortlisted in the professional section Travel category.

Majed Miya, a carpenter, on the roof of the Dhaka to Mymensing train. He has travelled this way for two decades, going to Dhaka for work and returning weekly to his family in Mymensing. In Bangladesh many people ride on the roofs of trains as frequently that is the only space available. For others, the fares are too high and can be avoided or reduced by travelling on the roof. However, this practice also leads to regular accidents, many of them fatal. ??GMB Akash

Bangladesh double in World Press Photo

Subscribe to ShahidulNews


Share



While Bangladesh might be the minnows in test cricket. In the field of photography, Bangladesh has carved a space for itself. Former students of the prestigious Joop Swart Masterclass, GMB Akash, Andrew Biraj, Munem Wasif and Saiful Huq Omi are amongst the finest photographers around today. Abir Abdullah, a student of the first World Press Photo seminar series in 1998, was a member of the international jury this year.
The international jury of the premier contest World Press Photo,?is considered the UN of photojournalism.?Its accolades are coveted by photographers across the world. Shahidul Alam, who has been a juror on four occasions, is the only Asian to have chaired the international jury, ?Besides these Pathshala photographers, Shafiqul Alam Kiron, a photographer from the MAP agency has also been a winner in the past.
Andrew Biraj was also a winner (3rd Prize) in the Daily Life category this year, with the following image:

The results of the 54th annual World Press Photo Contest were announced during a press conference at the Boekmanzaal in the Amsterdam City Hall, Amstel. This year again a record number of photographs with 108,059 images were submitted by 5,847 photographers. The photographers represent 125 different nationalities.
The members of the jury were:
Chair
? David Burnett, USA, photojournalist and founding member Contact Press Images
Members
? Abir Abdullah, Bangladesh, photographer EPA and vice principal Pathshala South Asian Media Academy
? Vince Aletti, USA, freelance critic
? Koji Aoki, Japan, chief photographer Aflo sport / Aflo dite and president Aflo Co., Ltd.
? Peter Bialobreszki, Germany, artist
? Harry Borden, UK, photographer
? Giovanna Calvenzi, Italy, picture editor Sportweek / La Gazzetta dello Sport
? Marizilda Cruppe, Brazil, photographer O Globo / Eve Photographers
? Ruth Eichhorn, Germany, director of photography Geo
? Renata Ferri, Italy, photo editor Io Donna – Corriere Della Sera
? Heinz Kluetmeier, USA, photographer Sports Illustrated
? Mattias Klum, Sweden, photographer and filmmaker
? H?ric Libong, Cameroon, head of photo department Panapress
? Enric Mart?, Spain, regional editor AP for Latin America and Caribbean
? Wim Melis, The Netherlands, curator Noorderlicht
? Terence Pepper, UK, curator of photographs National Portrait Gallery
? Sujong Song, South Korea, independent curator and photo editor
? Sophie Stafford, UK, BBC Wildlife Magazine
? Aidan Sullivan, UK, vice president photo assignment Getty Images
Secretaries
? Daphn? Angl?s, France/USA, European picture coordinator The New York Times
? Stephen Mayes, UK, managing director VII Photo Agency
Former student Andrew Biraj, is currently a teacher at Pathshala The South Asian Media Academy

Morten Krogvold Workshop

Subscribe to ShahidulNews

Share

Chobi Mela VI 2011

Photo: Farzana Hossen

First of all, I would like to thank all 26 of the students in this workshop for being willing to undertake hard labor and endure pressure to push limits, break boundaries and grow. If have been critical in the beginning, it was because of my own passionate belief that they could succeed at a level they might not themselves imagine. I feel a responsibility to give them this opportunity to concentrate on what is most important, and to discover the joy in that hard, demanding work.
I am very happy that they now understand that photography is about self-discovery. I am pleased, and they should be pleased, about this wonderful work. This is their moment, and they should enjoy every bit of it.
A special thanks to Shehab, who has been very important in helping this to succeed.

Morten Krogvold
January 2011




?





















A Different Bangladesh


Share


Photo: Sigrun Aker NordengMENTOR AND STUDENT. Photographer Morten Krogvold is pleased with student Prasit Stapith’s picture in the photo exhibition. Photo: Sigrun Aker Nordeng

Last 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.

28 photo students from Bangladesh and Nepal could this week show their pictures during the?Chobi Mela festival in Bangladesh after a seven day workshop supported by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. World renowned Norwegian photographer, Morten Krogvold, was once again responsible for the workshop, which has taken place since 2002.

?The Slum Trap?

Photo: Faisal AzaminPhoto: Faisal Azamin

Krogvold 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 HossenPhoto: Farzana Hossen

The 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?.

Photo: Morten KrogvoldMAJESTIC 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 Krogvold

Last 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!

With art exhibitions?nationally and internationally, as well as workshops and seminars all over the world,?Morten?Krogvold?has establish himself as well-known?photographer on the world scene. Now, you have the opportunity of seeing his pictures right here in Bangladesh!

Morten KrogvoldMorten Krogvold

Photo 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.