Perspectives in Photography

On the morning of March 2, 2025, I took my child to the CPB Prism Children's Photography Workshop at the Egmore Museum Complex, Chennai, a wonderful initiative by the Chennai Photo Biennale to introduce young minds to the art of photography. While the kids were busy attending the workshop, I took the opportunity to explore the surroundings, capturing moments that spoke to me as a photographer.

The workshop began at 10:00 AM, amidst a partly cloudy sky and a warm, yet comfortable, morning. The temperature was around 31°C with a light breeze weaving through the museum complex, offering subtle relief from the city’s rising heat. The setting was good - not just for the young photographers in the workshop, but also for anyone seeking inspiration in everyday scenes, but with slight over exposure due to sunny weather.

Although the workshop is only for Children’s, I carried my camera along, looking for interesting perspectives while staying within the museum complex without entering the buildings. One particular composition that stood out to me was a series of shots featuring Dr. Shankar, our beloved friend who had also brought his daughter to the workshop. This led to the creation of what I titled ‘Layers of Perception’ - an experiment in depth and focus.

In one shot, Dr. Shankar’s face was in sharp focus, while the background - a blur of people, photographic exhibits, and an ongoing conversation - remained softly out of focus. In another, I reversed the focus - bringing the background into clarity while Dr. Shankar’s face became a blur, shifting the viewer’s attention and altering the entire perception of the scene. This simple shift in focus fascinated me, as it highlighted how our perception of a moment changes depending on where we choose to focus our attention. It reminded me that just as in photography, in life too, a change in perspective can reveal an entirely new story.

Layers of Perception

While my child and the other young photographers were deeply engrossed in their workshop, I found myself equally immersed in my own exploration of the space. The open-air exhibits, the way light filtered through the trees, and the candid interactions unfolding around me all became part of my storytelling through the lens.

This experience reinforced a valuable lesson - art is not confined to gallery walls. It exists in the spaces we pass by, in the faces we see every day, and in the small, fleeting moments that often go unnoticed.

While my role that day was primarily as a parent accompanying a young participant, my camera made sure I walked away with my own learning and experiences. That day served as a beautiful reminder that photography is not just about what we see - but how we choose to see it.