Shutterbugs go click-happy with CamEra camaraderie

KOLKATA: A lone tram chugging down the lush, green Maidan. Morning-walkers stopping over at Territti Bazar for a sumptuous Chinese breakfast. Anglers squatting patiently for a catch at the Laldighi in a quiet Dalhousie. Bow Barracks waking up to the first rays of the sun. Fleeting images of a serene, early morning Kolkata that we miss out once the city is stirred to life.Snapshots like these and many more were clicked by a group of enthusiastic shutterbugs who roamed the streets of the city as part of CamEra, a photo contest that seeks to chronicle the heritage of Kolkata, organized by The Times of India and banglanatak.com.
The participants, more than 50 of them, were taken on a "photowalk" around BBD Bag, Territi Bazar, Dacres Lane, Laldighi and Bow Barracks on Sunday morning. The idea, according Amitabha Bhattacharya of banglanatak.com, was to allow them a chance to shoot unusual images of some of the heritage spots of the city. "As the day begins, these spots look different and unique. You can't catch the same spirit later in the day," said Bhattacharya.
More than 350 are taking part in CamEra and have been shooting in various parts of Kolkata since July. Each of them, working under a mentor, will get to exhibit their best photographs at galleries to be set up at various locations around Kolkata between September 20 and 22 and September 27 and 29.
The walk turned out to be a journey of discovery for the participants. Dipanjan Banerjee, an engineer who loves to shoot at leisure, said he had never expected Territi Bazar to be a lively food station that it turned out to be. "I had heard about it, but watching it and clicking photos was an experience. The fish market on the road makes the place even livelier and colourfuI. "Territi Bazar represents the cosmopolitan flavour of central Kolkata," gushed Banerjee.
Fellow shutterbag Sayan Gupta was left fascinated by Bow Barracks. "I have been there a couple of times, but never so early in the day. The brick-red buildings appeared frozen in time and looked unreal in the stillness of the morning. The inhabitants, their lifestyle and the entire area is different from the rest of the city. It's any photographer's dream destination," Gupta said.
Student Ankana Chakrabarty loved shooting on the empty streets around Writers' Buildings. "Just remove the crowd and the area looks different. It seemed that the majestic buildings have come alive. I loved the adventure of shooting an early-morning Kolkata," she said. Plus-two student Arindam Mukherjee loved the camaraderie among the lensmen.
"I enjoyed the trip as much as the bond that we developed instantly. We shared ideas and took tips from each other. It was a learning experience," he said. Clicking photos at Territi Bazar was a novel experience, he added. "The food stalls, the market and the people have a unique character. No place in Kolkata is quite like that," he said.