Pics: Thejaswi U Poojary

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Aug 25: Abharan Jewellers, ‘The Original’, Udupi, celebrated World Photography Day on August 25 at its showroom by felicitating five renowned photographers for their contributions to the field.

The programme began with a prayer rendered by staff member Ananya Achar. The chief guest for the occasion was businessman Vishwanath Shenoy.

Subhash M Kamath, Managing Director of Abharan Jewellers, felicitated photographers Astro Mohan, Krishna Shirali, Naveen Ballal, Vidya P Hebbar, and Anirudh Pai.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishwanath Shenoy said, “Today we have the privilege of honouring photographers. Managing 20 branches of Abharan ‘The Original’ is not an easy task, yet it has been done with remarkable ease. The joy is visible not only on the faces of those felicitated but also among the organisers of this programme.”

Renowned photographer Astro Mohan, on receiving the honour, recalled the origins of World Photography Day. He said, “On August 19, 1839, the French government made photography accessible to the public, and since then, we have been practising it freely. Photography does not belong to any one individual; it is a collective art, and that is why the day is observed as World Photography Day. Earlier, when purchasing jewellery, one had to describe the ornament, but today a photograph conveys the exact design we want. Photography is not just about images; it is the creative vision of the photographer. While Artificial Intelligence has greatly impacted the imaging industry, I urge everyone to set AI aside and rely on their own creativity. With this recognition today, our responsibility as photographers has only grown.”

Senior photographer Naveen Ballal shared his journey, saying, “I come from the era of black-and-white photography. In those days, a wedding album would consist of barely six photos, and it would take nearly two months to deliver them. Today, with rapid technological progress, cameras themselves are upgraded every six months.”

Photographer Anirudh Pai expressed gratitude, stating, “Being recognised and felicitated motivates us to keep moving forward. While most people think only of pursuing engineering and joining big companies, there are many other fields, like photography, where one can build a career and earn recognition.”

The programme was compered by Vijetha Shetty, who also welcomed the gathering.

Staff members and well-wishers were present.