It is not an uncommon sight to see a group of youngsters roaming on the City's streets with a camera in each one's hands. Whether the camera is a digicam or a fancy DSLR, no one is bothered, it is the passion for clicking that keeps them going. Given the number of photography groups in the City, it would not be wrong to call Bangalore 'The Shutterbug City'.
![Members of 'Bangalore Photography Club' during a photowalk at Lalbagh.]( "Members of 'Bangalore Photography Club' during a photowalk at Lalbagh.")
A group called Bangalore Photography Club has been acting as a platform for such shutterbugs since 2004. "A few of us came together after seeing that there was no forum for photographers to interact and learn from each other. We became active only in 2006, when we started organising exhibitions, workshops, photowalks, and even released a self-funded book called 'Bengaluru Mandi', featuring the different markets of the City," informs Mayur Channagere, one of the club founders.
He informs that the club functions as an independent entity. "It's completely free and there's no moderation - members run it in auto-mode. We've come to a point where somebody just has to say that he or she is going to shoot and people join in. For us, the challenge lies in getting good quality photography out of the members."
Another group, called Bangalore Weekend Shoots, is also active. "It's like a free workshop," notes Harish T P, who has been associated with it since last year. "I may have some creativity which others may not in terms of visualisation and framing. But in the group, you learn the finer details from each other, making it worth going for."
One thing that such groups provide is exposure. This is because a lot of times, they are called to events to shoot photographs, allowing amateur photographers to specialise in fields like concert, performing arts or fashion photography. It also acts as a learning experience because getting advice from and watching more experienced photographers at work helps shutterbugs understand where to improve.
Arun Bhat, presently a professional photographer, agrees. "Going out and shooting with fellow enthusiasts was a key driver that helped me keep the interest alive and improve my skills continuously. It was one of the important factors that helped me switch career to photography," he says.
'Bangalore Photowalk', which began five years ago, is another forum that plays host to the many shutterbugs. A hobby for some, if also helps the more serious lot explore the possibility of making a career out of their passion. "One of the foremost challenges of a common interest group is to sustain the interest of its members. Members need to take out 4-6 hours on the weekends for photowalks and to make it a worthwhile investment of their time. We hold these walks across the City and cover nature, heritage, festivals, cultural and diverse events," explains Sandeep Sreenivasa, one of the founder members.
"Many of the amateurs strive to become professionals by developing their portfolios. Peer sharing and reviews help them to learn further," he concludes.
The photowalks are conducted every weekend and see an average of 25 participants, with the highest number going to as much as 81. These figures speak for themselves and reflect that it would not be too far-fetched an idea to give Bangalore 'The Shutterbug City' tag.
A group called Bangalore Photography Club has been acting as a platform for such shutterbugs since 2004. "A few of us came together after seeing that there was no forum for photographers to interact and learn from each other. We became active only in 2006, when we started organising exhibitions, workshops, photowalks, and even released a self-funded book called 'Bengaluru Mandi', featuring the different markets of the City," informs Mayur Channagere, one of the club founders. He informs that the club functions as an independent entity. "It's completely free and there's no moderation - members run it in auto-mode. We've come to a point where somebody just has to say that he or she is going to shoot and people join in. For us, the challenge lies in getting good quality photography out of the members."
Another group, called Bangalore Weekend Shoots, is also active. "It's like a free workshop," notes Harish T P, who has been associated with it since last year. "I may have some creativity which others may not in terms of visualisation and framing. But in the group, you learn the finer details from each other, making it worth going for."
One thing that such groups provide is exposure. This is because a lot of times, they are called to events to shoot photographs, allowing amateur photographers to specialise in fields like concert, performing arts or fashion photography. It also acts as a learning experience because getting advice from and watching more experienced photographers at work helps shutterbugs understand where to improve.
Arun Bhat, presently a professional photographer, agrees. "Going out and shooting with fellow enthusiasts was a key driver that helped me keep the interest alive and improve my skills continuously. It was one of the important factors that helped me switch career to photography," he says.
'Bangalore Photowalk', which began five years ago, is another forum that plays host to the many shutterbugs. A hobby for some, if also helps the more serious lot explore the possibility of making a career out of their passion. "One of the foremost challenges of a common interest group is to sustain the interest of its members. Members need to take out 4-6 hours on the weekends for photowalks and to make it a worthwhile investment of their time. We hold these walks across the City and cover nature, heritage, festivals, cultural and diverse events," explains Sandeep Sreenivasa, one of the founder members.
"Many of the amateurs strive to become professionals by developing their portfolios. Peer sharing and reviews help them to learn further," he concludes.
The photowalks are conducted every weekend and see an average of 25 participants, with the highest number going to as much as 81. These figures speak for themselves and reflect that it would not be too far-fetched an idea to give Bangalore 'The Shutterbug City' tag.