The Department of Communication, S N School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad, organised a two-day celebration of World Photography Day 2025 on 19th and 20th August, with a photo exhibition running from 19th to 23rd August at the Annexe Building of the School. The programme brought together students, faculty, and professionals from photography and filmmaking to share their knowledge and experiences.

The celebrations began on 19th August with a Master Class by Vivo Technologies, where representatives demonstrated the potential of mobile photography. Participants were shown how to use phone cameras effectively, exploring features, lighting techniques, and framing to create professional-quality images.

 

This was followed by the inauguration of the photo exhibition by Prof. B. J. Rao, Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad, in the presence of Prof. K. K. Senthil, cinematographer and Guest of Honour, and Prof. M. S. Sivaraju, Dean, S N School of Arts and Communication, who presided over the event. The exhibition, spread across two halls, showcased works capturing themes ranging from wildlife and nature to portraits and everyday life.

K K Senthil Kumar, Director of Photography, Baahubali

The inaugural session featured addresses by dignitaries, beginning with the welcome remarks by Dr. Janardhan Rao Cheeli, Department of Communication, followed by greetings from the sponsors. Prof. M. S. Sivaraju delivered the presidential address, and Prof. K. K. Senthil spoke about the art and challenges of cinematography. The inaugural address was delivered by Prof. B. J. Rao, who highlighted the significance of photography in today’s society. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Satya Prakash, Head, Department of Communication.

 

A Master Talk on Cinematography by Prof. K. K. Senthil, known for his work on Baahubali and RRR, followed. He spoke about the creative and technical aspects of cinematography, the relationship between camera and storytelling, and the difficulties filmmakers face in translating vision into images. He underlined that filmmaking is not only about visuals but also about the emotions they carry.

Venkataramana Mallojjala popularly known as Photriya Venky famous Photographer and Filmmaker

 

The afternoon sessions turned to specialised fields of photography. Mr. Photriya Venky, portrait photographer, delivered a lecture on portrait photography, sharing experiences from wedding shoots and beyond. He stressed that portraiture is built on emotion rather than technical perfection. In response to a question, he remarked, “If I had to choose between a perfect composition with no emotions and an imperfect composition filled with emotions, I would always choose emotions.” His session demonstrated how lighting and framing can bring out the essence of human presence.

Next, Mr. Sanjeev Siva, wildlife photographer and tiger conservationist, spoke on wildlife photography, particularly his decade-long documentation of tiger lineages across sanctuaries such as Kanha National Park. His work highlighted the importance of conservation photography in raising awareness about declining tiger populations and questioning existing protection measures.

 

The final lecture of the day was delivered by Mr. Harsha Vadlamani, photojournalist associated with National Geographic. His session on photojournalism explored the power of images in narrating human struggles. He shared his project on the COVID-19 pandemic in a tribal belt near a tiger reserve, where he spent over 45 days documenting life inside hospitals and villages. He also presented his coverage of the farmers’ protests in Punjab and Delhi, and protests at Jantar Mantar, underlining the role of photography in chronicling contemporary social movements.

 

The celebrations continue on 20th August with further lectures and discussions, while the exhibition remains open to visitors until 23rd August.

 

  • By Mahi Sharma, MA Communication (Media Studies)