The Department of Mass Communication, University of Hyderabad, hosted Day 2 of the 3rd edition of World Photography Day, bringing together cinematographers, professional photographers, and industry practitioners for a day of talks, screenings, and discussion, followed by a panel session and a prize distribution ceremony honouring student and participant photographers.

Special Talk by Cinematographer PG Vinda

The day began with a special talk by acclaimed cinematographer PG Vinda, President of the Telugu Cinematographers Association, Managing Director of Cinematica Expo, and Director of Cinica Creators Council, in conversation with creator-producer Anjali Devi Bellamkonda. The session opened with a screening of a cinematographic reel of his work, followed by welcome saplings presented by Prof. Madhavi Ravikumar.

Vinda, whose credits include Grahanam, Ashta Chamma, Gentleman, Loafer, Sammohanam, and V, and who made his directorial debut with The Lotus Pond, shared his journey through the evolution of cinematography varying from electronic media and early digital filmmaking to contemporary motion-picture and next-generation filmmaking technologies.

Shalini Korada on Maternity and Newborn Photography

The second session featured Shalini Korada, a former corporate HR professional (2014–2023) turned photographer, who launched her own studio in December 2023 after winning her first award earlier that year. Korada spoke on her transition into photography as a career, structured pathways for aspiring photographers, core techniques of composition, lighting, storytelling, and post-processing, and practical aspects of gear, budgeting, workflow, and branding.

Panel Discussion

The panel discussion featured photographers CH Srinivas (commercial, fashion, and advertising photography), Sampath Kumar (pictorial photography), Bhoopal Kumar, P. Raghuram (content creation), and Abhimanyu Reddy. Moderated by Bhoopal Kumar, the discussion covered advertising and commercial photography, a screening of festival photography from Bathukamma, the upskilling of photographers, and short-form video content.

Dr. Cheeli delivered the welcome address for the closing session, thanking the guests, Buffalo Media, Shutter Society, and all participants, while Sai Thejeshwar Basuthkar, Co-founder of Shutter Society, offered a vote of thanks as a collaborating partner of the programme. The prize distribution ceremony, judged by Bhaskar Raju and Charles Pritam, recognised the first, second and third prize winners Arkodeep Roy, Teppala Sahiti, Sayak Pal respectively. The Consolation prizes and certificates of merit were also distributed by Prof. Satya Prakash followed by an exchange of mementos between the department, panel guests, Shutter Society and Buffalo Media, bringing the two-day celebration of World Photography Day 2026 to a close.

Contributed by : Eishita, M. A Communication. Muhammed Fariz Mirza M. A Communication