Interview of Debatosh sengupta

For you I have interviewed Mr Debatosh sengupta .His biodata and interview are given below. You can contact him on his email debatoshsengupta@hotmail.com for any further query. As always I am waiting for your mails.............Rajendra

Debatosh sengupta, B.Sc, M.A, PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication, Diploma in Photography, an Associate of the Royal Photographic society, Great Britain, an Artist Federation International de ‘la Art Photographique, Belgium, and a Fellow of Federation of Indian Photography, Life Member of the FIP and PAD, is the Director, Photo Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, New Delhi. He was also the Registrar of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata. A former Museum Photographer, initiated photography in 1970, and exhibited interest to study MAN with divergent ethnic and cultural origin having Negroid to Nordic in this country, also developed interest for the study of Nature & environment and finally is involved in the Government as a press photographer with a special emphasis on the VVIP’s and documentation of changing scenario what the country sees. Traveled extensively to the remotest place from the North to South and East to West of the country for the ethnographic documentation and also visited the neighboring country and continent e.g. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Soviet Russia (Russia, Georgia and, Azerbaijan), Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Colombia, Cyprus, Oman, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, South Africa, Namibia, Turkey, China, Japan, Brazil, Maxico, Chilli and Mauritius for providing photo coverage’s of the President, the Vice-President and the Prime Ministers. He has a fantastic collection of works on Child and Women in India.
He is more concerned with Pictorial work, as will be evident from the acceptance of more than 200 of his works in the National and International exhibitions and also been able to contribute something positive for the promotion and development of photography as a visiting lecturer for a number of Government and Private organisations, Workshop-Guide and Trainer, organiser of Salons and seminars, Moderator and paper setter for the vocational institute and judges for many National and International exhibitions. He has earned laurels both at home and abroad. He is the winner of UNESCO/ACCU Award, Indo-Soviet Friendship award, Gronftsher Photo Award, UNESCO World Photo Award, Lalit Kala Akademi Award, UP State Lalit Kala Akademi Award and many more.
He has been conferred with life time achievement award by the Academy of Visual Media, New Delhi in 2007. He has just recently been conferred with the one of the highest honour ESFIA(excellence service Federation International de l’ art Photographique) for the service in photography by the UN recognized organization FIAP, Belgium.
As a Photo Journalist he has not only provided the main coverage for the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi from the day he assumes office in 1984 till 1989, but also was the Photographer on behalf of the Government of India to provide the coverage of the historic visit of Dr. Nelson Mandela to India in 1990 and 1995 besides having the attachment with many foreign Heads of States. He has the experience of attending and covering the historic inauguration of the first black President of South Africa in 1994. He has the honour of traveling with the Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi to Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee for photographic coverage of their visits within the country and abroad. He is amongst few in the world who has attended the Non-Alignment Summit for five times and UN for three times as a media representative.
As Director Photo Division, he has taken up the job of complete digitalization of its collection with the state of art technology, and also made an opportunity for the cross referencing of the entire photo archives allowing the users from any part of the globe to access the materials. He has also recently conducted a unique training programme for the photo reporter and report of the Bakhter News Agency in Afghanistan to initiate their National Digital Photo Archive at Kabul.
His photographs are published in many National Daily’s, Journals, Regional Newspapers, Books, Catalogue, Govt. Calender etc. . He is the contributing author of the book Learn Photography. He has contributed/published many articles on photography.
Besides his involvement as photographer he is also significantly contributed in other form of performing arts as a playwright, Director and Actor for a number of plays. He is the author of at least 10 short plays and 2 full-length dramas. He is also a freelancing drama critic and News Reader (Bengali) with All India Radio. He has the passion of writing and reciting poetry and short story. He has received a number of Awards as best playwright and Director for Bengali short plays in Kolkata and New Delhi.
He has the rare honour of putting up ten solo exhibition of photographic Art at Bhopal, Indore, New Delhi, Kolkata and Santiniketan besides participating in more than 30 group shows in the country and abroad. He is a regular exhibitor of the National Photo Exhibition organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, Delhi Shahitya Kala Parishad etc.
Lalit Kala Akademi has sponsored one of his solo exhibitions in 1995 to mark his Silver Jubilee Year in Photography. Visva Bharati sponsored his solo exhibition in 2000 at the Nandan Art Gallery, Shantiniketan. Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture in Kolkata organised his solo exhibition in its Museum and Art gallery. That was a rare exhibition as it was supposed to be first ever solo exhibition put up by the Museum in RKMIC. Recently Chitra Kala Sangam of Delhi has put up his unique solo show titled “Planet Earth”
He has compiled and edited the Book MAHATMA GANDHI, A PICTORIAL ALBLUM brought out by the Photo Division to mark the celebration of 100 years Satyagraha.

To begin at the beginning… how did you get started?

I can’t say that it is a mater of chance, because my first love was theatre in which I was actively associated as a Director, playwright as well as an actor between my age of 19-25. But photography is hereditary. My father was keen in photography. Though not in profession, he had his hand made camera in the period of 1940’s. He has encouraged younger generation to work and create photographic work. As a result it was the birth of Photographic Association of Dum Dum in 1957 with Benu Sen, his elder son as one of the founder member with his next younger brother and friends/ associates. And the blood spread through all the five son’s of Manindranath to be associated with photography, Benu being the eldest.

However as my first love was theatre and wanted to take it as a profession I never thought of taking photography that seriously, excepting to hold the traditional torch. And that may also be a reason I initiated with photography little late i.e. after completion of Higher Secondary Exam i.e. 1969 and later actively associated since 1970. It was a matter of chance that I got my first offer of a government job in photography in 1975 in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and that’s the beginning and going on.

What equipment you currently using and why. Do you think costly equipments are necessary for good photography?

I have no passion of choosing a camera. Whatever camera I get, I like to shoot with that. First camera I used in brother’s studio was a folding camera with a cap as a shutter and individual negative plate. But with that I have also used Beatiflex Twin Lens Reflex camera. I possessed my first Camera Yashica TL a SLR that too sometime at the end of seventy.

However for official works I have started using Rolleiflex TLR as well as Rollei SLR , Leica, Graflex during my first two years in the new profession. After leaving Health organization I got associated with Museum of Man (presently known as the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manab Sangrahalaya) where I started using Nikon, Mamya, Canon as well as 16mm film cameras etc. I have used a various type of camera.

AT the moment I have been equipped with both D2X as well as D300 besides my conventional cameras like 90X, FM2, FG20 all Nikon brand. Though personally I feel as a creative worker it is not the camera which works it is the man behind the camera which works. But as a teacher in Photography I do emphasise that equipments play a very important role. And the requirement of camera depends not on trade mark but by the type of your work. As a pictorialist you can use any camera. If you are a sensitive photographer you can even create excellent photographs with a compact camera.
People discuss on the digital camera and think in terms of the mega pixel and decide the camera on the basis of its Mega-pixel. But I think mega pixel may be one factor but what is important is the sensor of the digital camera.

Camera has some special role to play. Like for fashion you need different type of cameras, for advertising your need again different one and simultaneously for Photo Journalism your requirement is further different. So it depends on your association and output.

Which medium you prefer, b/w, colour film, colour transparency and why? You like conventional or digital photography.

This is obviously a difficult question to answer for a professionals. Particularly when he involved in multifarious activities. As many of you possibly know that I grown up in a situation seeing only the creative work, ie pictorial photography as a whole. In my formative years I have no passion than the creative work. And that possibly comes automatically with most of the people that his world is the only world of work and that is final. But when you are in a broader world and see the sea changes in the fields with the passage of time, then you realize that your requirement is different. Now as a specific pictorial photographer I would definitely express my reflect that I do prefer the Black and White pictures and there is many reasons for it. But it does not necessarily mean that I don’t like coulour photograph. These are all the necessity for a professional as he has to produce something on order and needs. You can say it is like a bonded labour, because you have to fulfill the need of your client. But off course so far as the colour film and the transparency is concerned it is obvious the preference would be tp. The reason is the technology and reliability of the materials. Moreover it gives you to see the original effects what you wanted to presents. Which is missing in the colour films?
But the other question of spelling the liking of the conventional or Digital one, it would again be a vague answer. As the tools an the raw materials depends on what you would like to produce. Moreover you have to admit that with the change of time the technology is being changed. And with the change of technology and modernization the approach of the working is also being changed. Twenty five years back no one could visualize the revolution on the information technology. Infact all you know there was a tremendous political turmoil when Rajiv Gandhi tried to introduce the computer. When people shifted from the big format camera to miniature camera there was tremendous confusion amongst the user whether they would be able to produce a large size print out a picture taken with the 35mm camera. Similarly when digital camera came it was from minimum megapixels. Now it from one to two, two to five or six and people can think of even a fifty megapixel cameras. We were not aware of the technology and its handlings and the outcome. Things have changed. Conventional materials are being removed from the market. Naturally you need to depend on the new technology. Moreover one thing is very clear and that is you have many control in your hand.
I can site an example of the benefit of the digital technology or using the digital camera. I being a professional in the photojournalism also what I need is to dispatch my materials at the shortest time. In the eighties when we use to accompany the vvips like the Prime Minister or the President or any other visiting heads of states to provide the photo publicity of the respective vvips, your first and foremost work was to dispatch the materials to your headquarter or your country. Now when you take a photograph with a conventional camera then first you have to rush to the lab and process the films and make few prints out of your coverage. Then you have to rush your nearest overseas communication centre to radio photo the same. Once your dispatch is over then your headquarter has to be alert to collect the materials from the respective OCS for production in the newspaper or if you are in an agency then reproduce the same and distribute amongst the clients. This process on many occasions kills your deadlines as the entire process takes not less then three to four hours even more. Now with the present communication system you can send your picture directly from the venue to your users. Users can put the images directly for pagination. Many other possibilities are available.
Need of the equipments for Industrial work is different; similarly you need to have a different type of equipments when you are involved in advertising work. For easy creation and the manipulation for ad materials digital manipulation is obviously more supportable. Today IT has invaded globe, tomorrow technology may again be changed. It would not be wise to stick to one. Accept every new thing and as long as it is continuing let us also take the advantage of such medium if it is worth. Must not be surprised by many ifs and buts. This is obvious and has to survive on it. So it is better to be open to use the medium what you need for the outcome of your ultimate production.

Have you studied photography any where?

Yes I have a formal study of one year basics and after the successful completion of the same two years diploma course in photography.

Can you name few photographers who influenced you or you find that you consciously or unconsciously copy his style.

It is very difficult question to answer. But if you think in terms of influencing in my work in photography two names definitely comes ie i. Benu Sen, my elder brother and the living legend of Indian photographic art. and ii. Chandralekha my wife. But I can confidently state it is not the style of the work of Benu Sen which I ever thought to copy or imbibe the style which have been done by many next generation PAD’ ians, but I was influenced by his dedication for the medium and his style of encouragement which motivate and give support to do something creative. And my wife she has not only having a good vision and understanding she has a sense of DEKHA by which she can motivate one to produce more perfect work. But truly speaking I was never been influenced by any one’s work and tried to create the work of my own from my own understanding and sense. I can appreciate the work of Raja Deendayal, J Anuwala, Homai Vyarawalla , Benu Sen, O P Sharma, C Rajagopal, Waman Thakre or Bourne, Shephered, Methew Brady, Alfred Eisensteadt, Henry Cartier Bresso, Arther Rothstein, Alfred Stiegletz, Margaret Burkee White, Robert Capa, Ansel Adam, Yousuf Carsh, Wellington Lee, Pedro Luis Raota, Jerry Uelsmann or many more from England, Finland, German, Russia, China, Vietnam, Japan etc. but I was never been influenced by any legends ever. My feeling for my work is that what impress me as a good picture that is good. I always like to look something new. But one thing I would like to clearly mention that before I express such confidence I should be very clear about my work and should be able to spell out why I like that particular picture.

How would you rate Indian photographers with their International counterparts?

I can’t reply on such questions. Because I feel comparison in such professional field would be a foolish job. Every where you will find good worker. Each division of photography has produced many great workers. Indians are also not lacking behind. In the pictorials or creative field Indian photographers are in the steering seat. In the fashion and the advertising line Indian contribution is equally important. In photojournalism again there are many photographers who have a tremendous contribution.

What are the most important point to consider when you are photographing anything?

This is the most important question. There are many important points to be kept in mind. Firstly I would prefer to study my assignments. This is applicable for any kind of assignments. When one study his assignment he has to keep many things in mind. As par example what are the things are involved. It may involve the person, products, atmosphere, projects and many things. So before taking the actual shooting one has to go through each one of the things. Once this part is over then you have to take the technical aspect in terms of its presentation, contents, placement, quality of your final product, use of a proper lighting etc. Each of this has a different need and one has to fulfill the same to get a good product. But one important term we should keep in mind ie. BALANCE. Picture needs to be a balanced one. When one use this term balance it hast to be balance in all respect, means it has to be compositional balance, subjective balance, tonal balance, colour balance, and so on.

In the age of automatic cameras do you feel that basic knowledge of photography techniques is necessary for better photography?

Obviously yes. As without knowing the alphabet one cannot write a poetry and without knowing the grammar one cannot write a correct sentence, similarly without knowing the basic one cannot be a good photographer. Basic is the first step of your goal. One may ask what is necessary to learn about the basic starting from the conventional system. Reply is simple and you can make out if you can define it properly. Firstly what do we mean about photography. Photography is nothing but a scientific process of obtaining the sketch by a means of light. Where does it indicate whether it is conventional or it’s a digital. And secondly it does stand on two basic principles. For conventional it is the optical principle and the chemical principle and in case of digital it is optical principle and mathematical principle. So what does it mean is a type of camera and its technology. That is the practical aspect. One must try to go in depth on the basic of photography.

Which field of photography – Pictorial, Journalism, Nature, Fashion Still life or Advertising you like most.

I being a photographer associated with the Government and the department which is involved in multifarious activities, which involves everything. And also I am personally involved in multifarious activities. I do love pictorial work. But pictorial means is not the typical salon picture. Now style of work in all the areas have changed. As per example the news picture or the reference of photojournalism what we see this day major are pictorially excellent. Particularly the photo agencies are very particular in selecting pictures. I am involved in nature and photojournalism and other branches equally.

Is there anything in particular would you like to share with budding photographers?

I would like to mention one point that we need to be dedicated to our job. A sincere honest attitude only can help us in doing good work.