PLUS WORKSHOP REPORT

ME BY ME PROJECT
16 – 19 February 2007
 REPORT OF THE TRAINING ON
FOUR DAYS OF STILL
PHOTOGRAPHY ON
CAPTURING IMAGE FROM THE
REALITIES OF SEX WORKERS

ORGANIZED BY:
PEOPLE LIKE US
SUPPORTED BY:
UNDP TAHA AND
WBSAP&CS
Prologue:
In Eastern India it is now a point to consider and show the world how the world of the
community people is all about- the realities of their life, their environment, the
stigmatization they face on a day to day basis, the sexual abuses and hardships they
encounter.

Considering this context UNDP had arranged for a special workshop on Photography for
the community people to let out their voices and inform the people about their life and
community at large and for promoting their issues and rights. The study provides an
opportunity to these people to advocate their issues and also raise their voices on the
arena of stigmatization. This provides the projects also with the opportunity towards
incorporating this workshop into their programmes of sustainability.

Purpose of Training of the Trainers:

The purpose of the training was to bring to focus the issues surrounding the life of the
community, their lifestyle, their story, the suffering, pain, stigmatization surrounding
their community in Eastern India. The purpose was also to advocate on those issues
through the medium of photography.

Key Training Issues:

• Basics of photography
• Historical background of the invention of camera and the explanation of the work
of creativity in photography
• The purpose behind the workshop – why the target group is required to take
photographs from the context of realities of their life and the people surrounding
their life and how they look at these subjects
• The technical issues of photography, different parts of the camera, its functions
and what are the key elements of photography
• How to make a photograph look interesting and what kinds of photographs to take
• How to portray issues from the social context
• Empowerment of the community through programme development
implementation and advocasy
• To create a trained group of the community on the issues of sustainability

Methodology followed:

• Lecture followed with participatory technique

• Picture and slide presentation
• Group Work and group discussion
• Highlighting key learning issues
• Role plays and individual role in using the camera
The Session:

Day1/February 16, 2007

The workshop started with the welcome address of the Programme Coordinator of PLUS,
Agnivo Lahiri, who welcomed all the participants and thanked UNDP for arranging the
workshop which will provide a platform for advocating future issues of the community.
He also welcomed the Resource Person, Mr. Sudesh and Zarina on behalf of UNDP
TAHA.

Mr. Sudesh welcomed all the participants and introduced himself. He said about his
background in photography and the purpose behind arranging the workshop and how he
can help the participants. He discussed what the subjects in the photographs should be on
which the participants should focus.

Zarina on behalf of UNDP TAHA discussed how the community people will benefit from
the workshop. She prepared the ground rules for the four days training programme.

Mr. Sudesh started the discussion with a question to the participants- the meaning of the
title of the workshop Me By Me. One participant got up from the group and said that it
meant “mujhse mujhko pana”. The meaning to the group became clear when the
resource person explained that me means “mein” and by me means “meri zindagi” that
the participants or members of the community can show to the world through their
photography.

The resource person wanted an introduction of the participants in five sentences. A time
limit of five minutes was given. The participants after eagerly writing down discussed
one after the other about their likes and dislikes. The resource person said that after three
days the participants are going to make him understand with the help of the photographs
that they will take what they intended to communicate to him about their likes and
dislikes. They must communicate who they are, about their world and environment with
the help of photography and he added to it that it is the essential factor of creativity in
photography that explains what you want people to understand without any verbal
communication. The next question he wanted the participants to write down was five
things about where you go to work, where you stay, about their environment. After five
minutes one participant came up and expressed what he has written about his family and
environment and the close associates surrounding him. Another participant said about his
desire of giving something to the society, his dreams and desires. The resource person
said at this point that at times we want to convey something to the world and the medium
we can use for this purpose is photography. One participant from the community said
“mein ek rangeen kisam ki insaan hoon aur mera zindagi bhi rangeen hain”. Mr.
Sudesh at this point commented that he has to show him his colourful world through
photography.
The resource person next discussed the issues
• Why the participants should take photographs
• How the photographs should reveal how the community person sees himself
and the people surrounding him
• What is photography
• Elements of photography
• What are the things that come to our mind when we see a photograph
• With the help of several photographs he discussed about the likings and
disliking in a photograph

The resource person said that the point to ponder is why we want to take photographs. He
said that every individual has different perspective about a photograph. He proved his
point by showing several photographs and taking the views of different individual. He
said that even if we have different perspective we must be able to judge a photograph
looking at the positive and negative sides of it. This will help the participants to take a
better photograph. He showed several pictures and each individual from the group was
asked to analyze the pictures. He showed a picture of a child smiling and he asked one
participant what he felt about it. The participant named Rajkumar responded that the
picture reminded him of his childhood. He also said that whenever he is sad if he looked
at the picture the picture has the quality to make him feel happy.
The resource person spoke about the several elements in photography
• Emotion
• Light
• Contradiction
• Colour
• Movement
• A different clarity (which he defined as “kuch alaag dikhna chahiye”)
• A picture that portrays thousand words

He showed different photographs that described each element that constitutes a

photograph. He said that the subject in a photograph must feel comfortable and must be
natural which will make the photograph look different. A pose in a photograph that is
natural will bring a different outlook and will attract the viewer since usually when we
take a photograph we make the viewer pose for it. He showed some photographs
portraying emotion and asked the participants their views regarding it and the emotions
coming out from the picture. He added that a good photograph is one that captures
interesting reactions of the subject. He advised the participants to analyze a photograph
every time they look at one in a magazine or book or any where else.
Next he spoke on the issue of light. He showed a picture and enquired about the
brightness and the emotion and effect the picture is portraying because of the brightness.
The participants spoke about the emotional life surrounding the subject due to the
brightness. One participant said “yea admi koi gehera soch mein hain” another spoke
about the emotional perspective of the subject. The resource person added to this and
asked whether the picture might be saying a story about the subject? To this most of the
participants agreed. He also added that since a part of the light is focusing on some of the
parts in the picture this is adding some inner meaning to that part.
While speaking on the topic of colour he again showed several photographs. There was
one picture about a girl wearing a lot of makeup on her face. One participant from the
group commented “lal raang ankh mein laag raha hain. Lag raha hain ki yea ladki
bahut dukhi hai. Yea tasvir dekh ke mujhe bahut dukh ho raha hai”. The resource
person spoke about how different colours can have different interpretations upon the
viewers like he said that blue is a sportive and gay colour. He said that when light falls on
a subject it can change the mood of the photograph. It also portrays where we want the
subject to stand. He also spoke about the contradictions and through several photographs
showed how contradictions can exist. While speaking on this point he also said that while
looking at a photograph there must be a reaction towards the picture and that the viewer
must not merely look at it. A good photograph is one which portrays some emotion and
the person viewing it must also have a feel of it. On the topic of contradiction he said
that we can keep contradictions in a photo to make it more interesting. Contradictions he
said might happen in any sense and he showed some photographs to make the topic clear
to the participants.
On the topic of a picture portraying thousand words he began with the quotation “a
picture is worth a thousand words”. He said that even a photograph can reveal the story
of a person. He advised the participants to shoot such pictures that the viewer can tell a
lot of things about the picture on looking at it. He showed some interesting photographs
one of a cat gazing at an empty bottle of wine. One participant said “sayed billi apni
parchai ko dekh raha hain” another added that the cat is not in its normal
environment and the proportion of the bottle in contrast to the cat is giving the
picture a different look and making it more interesting.
The resource person said that it is not necessary that the viewer has to like the picture or
the environment in which one might have shot a picture. The person shooting a picture
must take the subject out of his normal environment to make the picture look different.
He showed some more pictures to show how the subject when taken out of his normal
environment carries a different expression on the viewer. There should be he said,
therefore, contradictions in size, environment, status, distance. A black and white picture
of a boy diving in the water was shown. One participant said “isme koi contrast nehi
hai” another said “the shadow in the picture is distracting” some said that they could
not relate to the picture. Mr. Sudesh said that there must be some colour contrast in the
picture to make it more interesting. This he said was one technique of drawing attention
towards the subject. The participants at this point questioned the resource person whether
colours in a photo can be edited to bring special effects? To this he said yes and showed
some relevant photographs and also described how it can be done. He also added that it is
not always necessary that photographs must be colourful.
During the post lunch session he discussed about colours in a photograph. He discussed
how too many colours in a photograph at times spoils the effect. He showed different
pictures where colour contrasts were used. Participants were asked their views regarding
the colours and their contrasts. He said that the if the participants shoot in the evening
they can get different colours that will help to provide a different mood in the picture.
The rule of every picture he said is to look different. He said that there are a lot of colours
in our world but we have to choose carefully what colours we would like to shoot and
why.
Before concluding on the discussion on elements he said that it is not necessary that all
the pictures taken should portray all the seven elements. One of the participants at this
point asked “what effect does a colour photograph have and the difference between a
black and white one on the viewer”. Mr. Sudesh said that if we have to portray a
movement it is better to use colours otherwise the picture will seem dull. Black and white
contrast, he said, can be used but keeping in mind how much distance to keep from the
subject but at the same time focusing on the subject. White he said is an equally
interesting colour. This the photographer must decide depending on how and what he
wants the viewer to focus. Some subjects are otherwise so interesting that a colour
doesn’t matter and black and white is sufficient to make it look interesting. He also
showed some photographs to explain his point.
Next he discussed about positioning. He said that if one keeps the subject in the middle
of the photo the photo seems dull and uninteresting. So the photographer must plan where
to place the subject before shooting. If the subject is kept at an off center the photo
becomes more interesting. Here the movement of the eye of the beholder will travel
accordingly. Different pictures were shown at this point.
He also talked about the different styles of holding a camera. The participants asked
several questions how to increase the height and length of the subject to which he showed
that it must be hold in a slanted way. He also discussed about how subjects in a
photograph must be placed to make the photograph look interesting; how a pattern can
be created that will help to identify the subject, how patterns can help to change the look
and bring contradictions. Sometimes he said that the subject becomes interesting for a
moment and we are required to capture it quickly, at other times we have to place the
subject and take some time while clicking to make it a better picture. He showed several
pictures taken from different angles some from a close up some shot at a distance and
tried to know the effects from the participants. Some times we might even take some time
to understand a photograph – what it is all about.

Day 2/ 17th February, 2007

The resource person tried to recapitulate the previous day’s points. He started a new
discussion about the history of the invention of camera. Models of different cameras were
shown. He discussed about the different parts of camera, their functions, how the
image first comes in the camera through the medium of negative. He showed the models
of different cameras and explained the functions. The first thing to focus on was for the
participants to decide what pictures they wanted to take. He advised the participants that
spontaneity is disturbed if time consumed in taking a picture is more. For the best shot he
suggested that the photographer can take a series of shots and he also mentioned that
there is no rule that the photographer have to shoot in five minutes time. He also added
that if the subject is not conscious a more natural photograph can be taken. Some were
confused how good photographs can be taken by them using such a simple camera.
To this he said that it does not depend on what kind of camera one is using, rather
on the kind of pictures, the way or technique used in taking them, arranging the
connected things together, bringing out expression of the subject that actually
matters. He also showed how to make simple photographs like family photographs seem
interesting. He said that a proper pose for a photograph is essential to bring out the
warmth in relations. Sometimes he said the photographer must isolate the subject and at
times other things have to be focused upon also. The participants wanted know how
shots from different directions, at what distance and angle have to be maintained to
take an interesting photo shoot. The resource person advised that to take good pictures
one must develop the skill of taking photos through trial and error. He said that to depict
the emotion of a person the face of the person should be focused. Sometimes even a side
face is possible to depict the emotion. Therefore, pattern and balance is an important
factor while shooting for a picture. If a balance and pattern is not followed, he said that,
what the photographer wants to say does not come out properly sometimes. To this he
added that the background and the subject should balance each other. Participants wanted
to know the techniques how to shoot for a picture. Mr. Sudesh showed all the steps of
taking a photograph and also taught the participants how lines form, how to catch the
movements, stand at various levels and take shots from different angles to make a
photograph interesting. Sometimes it is not important that the subject should be aware
and you can capture an extraordinary mood. The thing he said that must be kept in mind
is that why we are taking photographs and what is the importance of this photo exhibition
and why it is important to show the world their life style. He at this juncture discussed
about the photographs taken after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and World War. He showed
some pictures and wanted to know from the participants their reaction about the
photographs and whether such a picture is ever forgetful. All the participants were moved
and felt that the photo imparts a deep impact on their mind.
The post lunch session started with the discussion on the relevance of Relation and Place
in a photograph. He said that there must be a relation between the subject and the
location. The meaning of a photo must remain even after years pass away. The photo he
said must be important and relevant not only to the photographer but also to the viewer if
a photo is going for an exhibition. He stressed on the need to put forth the issues of the
community, their demands through photographs. He said that the group must be prepared
to take photographs and divided the team into groups of four. He prepared some ground
rules. Prior to taking photographs he said that the group had to sit and discuss a few
points:
• What kind of pictures must be taken
• Why such pictures need to be taken
• What will be the difficulties when shooting for those themes in the photographs

He also advised the group that they must take such pictures that will remind them of the
moment even after ten years. All the groups had to discuss the issues and points in front
of the team. Some said that they would like to take pictures of the environment they
live in, some wanted to depict the Kothi’s lifestyle, some wanted to take picture of
the innocence in a person by taking a photograph of the smile of a person, some
about the stigmatization in a Kothi’s life, some said “amra somaj ke ja dichi- HIV r
awareness seta dekhate chai”, some said they would depict the lauda dancers
lifestyle. The resource person wanted to know the objects they will use to depict the
lifestyles and the location where they wanted to shoot. Group 1 said: they will shoot a
Kothi’s hand wearing bangles, a ghagra in movement and a Kothi’s legs, Group 2
said : sexual harassment faced by a Kothi, in public toilet, net chatting with other
men. Group 3 said: a Kothi in a depressed mood, a girl smiling at a flower,
harassment of a Kothi, life of a street child. Group 4 said: they wanted to portray
the problems faced by a Kothi, stigmatization within the family, harassment faced in
a public place.
The resource person after this distributed cameras, rolls of films and batteries to the
participants and showed them how to load a film, put batteries and take a picture. The
groups dispersed. Some stayed indoors and some went to Sealdah, Dharmotolla, and
Lake Area. The resource person decided to work with two groups and assist the other two
the next day. Two groups stayed indoors and shot indoors and were assisted by the
resource person. After the entire roll of film was finished at the end of two hours the
films and cameras were handed over to the resource person.

Day3/18th February, 2007

Post analysis of Photographs of first day shots taken

The session started with the distribution of photographs among the group members. The
resource person first wanted to know how the participants felt and what difficulties they
encountered while taking the photographs. One of the participant said that he was not so
confident while taking the picture as he was using the camera for the first time. The
resource person showed the pictures of the individual groups and asked the participants
of the other groups what they liked about the pictures and what they did not like and with
what purpose or theme the group took the pictures. He also analyzed the photographs
pointing out the good things and the areas where they have to be improved. The resource
person said that the participants have to show the viewers that they have the opportunity
to show the people about their life in Kolkata. While the photographs were being
shown the participants could point out their own mistakes and technical problems
in the photographs.
The participants came up with problems like: time was less, creating the specific issues
was a big problem. One participant during this discussion pointed out “When we click a
natural photograph it is not so impressive. Does adjustment of light play an
important factor and how to do it?” The resource person said “Whatever light you
decide it should suit the emotion of the subject. Flash is not always required during the
day time”. One participant said “mein kavi aisa kuch kiya nehi tha. Mein soch raha
tha kaisa karu” some said “mein angle thik le nehi pa raha hu” another said
“contrast ek admi mein dikhana utna asan nehi tha. Time laga isliye bahut”. He also
demonstrated and showed how to use the camera for such an environment. Many of the
photos that came out well had a problem with the background of the picture. The
background did not seem in harmony with the themes rather it was a contrast. So the
resource person said that before taking a photograph we must first be aware of the
background then decide the theme accordingly. He also added that either it is natural or
the photographers must create an artificial background. He also said that a photograph
must reveal different stories about the subject. The achievement lies when the viewer is
engrossed in looking at a photograph for five to ten minutes. He instructed the
participants to make the photographs interesting with the association of common objects
that the community people use in their day to day life. He also instructed the participants
that they have to think how the photograph will look like before taking a shot. He showed
the several ways and angles to take a picture. Some objects can bring an emotional factor
when we see it if it is specific to an environment. He also added that it must be kept in
mind what the viewer will feel when he/she first has a look at it.
He again divided the group into two and gave cameras to the group. The groups were
supposed to remodify the pictures taken, what and how next we want to take the same
photographs, as well as shoot natural photographs outside within two hours of time span.
Each individual in the group had to take pictures on twenty four different issues. The
groups shared their issues with the resource person and the team. The resource person
instructed that while choosing the subject proper emotion must be elicited and even an
ordinary theme must be shot in way to make it look extraordinary. If a picture is related
to one’s identity then the city and lifestyle must also come out. The photos he said must
all be self explanatory and things must be thought before taking a photograph that will
distinguish a normal man from an MSM like the way they dress up, the way they stand,
move about in the community, etc. To establish an issue or put across the thoughts of the
community the participants were advised to establish a wavelength through their
photographs with the viewers. Some of the participants at this point expressed some
themes like portraying the life of “laundas” –a group going in a train to perform in some
occasion to Bihar. There were others who wanted to take a group dance wearing make up
and “ghagra”- the way they usually dress up. Many more thoughts like this came up. The
participants were advised to shoot photographs outside because the viewer must not feel
that an artificial thing is being created and the purpose should be to show the
community’s world. He also added that the subject must feel comfortable in front of the
camera if he wants to be out of focus shots must be taken accordingly. He also advised
that the spontaneity that seemed to be lacking in the pictures must come out. He therefore
said that to reflect the mood the subject must be set against a less lighted background and
if the photographer wants to reveal the expressions a closer shot have to be taken. If a
person is shooting indoors during day time whether flash has to be used was explained in
details. The point to focus he said for the day was: to go nearer to the subject, to take
more colourful photos, to take in a natural environment with the backdrop of the
city, photographs about the community, their lifestyle from the normal and natural
environment, there should be a coordination among the different things and the
subject, focusing more on the themes that can be shown in an exhibition.
The groups after this went out in different directions in groups of two with cameras and
took more photographs.
Day4/19th February, 2007

Epilogue:
Post Analysis of Photographs of second day shots taken

The participant started the conversation with the subject that the difference the
participants felt between the first day and second day’s photography. The participants
responded that they felt at ease with the camera the second day and after having a basic
knowledge how to take the pictures on first days analysis they even got a clearer idea.
The resource person had selected 30-40 photographs which he liked and showed them to
the participants and discussed at length about what they liked about them and what his
perception about the picture taken was. He said that the pictures were more mature this
time and looked real even the background seemed no more artificial. He asked the
participants therefore why in the first day they shot indoors and the second day they went
outside? The participants said that they were not comfortable with the camera and
themselves were not sure about how to portray the themes. The resource person also
added that the photos revealed a bonding. He also said that even as a photographer he
never thought of taking some photos. A bangle seller sitting with his bangles will not
attract the attention of a common male rather a Kothi might feel attracted and there he
said was where the contrast lies. It might change the tunnel vision notions in human
beings that a male person cannot like such things. He wanted to learn from the
participants what they learnt in the workshop? What they liked about it and on
what issues they are going to shoot next time? He also said that there are very few
photographers who have captured the life and moments of such people in his
camera. Few journalists have taken but the community people captured the life and
moments will be able to represent their issues better and will be able to go closer to
their life.

Their Reactions

The participants’ responses were “amar khub valo legeche. Ami ebar amar Parikh
er photo tulbo”, “ami prothome interest hariye felachilam jokhon dekhlam Kodak
camera deoa hoche. Ami nije Kodak e anek baar photo tulechi. Jokhon amai chobi
dekhano holo ei Kodak e tola ami vablam tahole hoito kono technical kichu kaaj
ache are etai amar interest bariyeche”, “I was slowly becoming more comfortable
using the camera. Now I can use it myself and that is my real achievement”.
Another participant said “The first two days I felt boring and thought what the
utility behind this workshop was, but thought that a photo carries such importance
and that people can be made conscious of our world made me change my notions.
Chota camera hain lekin bari duniya dekh sakte hain isme”. One participant said “
Amra je MSM seta chobir modhye dekhate chai. Chelera raastai je tease kore seta
dekhate chai. Chailabi te kaaj kora dekhate chai. Condom je bikri kore awareness
korchi seta dekhate chai”.

The discussion ended with the resource person giving tasks to the participants to take
pictures of the community people, the city and their life style in one weeks time and
finally by thanking all the participants for their cooperation. There was a press conference
following the workshop where people in the conference felt that not only the issues of the
community but the community people can also utilize the workshop in their day to day
documentation and other areas of work and also can adopt this as a livelihood option or
as a means of sustenance.