Kolkata Durga Puja and Beyond - A Photography Workshop

Join street and documentary-style photographer Parvez Shaikh on a six-day Durga Puja photography workshop in Kolkata/Calcutta in October 2024. Learn from his experience in a discussion-based on-the-field practical atmosphere get exposed to various photography styles be guided to develop your personal project and witness what it is like to work in a fast-paced environment as a photographer.

Organised by Parvez Shaikh. Phone: +91 9099 810 817 Instagram: @parvezish

More details: parvezish.com/to/durgapuja

About the Workshop

The photography workshop takes place over six days during Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata. Photography lessons will greatly focus on composition and storytelling. You will also be guided for setting up your camera for fast-paced environment working your way in crowded places the art of patience overcoming hesitance and asking permission night photography ethics and dos and don’ts.

Participants will be assigned a theme/topic on which they will have to work through the workshop. At the end of the workshop you will have to present your work and feedback will be provided on it.

Although this is a photography workshop, it's designed to give us opportunity to explore Kolkata together like a group of travellers. Beside attending Durga Puja rituals we also explore the city beyond the festivities and capture the unique once-in-a-year charm. We will go on walks around different parts of the city including bustling markets and peaceful ghats.

Unlike a planned tour where the organisers have figured everything out for you this workshop offers a flexible and less expensive way for participants to be able to attend and plan their stay as they wish.

Think of this as a no-frills workshop. The fees only cover the tuition. Whether you stay in a hostel or a five-star accommodation explore street food or indulge in fine-dining – it’s your choice. Whatever your budget is and however you want to spend it it’s up to you. Although I do recommend we stay together in a hostel/home-stay so that the spirit of travelling together continues even when we head to sleep every night.

At the end of the workshop you should come out confident as a photographer. You should learn the importance of narrative and will want focus on more storytelling. Through the experience you should be willing to accept challenges and learn how to manage yourself in a busy and difficult scenario. You should be able to get some direction in which you want to move further with your photography.

And of course you will take home some beautiful memories we make during our time together.

Overview

• Itinerary: Visit Kumortuli where idols are made, visit Durga Puja pandals and rajbari, walk around markets, ghats, old Kolkata, Kalighat and Kali temple, theory discussions and review sessions in-between. A detailed itinerary will be shared later.
• Photography styles: Documentary-style, street photography, portraits, photo story
• Focus on discussion-based on-the-field practical learning along with some theory
• A personal project and theme is assigned to each participant
• One-on-one time given to each participant
• Guidance for a photo story/essay
• Review of photographs
• Basic post-processing
• Designed to foster the spirit of travelling photographing and exploring together
• Group size: Minimum – 3 maximum 7 participants

Who should join

• If you are starting out in photography and already know basic operations of your camera
• If you identify as advanced amateur, serious photography hobbyist, or semi-professional
• If you are unsure about the direction to take in photography and want to explore
• You are a design, visual arts, or cultural studies student who aims to use photography as a medium to expand their scope of studies
• It’s ideal if you have some experience with unposed, unscripted photography in the streets
• You can join even if you do not do photography but want to explore Kolkata and Durga Puja

What’s included in the fee

• Workshop fees
• Review and feedback on photographs
• Up to fifteen days of personal support (online) post workshop regarding your questions and image review
• A minimum of 10% discount in the workshops conducted during the next one year
• Inclusion in a member-only online community where you continue to get exposed to photography and photographers

What’s not included in the fee

• Your travel costs to and from Kolkata
• Insurance
• Medical expenses
• Accommodation
• Meals drinks bottled water
• Our transport around Kolkata and other places we travel will be shared equally among all of us
• Entry fees/camera fees if any
• Tips/gratuities to drivers porters servers helpers etc.
• Any other personal expense

Things to keep in mind

• You should to be physically fit and be ready to walk long distance
• You are responsible for the safety of your equipment and everything else you are carrying
• You are expected to know the basic operations of your camera/lens – at the minimum you should know how to change aperture shutter speed and ISO how to change aspect ratio and switch between RAW and JPEG turn on/off inbuilt flash
• You are responsible for making your travel plans including your travel to and from Kolkata accommodation

Host or Publisher Parvez Shaikh