Canon Photomarathon

I was immediately intrigued when I got a mail from Canon about the Photomarathon. The name itself was interesting! I checked it out on the net, and learnt that it was a very large format 'live' photography contest,with 3 themes seperated over 6 hours.

I read a blog on the Manila photomarathon here :  http://thelearninglensman.com/2010/11/12/recap-canon-photomarathon-2010-manila-leg/ and it sounded like a lot of fun.

I have participated in live photography contests earlier - the Nature Wanderers Canon Wild clicks competition http://naturewanderers.com/20photograph.aspx - but it was a small group of participants - 20 odd - and it was over 2-3 days, with all 5 categories being communicated at the start of the competition. So you have enough time to think, discuss and colour correct the photographs. Also, the themes are pretty simple - Birds, Mammals etc - so it is easier to frame your thinking. I had done reasonably well in that - reaching the finals in a couple of categories, though I didnt win anything.

This would be a different cup of tea altogether. The sheer size of the competition - I  was flabbergasted to see almost a 1000 participants in Mumbai alone! Not to mention similar numbers in Delhi and Bangalore. Secondly, it was street photography, without any controls - as opposed to jungle photography, where the animals are not going to object to being photographed. And the time constraints - we were given 2 two hours per theme, from the time of theme being announced to the cut off time of photos being accepted. In that time, you have to finish your thinking, walking, clicking and colour correction. And that is pretty tight.

I reached St Xaviers college, and was lucky enough to find a parking spot right in front of the gate. This was really important, as it meant that I had a safe place to store my laptop, and did not have to carry it around with me. I went inside (for the first time in 20 years - after Malhaar 91 I think), there was a loooooooong line to register. I thought I would be smart, and go out to have a bite of breakfast and come back when the line was smaller. But that was a flop - there was no food to be had outside, and the line was even longer when I came back. 'Chalo, not that I am doing anything constructive anyway' I  thought, and stood in line like a good boy.

I finished the registration, agreed to all of Canon rules (31 rules!), collected my tshirt and changed, and soon the competition started. The MD of Canon India, and Daboo Ratnani inaugurated the event and we were given the first theme.

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

Janta immediately rushed out and hit the maidans, clicking boys playing football and cricket, or of the footpath children playing on the street. I also got into the act at first, but then thought better of it. One was that everyone was doing it, so it was boring. Secondly, Canon had a rule asking us to produce NOCs from people whos photos we took, which was a non starter. And most importantly - the slum and footpath dwellers did not like being photographed. I sympathised with them - it is one thing being poor and ragged, but it is more demeaning for that poverty to be photographed. Some of them got a bit aggressive, but I defused it with some back patting and conversation.

All day long, junta around was quite psyched at the wave of a thousand photographers dressed in identical T shirts, clicking away to glory. To add to the fun, there was a film being shot at Cannon pav bhaji stall! Canon and Cannon.

Anyway, the upshot being that I decided to go with a more ironic interpretation of the theme, and looked for different kinds of 'Games; being played - ideally without humans. These were the photos I shortlisted

All of which were a bit nasty - 'Freedom ground - STOP', National health league which was locked, a dirty cricket ground with the Municipality HQ in the background etc.

So I decided to go with a more cheerful irony and submitted this one

A limboo pani vendor was washing up, and had arranged his glasses so that it looked like a childs game. therefore, it was ironic, but not nasty. I just hope that the judges get it.

But the second theme was a complete googly. It left everybody scratching their heads.

INCULCATING VALUES IN NEXT GENERATION INDIANS

Everybody went out muttering to themselves, and I struck out in another direction this time - to Flora fountain. The intense heat, the mental strain and the physical effort of walking about was tiring me out by now.

I really couldnt think of too much to photograph, and I ended up with the following short list

This was on the base of Dadabhais statue - the very first time I noticed it. I almost decided on this one, but then felt that as a photographer I have added nothing.

This one was fun -so many signs telling people what to do. But I felt it didnt come out strongly enough.

None of which impressed me much, so I finally submitted this one

Which was a statue of Dadabhai holding a book, with street booksellers in the background. After all, the best way to inculcate values would be by education and reading. But  very boring. I was disappointed with myself over this one.

By this time I was really tired. It was hot, I had walked a lot, and I was dehydrated and hungry and fagged out. Luckily it was time for the lunch break, so there was an hours respite. Canon had arranged a buffet lunch, and everybody just chilled in the shadows till it was time for the last theme.

THINKING GREEN

This was simpler, but hackneyed. They probably meant eco friendly and recycling and all that, but hey - as a photographer you have to take what you can see. So I decided to play on the colour green in any form.  I tried finding a muslim fakir, or a currency exchange shop with photos of dollar bills, but had to settle for normal greenery. This time I went off in another direction - to GPO and the kabootarkhana there, but again I didnt find anything exciting.

This photo of a chimney looked like a penis, with the greenery being the hair. But I thought the judges wouldnt get it, and may not like it if they got it. So I dropped it.

But finally I went with the first image that flashed in mymind once the theme was announced. This was the first photo I took in the day in St Xaviers itself, of a Gargoyle with a plant growing out of its mouth.

So that was it. The photomarathon was over. It was a really intense and challenging event. I bumped into an old NW acquaintance, who had been with me in the Wild clicks, and had a beer with him and then went home.

It was great fun - the only things I would have changed was a better handling of the registration process, some tips and advise to be given to the participants at the start of the event by the ace photographers, and some better themes.

But overall it was a great experience, and many thanks to Canon for organising this. Looking forward to the results on Oct 22. Not that I have any chance of winning, but would be fun to see the winning photos.