PHOTOGRAPHY-ENTHUSIASTS LAUNCH A CLUB FOR GOA

PANJIM:  Goa is blessed  by  nature,  has  some  big
photography companies operating here like Kodak and Philcorp, but
yet till date the state does not have an organisation to  support
the cause of photography.

Attempting  to  correct this situation, a  group  of  photography
enthusiasts  decided to go ahead and launch the  Goa  Photography
Club. The first meeting for this body was held last weekend.

Club  members hope to have this fledging body strive  to  promote
photography  as  a hobby/profession in Goa, involve  members  and
non-members in its activities, and enrol more members.

This  initiative follows a photography-workshop and contest  that
were  recently organised in Panjim by artist Anupama  Korgaonkar,
and generated considerable enthusiasm.

"I  have  been a photographer for decades, run my own  studio  in
Bicholim,  and  would like to help such an endeavour in  any  way
possible," said Dattaram Shetye of Raj Photo Studio.

"For  long  I  too  felt  that  Goa  needs  a  body  to    promote
photography," commented 'Klick' Romeo Pereira, who has earned the
sobriquet because of his long-term involvement with the camera.

To    boost  the  field,  photography  enthusiasts,  amature    and
professionals  decided  to  collaborate  among  themselves,  hold
regular  talks  and sessions, and also  organise  exhibitions  of
their work.

It  is planned to hold the first such exhibition  of  photographs
done  by persons based in Goa, and this is to be held just  prior
to the millennium, sometime in the month of December.

To  keep  in touch and share useful information, members  of  the
club  are to put up a notice-board for  announcements,  detailing
photo  equipment-for-sale  or  wanted,  upcoming  photo-contests,
discounts available, and the like.

Members also hope to build up a type of photo-bank, through which
persons  wanting to offer their photographic work for sale  could
do so easily.

Nilima  Kamat  informed  members of a  possible  requirement  for
nature and wildlife photographs of Goa.

Other activities proposed by the fledging club include periodical
meets to discuss photo-techniques, slide shows, organising  talks
by  veteran photographers including professionals  visiting  Goa,
undertaking  photo-trips  (for focussing  on  certain  subjects),
holding workshops for persons new to the field, etc.

Also  discussed was the possibility of launching  an  arrangement
through which members could get access to photographic magazines.

The  next  meeting  is to be held at Kala  Academy,  4:30  pm  on
Saturday Oct 23. Further details can be had from architect Arvind
D'Souza  in Panjim (Tel 22 04 12) via email at arvind@goa1.dot.net.in
or Anupama Korgaonkar at  Alto-Porvorim.

Frederick Noronha fred@goa1.dot.net.in