He said that he got upset when people said that when they saw a particular picture they knew that he clicked it, as it then meant that he had become predictable. The only impediment he stumbled on while photographing, was himself, he said. Informally chatting with the students sipping numerous cups of strong tea in the open-air amphitheatre, he said, “A photograph must reflect the time you have lived in.” Raghu Rai is one of the finest photographers in the world, whose work featuring the Bhopal gas tragedy is well acclaimed, one of which was so moving that it went to win the prestigious World Press Photo of the year.

He clicked these pictures while he was the Photo Editor of one of India’s leading newsmagazines, India Today. He underlined the importance of how a photographer must be a critic of his or her own work.

“After taking the picture you should come out of the situation and look at the picture and see, does it reflect back the experience you had? Is it rich enough? Rich is that where one can bridge the gap between one’s imagination and reality around.”

He emphasized on the use of technology and knowledge to go beyond oneself and others. Digital technology gave the comfort and ease to check the pictures that were clicked, he said. Asked to comment on the famous saying familiar to all journalism students of how a picture says a thousand words, he said, “ a thousand words may be a lot of noise. Ability to achieve silence is more important and when energies are in rhythm and symphony, it creates silence.” Rai who has traveled all over the world with his pictures, said: “Take as many pictures as you can. More pictures you take, more discipline you will get and you’ll experience more freedom. And if you have the ability and will to take pretty pictures, nature will give you the opportunity.” As a mentor to the students of SAIMC, he has always been a guiding and inspiring figure. He went around the exhibition that had varied photographs done by students in the first three months of their course in photography. He was glad that they had broken away from typical stereotypes. The pictures portrayed different moods and shades. Some captured the hustle- bustle at Jama Masjid, Central Park at Connaught Place and ceremonies of Chatt Puja. There were casual pictures of a couple, a priest and others. Some focused on fashion and others on human interest. He pointed out that at times black and white pictures have more of an emotional value and visual response, as at times the colours do not compliment the situation. “Black and White silences the noise of colours,” he added. (By Himani Arora, English Journalism Department)