Day Five: BIF-3...... end credits.....

29 March 2011
Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

the wonderful times just came to an end..... we knew it was gonna come to a finish one day..... so, from the word go it was more of a countdown to the finish.... but another countdown just began today..... the countdown to BIF-4.....

BIF-3 has been a landmark.... a joy of achievement, classroom of ideas, center of learning, spark of creativity... all that combined gave us something to remember.... all the TTL-ers own this success..... but there are some who made this happen.... Shudipto's name had been mentioned too often; almost too many times..... because thats how he is..... he is a one-man Army..... a storm of driving force.... Faisal Bhai has always been the inspiration..... Andrew Biraj has played a wonderful catalyst, as he has always been.... Avik Bhai has proven his worth time and time again as one of the most creative brains in TTL..... then there are the wheels..... Kamal, Tahmid, Kamrul, Raian, and others who relentlessly put their effort.... Nurur Bhai, Mishuk, Juthy, and others played important parts in his unique areas...... and they were joined this time by some young dedicated TTL-ers who really proved their worth and showed the way to the future..... Galib, Raquib, Rizwan, Tokon, Nasif, Zaim, Sakib, Ronie, Xoaher, Partha, Sureed, Chandan, Dhrubo, Rahul, Dipa, Fahim, Munmun, and many many others..... I think I'm missing too many names..... plz do pardon me!!

the last day had a new event..... this was discussion on photos, especially the photo-stories that were hanging from the walls..... it was a great addition.... and the discussion resulting from the event opened eyes for all of us..... ideas were flying and it was for everyone to catch... it was an extended learning session..... Faisal Bhai conducted the session and Biraj Bhai led the way with his expertise here..... it was a very interactive session worth mentioning...... this sure would be one of the most important considerations for the upcoming BIF exhibits....

the programs ended with prize giving among the Nokia N8 photo competition winners (from photowalk called "Walk in the Past")..... Faisal Bhai and Biraj Bhai ended with thanks and future expectations..... Biraj Bhai has embraced TTL like no other..... an honour and achievement that is for every TTL-er to share..... Biraj Bhai's vision from his position has to be considered unique..... views like these from professional quarters don't just happen......

right when the galleries were being emptied, I had tried to implement some ideas with some photographers..... though my thought of taking portraits of all photographers with their photos in hand didn't materialise, I still thought there was time enough to take at least some portraits...... this is a unique moment.... so, making the best of this would be the best idea....

Vashkar Bhai is one unique piece.... his experience in life has made him prepared to talk about virtually any subject.... a close friend of Avik Bhai, he is a creative guy and a good debater..... I always wanted to take some portraits of him..... this time some technical problems (radio trigger battery expired!!) cut short a potentially satisfying session.... his purple shirt game me some reason to try several times despite the technical problems.....

From BIF-3, March 2011

D700 + 20mm f2.8 + Elinchrom Skyport
Strobist info: one SB-900 with DIY grid-spot (held by Zaim) on camera left

Marland Miller has embraced TTL in a very very unique way..... his American origin was never a barrier to become part of a mostly young and occasionally crazy photographers group..... he has already joined us in one of the Safaris and has proven his fitness at his relatively advanced age..... his spirit has to remain as a great inspiration for every one of us..... he came to the exhibit every day despite severely damaging his left foot.... he was depending on scratch, yet his smile never melted away from his face..... I just had to take his picture.....

From BIF-3, March 2011

D700 + 20mm f2.8 + Yongnuo RF602 radio trigger (borrowed from Nasif)
Strobist info: one SB-900 on camera right (held by Shuvro) shooting into a white collapsible reflector (held by Mithun)

Nasif had featured in front of my camera several times on my request..... but this time it was Nasif's own request to take a portrait of him with his photo..... so, we went to the first floor of the exhibit where the gallery was almost empty.... it provided us with a unique opportunity to shoot in an empty gallery.....

From BIF-3, March 2011

D700 + 20mm f2.8 + Yongnuo RF602 radio trigger (borrowed from Nasif)
Strobist info: one SB-900 on camera left (held by Rahul) shooting into a white collapsible reflector (held by my wife Lisa)


Safina jumped after seeing Nasif in front of the lens.... she was really pushing for a short session for herself as well.... I couldn't refuse..... it was a portrait similar to Nasif's with the empty gallery, though in a different posture.....

From BIF-3, March 2011

D700 + 20mm f2.8 + Yongnuo RF602 radio trigger (borrowed from Nasif)
Strobist info: one SB-900 on camera left shooting into a white collapsible reflector (all held acrobatically by Nasif)

and that was that..... we did extend the timing of Drik Gallery by some margin.... we did a great group photo session...... but it had to come to a close....... we emptied the galleries and were thinking how we passed the last five days.... it would miss these moments for some time to come..... and thats the time we start planning for our next journeys....

go TTL!!.....

Day Four: BIF-3...... counting hours.....

28 March, 2011
Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

its been truly a wonderful week.... we now come down to the point that some of us are all familiar with..... its coming to an end..... its really tough to let go.... difficult to believe that there won't be another adda at Drik on Wednesday.... I pass Drik regularly..... I would miss that glorious banner in front of Drik sporting the faces of 71 enthusiastic TTL-ers..... it was a heart-filling experience seeing this event in action..... a gallery full of photo enthusiasts and visitors....

I was privileged to receive Nigel, who came in Bangladesh flying in from the UK to see the Gorai Bridge at Kushtia, which his father built many years ago as an engineer..... he came here with his brother and a friend, who also showed his passion for photography..... spending the evening with them explaining the splendid contents of this exhibit was a great experience.... their nice company made the evening a worthwhile one for me.... it was an honour representing Bangladesh in front of the guests.....

it was already evening when I arrived at Drik.... and when Nigel and company left the scene, it was almost closing time..... but I can hardly write a blog without a photo..... my plan on the eve of the opening day was to take portraits of the photographers with their photos on their lap..... well, for some unknown reason, the project didn't really happen.... I thought it was time to do that at least for once.... I picked up Ronie Amin.... apparently an unusual choice for a subject.... there are people like Avik Bhai, Tinku Bhai or Sadia, who would always attract photographers.... but there are some others who always slip through that net of attraction.... they almost remain invisible in front of other photographers..... I decided to pick him..... he was more than happy to bring his photo from the ground floor to do this.... his enthusiasm made my day..... we got a photo....

From BIF-3, March 2011

D700 + 20mm 2.8 + Elinchrom Skyport
f7.1, 1/60sec, ISO 100
Strobist info: SB-900 triggered by Elinchrom Skyport, on camera right, above subject, (held by Zaim) shooting into a white collapsible reflector (held by Kamrul)


Zaim released his fantastic promo on BIF-3 on Youtube today.... lovely work by a very dedicated TTL-er.... great creativity.... enough to heat up the spirit!!



the last day would make everyone sad.... :(

Day Two: BIF-3..... in full motion!!

26 March 2011
Drik Gallery, Dhaka, Bangladesh

BIF-3 is rocking, not just Drik, but outside as well.... another great day..... the day started with an FM radio campaign on Radio Foorti.... Faisal Bhai and me went on air at 10:00AM to give an overview of TTL and BIF-3..... it was a pretty good exposure for the exhibit.... thanks goes to Radio Foorti for giving us the coverage.....





it was the Independence Day..... and as expected, the day was pulling a big crowd.... there was hardly a moment during the day when the galleries were not full of people.... Anwar Hossain was there with us for the second day in a row.... our selector Andrew Biraj also spent the day with us.... and the best part of the day was the cake!!.... it was TTL's birthday!!..... a big cake, symbolizing the national flag was introduced.... and almost immediately, it became the most photographer cake ever!!..... the cake-cutting ceremony set the tone for the day..... it was a day of fun.....

the outside weather changed during the evening and we had to remove all the images from the open-air gallery on the ground floor..... but our spirit remained high until the exhibit was closed right after 8:00PM..... the authorities literally had to throw us out..... but before that, we were able to exercise a bit of madness with lights and shadows......


model: Xoaher
D700 + 70-210mm @92mm; 1/400sec, f9, ISO 100
Strobist info: 2 x SB-900 + 1 x SB-600 firing from camera left; TTL, high-speed sync; placed on ground; shielded by human shield formed by several TTL-ers so that the light doesn't spill on to the back wall, which was lit by many lights... well, it still did!! :O
Editing: tilted the image around 90 degrees!! :O

Day One....... BIF-3, the landmark exhibit!!

25 March 2011
Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

It was the grandest of openings to the Bangladesh in Frames II…. BIF3 is already a landmark and the opening was a landmark within that…. What can I say other than it was a landmark within a landmark??..... it really was an awesome feeling being part of such a grand venture….. we’re mostly amateurs and yet the exhibit image doesn’t make one feel so…. BIF3 is fast turning into a photo festival…. And with time, it sure will….. it’s a lot more than seeing one’s own pictures hanging on the wall of a big gallery…. The birthday cake in coming on the 2^nd day, TTL’s birthday (26^th March), which is also the Independence Day of Bangladesh!..... a great day a awaits us…..

The first day of BIF3 at Drik Gallery saw a great many people showing up…… the number of participants this time (102) tells the story, actually…. It simply had to get the publicity it deserved….. it was also a weekend, so, a big turnover was expected…..

For us, the day started from the morning, seeing the last-minute preparations…… can’t give enough thanks to Shudipto and his team for working feverishly day and night to make this happen….. Avik Bhai worked wonders with the banners, which made visitors stand and admire…… the group shot in front of Drik looked like an achievement….. our chief guest, renowned photographer Anwar Hossain took a pause in front of the group shot to take a snap!!..... that was enough of an admiration for the work!!

Faisal Bhai and me are going to Radio Foorti on 26^th to talk about the exhibit, some time after 10:00AM…. That’s part of the publicity you need for a grand event like this….. Radio Foorti had been a very supportive media partner for us……

The first day ended with some pictures as well….. I was looking for that opportunity to snap a few shots of my photographer buddies….. Kamrul was my first choice…. Big thanks to him for being a very cooperative subject….. Kamrul Hasan is one of the most talented young photographer that I know…. A master in the art of B&W, though of late he has proven his expertise in coloured photos as well….. a great photographer of people in his own right, Kamrul is an icon to a lot of young photographers of Bangladesh…. a very pleasant character; unassuming; a delightful company.... a good friend!

D700+20mm+Elinchrom Skyport

Strobist info: one SB-900 on camera right, above subject, shooting through a white shoot-through umbrella, held by VAL (Zaim), triggered by Elinchrom Skyport radio trigger

Then it was Tinku Bhai again…… a painful subject to shoot!!.... arghhhhh!!.... very demanding…. I now know how perfectionist directors are….. but what a subject he is!!.... so creative; always full of ideas; and what a luck for the photographer to just to make sure that the photo isn’t screwed up…. It’s a guarantee that it will be a killer idea….. it took me some time to figure out what Tinku Bhai wanted…. But once it clicked, it was like cakewalk….. only a handful of shots to make it perfect….. I fetched a scarf, which ultimately made the shot taken from “Good Bad Ugly”….. man!! was I happy?? :D

D700+85mm+Elinchrom Skyport

Strobist info: one SB-900 on camera right, above subject, shooting through a white shoot-through umbrella, held by VAL (Nasif), triggered by Elinchrom Skyport radio trigger

exhibit pics are here in this album....

A lot more to come….. stay tuned….