CHHAYAPATH, calcutta - The Photography Zone

A few young enthusiasts in photography from different walks of life used to meet regularly after their daily chores in a bid to give vent to their ideas on contemporary world photography among themselves. They used to dream that like other forerunners in the arena they would some day bear the mantle to promote the photography as a medium of most modern visual art form. They started participating in all national & inter-national salons & exhibitions collectively and obtained enviable success. Encouraged by this, a burning desire started brewing in their hearts to form a Club of their own so as to enable themselves to voice, propagate and promote their ideas on the most modern visual art form through their works world wide. But the group had not even a fixed meeting place. Eldest member of the group Kabiraj Nirmal Chandra Roy came to rescue to be kind enough to provide a shelter for this hapless bunch of dreamers. The club was born in 1983 and christened as ‘CHHAYAPATH, CALCUTTA’.

CHHAYAPATH, CALCUTTA has maintained a steady pace of success all through since then. The club with its tremendous organizing ability, wide periphery of activities and achievements in individual photographic excellence has earned a premiere place among the foremost photographic clubs of India & abroad. In 1990, the tercentenary year of the people’s city of Calcutta, the club presented a photographic exhibition on Calcutta and on the gift of 150 years of photography to the photo lovers in general. The Jodhpur Salon of Photography and 3rd SPS All India Salon of Photography have bestowed the club with the Best Club award in 1992 and 1993 respectively. The club has been awarded Best Club medal in FIP Inter Club Colour Slide Competition in 1996 and also adjudged Best Club both in Monochrome Prints and Color Slides in 2002 & 2004 & 2006. The club again lifted the Best Club trophy from Eastern Calcutta Photographic Association in 2002.

CHHAYAPATH, CALCUTTA held a retrospective of its members’ works in 1993 to commemorate ten years of the club in the world of art and aesthetic photography. It also published a book named Creative Photography containing a few highly technical photographic prints of the members showing the method of creation step by step and other technical details, which we believe, will come very handy to all the photo-fans who like to achieve similar result within a very short time. With the prime objective to enlighten the well-informed mass in aesthetics and to appreciate the ever up to date photographic art more and more CHHAYAPATH, CALCUTTA is organizing international salons as well as members’ exhibition bi-annually since inception (Click here for details of Salons/Exhibitions organized). The club is going to hold 14th Members’ Exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts during October 2007 while preparation for 12th International Salon of Photography (Digital)to be held in 2010.

CHHAYAPATH, CALCUTTA started its one year Basic course in 1984 and two year Diploma course in 1987 at a nominal fees (Click here for details of Courses conducted) and continuing with it till date with its 24th & 21st sessions respectively with equal zeal and vigor to proceed with the goal of spreading this medium of art to every walk of the society through the individuals with cultural sophistication. It has its own publications viz. Basic Photography and numerous handouts on the subject those are used as study materials for the courses. The club publishes a magazine named ‘Alokchitram’. The club even has a technical library for the benefit of students and faculties as well. Besides a very well equipped black & white darkroom the club can boast of maintaining an advanced colour processing facilities. With the recent installation of computer the club has stepped into digital imaging era.

CHHAYAPATH, CALCUTTA has come a long way through the multitudes of odds to enter in its vibrant youth in 2003. The senior members of the club are often selected as Jury in almost all the national & international salons held in India. The club has one of the largest numbers of photographic honour holders (Click for List of Members) among its members in India, which comprises of 1 M.FIAP; 11 E.FIAPs; 10 A.FIAPs; 6 ARPSs; 4 A.FIP; 10 F.FIP; and 1 Hon. FIP at present.