CPB Connect Program - Chennai

The CPB Connect Program was established to encourage participation from local communities in different parts of India via an outreach program in collaboration with established practitioners locally. 

These one-day sessions across cities in India include presentations by the practitioners and an insight into the submission format of the Awards.

Presentations by

Rathika Ramaswamy - Wildlife Photographer, Founder of RRFWC

Srivatsan Sankaran - Travel Photographer and Photography Educator

Prashant Panjiar - Photographer and Curator

Presentations: 5 PM - 7 PM

22, December, Friday

Venue: The Hawk Sight Studios, The Bistrograph, Chennai

What is the session about?

This one-day session includes presentations by the practitioners, with photographers Rathika Ramaswamy, Srivatsan Sankaran and Prashant Panjiar to present their incredible work to the local photographers and enthusiasts in context of the ongoing CPB Photo Awards Open Call. The audience will also get information on the Photo Awards followed by Q&A at the end.

PLEASE  NOTE

• Registration is mandatory

• The event is free of charge

• Tea and biscuits will be served

RATHIKA RAMASWAMY

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER, FOUNDER OF RRFWC

Rathika is arguably one of India's foremost wildlife photographers. She is passionate about birds and specializes in bird photography. In documenting birds through her photographs, she has developed a style of technical excellence combined with a captivating story. She has travelled to most of the National parks in India, and national parks in Africa to document indigenous species and wildlife. Her work has been appreciated and featured in several national and international publications as well as exhibitions. She is a member of Nikon’s Professional Services(NPS). She is a founding member of RR Foundation for Wildlife Conservation(RRFWC).  She regularly conducts wildlife photography workshops, holds wildlife conservation and photography talks all over India. She has served on the jury panel of many national and international photography awards and contests, including the National Awards for photography instituted by the Government of India. Year 2017 and 2018. Rathika has been mentioned in the 10th Standard Science text book of Tamil Nadu Government state syllabus.  For her wildlife photography is not only for her a passion, but a powerful medium to connect and conserve nature. She loves to shoot Indian forest, as she believes India has one of the best Fauna & Flora. 

TESTIMONIAL

For me photography means a medium to connect with nature and it is a wonderful tool for creating wildlife conservation awareness about the importance of our fauna and flora .

Participating contest and awards helps ,to get more focused on our genre of work, exploring  on particular theme, helps us push our  creativity, make us think out of box. The recognition and  awards  boosts the photographer, next level to his/her work.

SRIVATSAN SANKARAN

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER AND PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATOR

Srivatsan Sankaran, a Travel photographer and Photography educator for the deaf. Despite my hearing disability, I have travelled to 200+ destinations and covered 50+ festivals. I express my feelings through Photography which helps to connect with the world. My Story was selected and exhibited as Change Maker at the WHO campus on the occasion of World Hearing Day 2023. Apart from that, I am a brand influencer of Sony Alpha cameras. We run a growing community called the Madras Photo Bloggers Foundation that aims at creating a platform for deaf artists/photographers to showcase their talents. Established in March 2016 to benefit the deaf community on a large scale. More than 100 deaf students have been trained in Photography. They now work in various organizations across Chennai. We aim to bridge the gap between deaf and non-disabled communities through Photography. I've been fortunate to be nominated and recognized in the artistic world with the following accolades. 2018- Change Maker at South India Youth Speak Conclave by US consulate & Nalandaway foundation 2022- Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Promotion by Tamil Nadu Tourism 2022- Winner of Global Ability Photography challenge 2023 – Humanitarian Award for Excellent Contribution towards Child Rights by Rotary club 2023- Story selected and exhibited as the Change Maker at WHO Campus, Geneva.

TESTIMONIAL

To me, Photography is a powerful medium to connect with the world. Visual languages is the way to express my feelings and experience the world. Despite the hearing disability, I found the purpose through photography which help me to bridge the gap.

PRASHANT PANJIAR

PHOTOGRAPER AND CURATOR

TESTIMONIAL

“Credible awards are essential to validate the important work done by editorial and documentary photographers. More so in a time when the profession of photojournalism is itself under so much strain, undermined by a number of factors beyond the individual’s control.”