Moving images of the Sidr-affected
The recent photography exhibition at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture to raise funds for Sidr victims brought in many scenes of the Bangladeshi countryside. Taken mostly by 57 amateurs, the 111 pictures bring to light different aspects of rural lives and the devastated coastal areas following the cycle Sidr.
Golden sky with bars of purple clouds, expanses of sleepy rice fields, meandering rivers and bright mustard fields all came into the focus. So did the striving brave farmers and their toiling wives. Some striking images of Sidr were also brought in by a few.
At times the lens also brought in some urban scenes but these too were buoyant and harmonious. The images, on the whole, were optimistic and easily caught the imagination of the viewers.
The display also includes works of Bangladeshi photographers living overseas, who send their photos online, and other honorary foreign photographers, who have worked on the theme of Bangladesh.
Russell Rahman's Tower Bridge brings in the structure, the building, the overwhelming clear sky at the back and shadows on the water. This icon is one of the first sights that stirred Rahman when he went to London.
The flute player by MR Hassan introduces a boatman in a lungi, seen through the cover of the boat, bringing in many gathering white clouds in the distance. This encompasses the contented village life. Another shot by Hassan brings in a farmer -- with his bullocks and plough -- wading through mud and water, as he goes about his daily work. Fishing by Michael Foley is another peaceful image of the countryside. Expanses of paddy and mustard fields, bushes and trees have been included.
Protik Bhowmik takes a focus of the Lalbagh Fort through a low angle image, in between the arches and domes. The picture includes the clouds above with its mélange of pale blue and clay-red. The untitled piece by Harunur Rashid brings in the black silhouettes of fishermen and their boats. This is a neat composition with a blue and gold sky framing the dark images.
Late at sunset by Kazi Shefait Rahman captures the serenity and repose of the small towns. This presents the calm reflections of trees and buildings on the expanse of water, captured in startling black and gray. Ruins of Sonargaon Palace by Mustafizur Rahman includes carved walls, arches, pillars, domes and the rest of the edifice in minute details. It is a harmony in earthy browns, merging with the emeralds of the wild creepers.
Grette Howard's untitled picture brings in a woman standing with paddy coming up to her waist. Her bits and pieces of embellishments add interest to this scene. Tipu Kibria's focus in Helpless depicts a drifter's profile, seen against two rushing buses.
In contrast to the rest is Bijan Sarkar's Kaptai Dam 1974, in black and white. It presents the entourage of elephants with mahouts, when the ruler of Burma (now Myanmar) had visited Bangladesh.
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