A 150 YEAR OLD ODYSSEY CONTINUES… THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF MADRAS

From pinholes to pixels, the mesmerizing world of photography is changing everyday but the Photographic society of Madras retains its charm all the way, fostering talented people from all walks of life.

The photographic society of Madras or PSM as it is fondly called was started in 1857 by Dr. Alexander Hunter and the Honorable Walter Elliot, 18 years after the creation of the first permanent photograph. The society whose membership was restricted to European elites then broke traditions along the way and now, anyone who wants to learn the tricks of photography and interact with other lens- lovers can walk into their homely office in Kasturbai Nagar, Adyar and become a member.

“Anyone who has deep interest in photography can become a member of the society. PSM is a fraternity to meet people and grow”, exclaims Ganesan Pajanissamy, a passionate photographer and member of the society. He quit his high-paying finance job 5 years ago to pursue his love for photography and has never looked back.

The digital camera revolution has rendered negatives and developers extinct. The society has some of the early day photographs still preserved at the Victoria and Albert museum in the UK. They are trying to retrieve it and once they do they will have some of the rarest archaic treasures for the future generations to appreciate.

The 65 programs conducted by the PSM throughout the year, ranging from workshops and exhibitions to inspiring guest lectures by some of the best in the field like Rajiv Menon, Ravi Chandran and Lathika Ramaswamy, keeps members up-to-date with the latest technologies and strategies. The members keenly look forward to the ‘photo walk’ every month, where they stroll along the streets of Chennai with their cameras to capture life as it happens.

If you are a camera buff, you can see where you stand by sending in your photographs to the All India Salon of Photography contest, held by the PSM every year. The eminent judgment panel consisting of Madhu Sarkar, founder of the National Academy of Photography, T.N.A perumal, reknowned wildlife photographer and Ashok Kandimalla, writer for Smart and Better Photography magazines ensure that only the best pictures live through till the end of the contest.

Photographic experiments thrill members like Ganesan who is working to recreate the ever-revered Raja Ravi Varma paintings in digital form by photographing live models in similar costumes. Sundar Guruswamy has currently undertaken a project to photograph Thanjavur temples and exhibit them.

 “We used to do ‘touch-ups’ to photographs in the olden days and that is today advanced through Photoshop. Digital manipulation is accepted in contemporary art”, says Ganesan as he proudly hands out an intriguing ‘photoshopped’ picture of a carnatic dancer.

The PSM is trying to woo more talent in the country. The first chapter is proposed to start in Bangalore by the end of this year.

A journey that began 150 years ago, PSM has come a long way and is indeed unstoppable. If you are a photo-enthusiast wanting to pursue it as a hobby or a profession, stop dreaming, now that you know where to go!