Hyderabad: Diwali is perhaps a delight for the present day photographers but the veterans, with their film cameras and having to cope with a contrast of low or no light with bright firecrackers, had it tough. However, they admit that challenges made it more rewarding when they succeeded.
Retired photographer Pentukar Ramchander recalls using high speed film whenever he would click photos involving fireworks during Diwali. Terming shooting during Diwali ‘especially challenging,’ he says in those days, he would use 800 ASA and 1,600 ASA high-speed films to take pictures in low-light conditions, such as for concerts or shows, or during Diwali. ASA was the equivalent of what is currently termed ISO, a measure of the camera’s sensitivity to light.
Ramchander says the high speed films were expensive, but without using them, pictures were good enough.
“Photos lacked sharpness as one could not capture sparks from firecrackers well enough,” he says.
He recalls the 2003 Afro-Asian Games, which were hosted in Hyderabad, as the last time he used a high speed film to capture fireworks in the stadium. Unlike many others, he still uses the film camera and does not know how digital cameras work.
Professional photographer Arvind Chenji recalls how the process of taking photos was a lot of trial and error until the correct aperture and shutter speeds were determined.
“For example, if we were shooting a flower pot, the exposure changes if it burns for too long or too bright. Those days we also used to have a light meter to measure the light and set it accordingly,” he says. But because of how difficult it was to get a good picture, they were valued a lot.
Chenji has completely embraced digital photography since its advent, as it has made things much easier. “The theory is still the same, but we are able to see the picture immediately. More importantly, post production is what has made it so different now. The computer has become a dark room, and what it can do is simply mind-boggling. That is why we see so many very good pictures today, on par with the best pictures of yesteryear,” Chenji added.
