Capturing moments: Young photographers stun with their talent

Excitement gripped the room as children saw their works displayed

KARACHI:

Photography encapsulates special moments, the present and the past. The phrase that a photograph is worth a thousand words, although much clichéd, truly grasps the essence of this art.To stress the importance of photography, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (Junior) provided a platform to young photographers to showcase their talent, exhibiting their exclusive photos at his house on Saturday.

"I am excited to see my photos exhibited," said a grade six student Saifullah Iftekhar. "Sir [Bhutto] taught me how to use a camera and I photographed the scenes that felt the best." Noreen Abdul Qayoom, 10, claimed the room with her contagious energy while viewing her work being displayed. "It was fun," she said while commenting on her experience.

Majority of the pictures were taken at the beach. The children masterfully captured moments on the beach which are relatable and reminiscent for the city dwellers. "They [children] were taken to the beach three times," said Bhutto. Some of the children were also given the freedom to take their cameras home and capture photos of their accord. Muhammad Amjad's photo of an innocent boy won the prize for the best picture. All the participants were rewarded with certificates for their participation and effort.

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Bhutto launched the project in December 2014 with the aim of teaching photography to children and fostering its importance in society. Twenty-five children participants were selected and provided disposable cameras.

Explaining the objectives of the initiative, Bhutto said that he not only wants to help potential photographers but also wants people to see the world through their lens. "Photography is quite underrated here [in Pakistan]," he commented while talking to The Express Tribune. He said that through this project, he wanted to highlight the importance of photography. It is more than just capturing faces, he added.

Bhutto shared his plans to teach photography to children from underprivileged backgrounds. "It is just the beginning, I want to teach them the significance of arts in the country," he explained.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2015.