Focus Point

“I make it a point to attend all the shows in the city. Whether small or big,hands-on experience in photography helps build a portfolio for future contacts and job opportunities,” says Subhojit who has also teamed up with Chaos Records,a label which promotes heavy metal bands abroad. “We give freelance projects to students who can handle cameras well. They also look after the styling of the band members,” says Shreyas Kandekar,owner of Chaos Records.

Every gig goes beyond just photographs for these budding lensmen. For Komal Khiani,a shoot involves styling,grooming and the background art work. “The attire is very important for a band shoot. I suggest several art works and theme-based dressing keeping the genre in mind,” says Komal,a photography student. Lensman Nipun Srivastava is the man behind the perfect frames for city-based Hind rock band,Ashwamedh. “I love music,” says Nipun who is also a drummer. “Giving the band an image is also a good way to learn as a lot of thought goes into it,” he adds.

These photography tasks help the students perfect their skills and also work as promotional tools for upcoming bands. “Well made videos and photographs speak a lot about the band profile. It helps in creating a stronger fan base and puts together the best features of a band,” says Yudhaditya Chatterjee,lead vocalist of Ashwamedh. “Photographers use their creativity to project us in better ways than we would think of. When organisers look at a professional video and see the kind of equipment used,they take the band seriously,” he adds.

This learning process isn’t easy. It comes with its set of challenges. “One cannot get the right shot every time as the musicians are continuously moving on stage. We need to coordinate well with them before the performances,” says Kaushik Sinha,manager of Noiseware,an experimental flash metal band. But,this concept seems to be working for both sides,with one supporting the other.