As denizens of the picturesque Ooty, aspiring photographers of Light and Life Academy (LLA) needn’t look further for inspiration. “The serene environment was reason enough for me to set up LLA here,” explains Iqbal Mohamed, leading photographer and the institute’s founder. Mohamed graduated in photography from the prestigious Brookes Institute in USA in 1988.
What’s on
It offers a full-time one-year PG diploma in photography with specialisations in portrait photography, fashion photography, architecture and interiors photography, travel photography, nature photography and fine art photography. In addition there is also a 100-day photojournalism course and short-duration photography workshops. Students are taught in depth about lighting, filters, flash techniques, advanced Photoshop techniques, etc. The institute also boasts of expat faculty, some of whom happen to be Mohamed’s classmates from Brookes.
Behind the scenes
After agonising for many years about the lack of proper guidance for aspiring photographers, Mohamed pooled in all his savings to set up LLA in 2001. “I have poured my heart and soul into my baby (read LLA). My aim was to construct a curriculum that is on par with US varsities,” he explains. His wife Anuradha has been a pillar of strength for Mohamed — she gave up her job at an advertisement firm to assist him.
Infrastructure
LLA graduates have been absorbed into the advertising sector, publications and the travel industry. Some have also decided to strike it on their own. The institute is also unique in its structure — it’s built on a split level along the slope so as to not meddle with the landscape. There are 12 studios exclusively for students, including a daylight studio to capture natural photography and a black and white processing lab. “Though nobody uses this lab nowadays as pics are done in a digital manner, we nevertheless want them (students) to be aware of the technique,” says Arnab Nath, a professor and an alumni of the institute. Though the institution doesn’t have a hostel, it helps students get accommodation in nearby areas.
Incidentally a majority of students at LLA are from north India. It was his passion for photography that brought Rahul Gudipudi, an engineer, to LLA. “After BTech, I was doing my PhD research in IIT-Madras. Sports photography has
always been my love and I decided to quit my research and thus begin what I call a life-altering journey.”
Student friendly
There’s no ban on cellphones nor is any dress code prescribed for the students. “We want to treat them like grown-ups and don’t believe in moral policing. They understand their responsibilities and behave accordingly by switching off the mobiles when a class is in progress or dressing decently for a class,” says Mohamed.
Admissions
Graduates in any discipline with an aptitude for photography can apply by paying Rs 1,000 before May 31. Admission is based on the portfolio you send (20 images) and a personal interview. Course fees is Rs 4.5 lakh and an additional Rs 2 lakh has to be spent on basic equipment. Future plans of the institute include conducting two simultaneous batches.
— shilpa.vasudevan@newindianexpress.com