A couple of decades ago, there were no fancy degrees giving testimony to a photographer’s excellence in the field.
S Pradeep Kumar, a professor of Photography and Visual Communications at Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU), Hyderabad, is one among many who suffered because of it. However, the initiatives he took to make sure his students don’t go through the same is helping them grow leaps and bounds in their careers.
The professor, who also serves as Director of Academic and Planning at the University, claimed that he is the architect of two PG Courses in Photography offered at the university. “It is one-of-a-kind among courses offered by government institutes in India,” said Pradeep Kumar.
After completing a Diploma in Photography in the 80s, for the lack of better options, he did BSc Honours and had to spend time studying courses not related to Photography. He then applied for an Assistant Professor’s post at JNAFAU.
The professor, who joined academics in 1986, said that as photography is a creative field and every student has different levels of creativity, the key in making them understand the course lies in understanding their aptitude levels.
“The course has only 20 per cent theory and the rest is practical. So the students are left with a lot of time to apply what is taught. This also helps us in allocating time for each and every student,” Kumar said.
The professor received Fellowship of Federation of Indian Photography and a Gold Medal at Pingyao International Photography Festival, organised in China in 2006. He also received the State Award for Meritorious Teachers from the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 2010.
shiva.shanker@newindianexpress.com