Common frame Amateur shutterbugs come together to discuss and explore photography

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When you love something like photography, you realise that it's almost like a never-ending love story. It lures you, engulfs you, and before you know it becomes a part of you. Not jut the images, but the whole procedure of developing them: crea ting them, framing the subject and sometimes even changing them to create a whole new feel and flavour never known before.

No wonder then photography lovers and those in need of experiencing it intensely, have come together to form the pixetra club. Initiated and created by Pixetra, a store in Kochi that sells all varieties of camera equipment as a platform for exploring the nuances of photography, "it aims at taking photography to a different level." To the founders of it, "it is largely to bring awareness of photography to people and an avenue for its members to display their talents and delve into them. Where photography can be discussed and explored." Largely a new concept and a new club of its kind, Diwia Thomas, mother of three, who recently attended one of its workshops conducted by Sethuraman, a known figure in photography from Chennai, is enthusiastic of becoming part of the club. "Because I want to expand my horizon, understand where I may be going wrong, have my images reviewed.

Like-minded people
And then because it is the coming together of like-minded people with a passion for the subject. I believe it is something I would enjoy immensely."

At the recent workshop she attended, its participants were given a complete and detailed look into the subject, the mechanics of it and how to produce the best out of a camera. Details were largely basic in nature, but which also allowed them to have a first hand experience of a camera and how to manipulate them to result in what they need. But then it's not just a photography club where photographers congregate in a room talking about technique and lenses alone. The club is online where a host of activities, reviews and scrutiny of works would take place on a daily basis.

Not just by Sethuraman who is in charge of setting up the site and everything concerned with it, but also by other known photographers in the field. Just as Srikanth, owner of pixetra explains, "We want to encourage people to take better pictures and expose themselves to better equipment as well. For this experts in the field would be available online to offer advice and provide assistance. Besides, equipment is readily available from all price ranges in the shops today, so what was earlier a rich man's hobby has moulded itself to become an affordable passion."

And with the kind of equipment available especially digital cameras, there is a whole new arena visible to photography lovers.

To the club, photography does not limit itself to a camera, a computer or a printer alone, but is a part of travel, adventure or even just plain fun, it is that which records all of it, that which enables one to capture the ambience prevailing at that moment in time.

In fact, they say, it's about how you use the equipment in possession, what to do with it when deep sea diving or travelling in a desert or mountain hiking.

So, on a recent trip to Fort Kochi to capture ancient buildings, the team learnt how to use props to accentuate the beauty of a withered building and to take a wide angle shot by avoiding unwanted elements that may destroy the ambience of the picture. And once back at home after a day's photography, members of the club could upload their images and have them reviewed once again.

And if they need to be printed, they could be sent via email to pixetra who would have the hardcopy couriered to your doorstep in no time.

Tanya Abraham