Panorama Photography
By Athula Disanayaka
“An evening of Amsterdam”
Panoramic picture means that it
exposes wider area than the height of the picture. In other way panoramic view
is that its aspect ratio is higher in width than the height of the picture. Use
of panoramic picture is very common with the emerging of Digital Photography
and relevant software. Today, all over the world people use panoramic
photography for Artistic, Educational and Commercial Purposes.
T he concept of present day
Panoramic Photography has a link with medieval panoramic art emerged in
Europe. When I was in Netherlands I had
a chance to visit to see 360 - degree panoramic art, Panorama Message in Hague.
This panoramic art is more than 14 meters
high and about 40 meters in diameter (120 meters in circumference). This
was a masterpiece of distinguished Dutch marine painter Henrdrik Willem Mesdag ((23
February 1831 – 10 July 1915). This Panoramic paint reflects the sea and
the land of Hague in 360 – degree. This world famous paint is exhibited in a cylindrical
building with an observation gallery in the centre of building enabling viewers
to see whole paint walking around 360 - degree inside the observation gallery.
Sand dune is created between the paint and observation gallery and it results
crating of more real atmosphere of a sea and land side that painted in the art.
This
unforgettable experience inspired me to create my own panoramic picture in
marvelous Amsterdam city with my DSLR. One day, a rather cold evening, I walked
inside the city and found a place to create my first panoramic picture. You
could see that amazing panoramic picture here that I captured at first time in
my photographic life. I took three pictures and assembled it using Adobe Photo
Shop photo stitching to create “An evening of Amsterdam”
පැනොරාමා (Panorama) එහෙමත් නැත්නම් පලලින් ඉතා පුලුල් පරාසයක විහිදුණු කෝණයක් ඇති ඡායාරූපකරණය (Panoramic Photography) බොහෝ සෙයින් අද භාවිතා වුණත් එහි අතීතය මධ්්‍ය කාලීන යුගයටත් පෙර කාලයේ චිත්‍ර ශිල්පය දක්වා දක්වා දිව යනවා. නමුත් මෙම චිත්‍ර වඩාත් ජනප්‍රිය වුණේ 18- 19 ශත වර්ශ වලදී . ස්වාභාවික භූමි දර්ශන ඇඳපු චිත්‍ර ශිල්පීන් මෙම පැනොරාමා චිත්‍ර අඳින්න පුරුදු වුණා. මේවාට බොහෝ විට වස්තු විශය වුණේ භූමි දර්ශන, යුද්ධ සහ විවිධ ඓතිහාසික සංසිද්ධි. නෙදර්ලන්තයේ හේග් ( නුවර තියෙන Panorama Mesdag )කියන සුවිශාල සිලින්ඩරාකාර චිත්‍රය මධ්‍ය කාලීන යුගයේ පැනොරාමා චිත්‍ර වලට උදාහරණයක්. හේග් මුහුදු වෙරළ සහ ගොඩ බිම නිරූපනය වන අංශක 360 ක කෝණයක භූමි දර්ශනයක් මෙම චිත්‍රයෙන් නිරූපනය වෙනවා.
පසුකාලීනව ඡායාරූපකරණය පැමිණීමත් සමග පැෙනාරාම ඡායාරූප ගන්න ගත්ත උත්සහ ෙය් විවිධ අත්හදා බැලීම් වල ප්‍රතිපලයක් විදිහට අදාල ශිල්පීය උපක්‍රම භාවිතා කරලා ගන්න ඡායාරූප ෙපලක් Photoshop අාධාරෙයන් පැෙනාරාම ඡායාරූපයක් බවට පත්කරගන්න පුලුවන්.
ෙනදර්ලන්තෙය් අැමස්ටර්ඩෑම් නුවර පැෙනාරාමා ඡායාරූපයක්
දවසක් සන්ධ්‍යාෙව් කාංසිය යන්නත් ඒක්ක අැම්ස්ටර්ඩෑම් නුවර අැවිද ෙගන යන විට අපූරු වීදියක අැලක් සහ මධ්‍යකාලීන යු ග ෙය් නිවාස ෙපලක් සහිත සුන්දර දර්ශනයක් හමුවුණා. ඒ සුන්දර පැෙනාරාමා ඡායාරූපය තමයි මේ.
IDFA
A contemporary
perspective of visual storytelling
International
Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
This article was published in local news paper " Daily News"
This article was published in local news paper " Daily News"
By Athula
Disanayaka
IDFA - international
Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam is one of distinguished documentary film
festival in the world. Within eleven days of screenings, in 2012, reportedly
more than 1.2 million documentary films enthusiasts had flocked to the theater
complex in Amsterdam city to see the films. That was valuable opportunity for
the documentary film makers living worldwide to expose their self consciousness
and profound sentiment through visual sequences to the world. I also got an opportunity to see several
documentaries in the festival in 2012 while I was attending my training course
on Educational Television Program Production at RNTC – Radio Netherlands
Training Center in Hilversum, Netherlands. I was highly inspired by seeing
modern forms of expressions on documentaries by the talented directors
form different countries in the world.
IDFA
was founded in Amsterdam by Ally Derks
in 1987 in order to build a
platform for the documentary film makers scattered all over the world with the intention of making outstanding
documentary with new creative formats and contents. Along this visual art project this
organization creates international dialog among all participants and Dutch
people on various socio – economic and political issues in the world.
New
generation and the veteran documentary film makers show their unique talents of
visual expression using new dimension of documentary story telling at IDFA.
IDFA
2012
IDFA
2012 festival started on 14th
and lasted on 25th of November. In
developed social democratic atmosphere, Dutch people think broadly on the
issues related to the numerous socio, economic and political milieu in the
world. Dutch society is more liberal and uses to perceive the world in
humanistic way. They make favor on the documentaries which are made with newest
narrative style on the subjects of some issues in the world. Culturally,
watching movies both classical and popular is a great passion of Dutch people.
Pathe
film theater complex where IDFA was held
Last year more than 4000
documentary industry people including directors and producers had visited IDFA.
More than 250 films were screened.
IDFA is not just a screening of
selected documentaries from all over the world, but it has been adorned with
many creative and progressive ideas and systematic process and projects which
lead documentary directors and documentary enthusiasts to make profound study
and entertain on the subjects. Most prominently IDFA Bertha Fund provides
assistance to documentary film makers living in worldwide who have financial
matters to realize their documentary projects. Bertha fund gives support for
the documentary projects of developing countries which discus the matters such
as freedom of expression, human rights, social justice, poverty, feminism,
economic justice and education. Further, IDFA Bertha Fund provide capital for the film festival that can be organized in
developing countries by any organization with clear intention of developing
documentary film culture which is dedicated to ground breaking documentaries.
IDFA Website and process
IDFA web site is one of most
developed, attractive and user friendly web site which is full of modern
elements enabling browsers to watch some award winning documentaries for free
of charges. During the festival film buffs could download mobile apps to their
smart phone to access more film information and ticket reserving. IDFA organization
issues Daily tabloid news paper called IDFA with extensive details and the
narrative articles about the screening films and the festival. All screenings
are followed by an interactive session with Q&A between audience and the
director of the film. Making documentary is an art form and an industry as
well. So IDFA is a place where film makers, TV production houses and broadcast channels
sell their outstanding works to the rest of world. IDFA has specially design
process and meeting point where film directors could meet hundreds of people
represented television field who want to purchase best documentary films for the
broadcast and distribution. IDFA academy is most exceptional part which
stimulates talents of new and experienced film makes through workshops and
training programs.
Some stunning successes of
IDFA
Now I intend to refer some
outstanding documentaries which were screened in IDFA in 2012 and earlier. I
was able to watch several documentary films at IDFA but I watched many documentaries
by online accessing to the IDFA web site www.idfa.nl
and you tube.
“Seeing is Believing: Handy cams, Human Rights and the News”
In the practice of journalism TV producers and
TV Directors never thought of using small video (Handy cam) cameras that could
be used for broadcasting purpose, especially for documentary film making. But
trend and practice have changed enabling small domestic cameras (handy cams) to
enter broadcasting sect. The story “Seeing is Believing: Handy cams, Human Rights and the News” by Katerina
Cizek, Peter Wintonick, Canada, 2002, color, video, 52', is precise instance
for using small camera for broadcasting
for some case.
Rodney King is being beaten by
police, scene was captured by handy cam
Documentary starts some handy cam footages of
various countries, South Africa, Cambodia, Eritrea and USA reflecting the
importance of the incidents/contents not the quality of footage like broadcast
quality. This is the modern way of journalism involved with reality.
Operating handy cam by general people assist
main stream media to built real stories of truthful, believable incidents of
day to day life in society. Viewers don’t think that it is a fabrication or re enacted.
From
human activist to Soldiers, astronaut, terrorists and many others use handy cam
for their life style events such as birthday parties, school functions,
Journeys, wedding and etc. But
occasionally, accidently, they encounter real incidents which effect upon individuals
or all in the society. In 9/11 tragedy, first air plane hitting to the world
trade center and many other incidents were captured by amateurs using handy
cams. Television channels used those materials for their news bulletins and
programs.
Since the invention of Handy Cam in 1985 it
became fashion of entertaining tools of people but it turned to political
weapon for the human rights activists. “Seeing is Believing” shows numerous crucial incidents
happened in globally. Handy cam revolution began when someone captured (using
handy cam) Rodney King police beating in Los Angles highway in 1991. Following
the airing of this handycam footage of Rodney king police beating by television
channel, public outrage sparked across the united state against the police
brutality and racism. This video footage
assisted as credible testimony on trial against the perpetrators.
“Seeing is Believing”, film flows with central character Philippine
human rights activist Joey Lozano who
were given handycam camera from New York Based human right organization “Witness”
. He provides video film making lesson to the selected people of tribe who has
to fight against multinational company upon confiscation of their inherited
lands. They were instructed to record all incidents with companies. Because
Joey Lozano and human rights organization in New York had identified video
footages as credible political tool which could be used against injustice. “
Afghan Star
After Taliban regime was fallen music came
back to Afghanistan where had been rich music for centuries. During Taliban
extremism (under Sharia law) singing, listening music and dancing were banned
and punishable by prison sentences or death penalty. Fortunately, following the
2004 election many restrictions were lifted allowing people more secular
freedom. Afghan people rediscovered their art inheritance including music for
enjoyment, embracing secular values. This transition and the new music trend in
the Afghan society had astonishingly captured by young British director Havana Marking in her documentary called “Afghan
Star” which was screened at IDFA in 2008.
Story of this documentary
is revolved around four contestants of Afghan weekly popular musical
television show Pop Idol exposing the music passion of
Afghan people, 11 million viewers, and one third of the total population. These
contestants, finalists of the show, two women and two men are under the dread
atmosphere of Taliban because yet Taliban threat is still alive. People vote
their favorite singers by mobile phones and this was first time Afghan people
experience such reality show. Amazingly women competitors sing at stage while
dancing without wearing Burqa. The one women star says
that they were forced to cage during Taliban control and but now they can do anything
they want but still there were fear surrounding them. One of female singer was threatened
by far extremists and openly one boy says “she is deserved to be killed”. Some
conservative elders say “she could have contested according to Islamic rules”. Three
weeks Before the final show Ulema Council of Scholars of Afghanistan makes
decision to impose a decree against the
Afghan Star and says it was un Islamic and violates Islamic Sharia law. But
despite the decree by Ulema, finalists, one woman and two boys decide to
continue the contest. Music lovers gather to watch final show enthusiastically.
Again, Taliban makes threat to mobile company to suspend all mobile signals at
the night because they want to prevent revealing of consent of majority people
who love music. But, eventually the television channel and the contestants heroically
break the hurdle choosing their music star mocking the conservative ideology of
Taliban.
This feature length documentary begins the
testimony of little blind Afghan boy who sings a song and says “Someone
can listen to music and his good mood will return. His sadness will disappear. If there was no music human would be sad.”
This is a sarcastic prologue which places by the director who wants viewers to
sense the real nature of human.
Festival was featured by three types of length
films as short documentaries, mid length documentaries and feature length
documentaries.
Other most fascinating significance of this
festival is allowing film makers to submit their experimental documentary films.
Some documentaries had made using domestic video camera which had high
resolution video filming facilities.
“5 broken Camera”
“5
broken Camera” is one of compelling story about firsthand account of
Palestinian farmer lives in troubled area in West Bank. Farmer Emad
Burnat bought his first video camera in 2005 to capture his youngest son’s
Birth. At the same time Israel government began of constructing a fence
splitting the land as Israeli side and Palestinian side. While capturing the
fascinating moment of his growing son he uses to capture the incidents between
Israel soldiers and Palestinians. Every time he is attacked by Israeli forced and
his cameras are also damaged.
Since 2005 to 2009 Emand had captured nine
hundred hours long footages. In 2009
Israeli co-director Guy Davidi joined with this farmer to make film. This
collaboration led to compile astonishing story which won several international
awards, the Special Broadcaster IDFA Audience Award and the Special Jury Award
at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam in 2011, Nominated for
Best Documentary Feature in the 85th Academy Awards.
“5 broken Camera” is a testimony of oppressive
life of Palestinian in west bank. Emad Burnat and villagers protest peacefully and every time Emad
shoots the incidents with the risk of damaging his camera. But eventually, his
cameras are damaged by Israel forces.
So he buys new camera every year. He has hours of footages but
not a documentary. During this time most remarkable, profound sentimental
incident happens. An Israel film director, Guy Davidi, rival from opposite side of Palestinian cames
towards Emad to assist to make a complete film using his hours of video.
Davidi, as an experienced film maker he shapes and structures a
story placing Emad as the central character and story continues through the
Emad’s point of view. Emad gathers more visual including their
family life. He fascinatingly documents his fourth son’s growing throughout six
years. French Editor Véronique Lagoarde–Ségot joins with Eamad and Davidi to
finalize the program in to two versions, 90 minutes film and 52 minutes
television version.
Eamad made a visual
story, the incidents in village confronting Israeli forces cut in juxtaposition
with family life. Although there is conflict between Israel and Palestine, convincing
democratic and humanistic values and principles, initially Israel Greenhouse
Development Project funded this documentary project. Ultimately “5 broken Camera” came in front of the eyes of
rest of the world wining positive reviews and winning international awards.
Salim Baba
Where ever in this world, life is a struggle of surviving. Every
person has inherited life style and a means of sustain. Bad or good, old or
new, profitable or not profitable anybody should do particular profession. In
IDFA short length section, “Salim Baba” is a documentary on a character lives
in north Kolkata, a person who has chosen one of fascinating way to find his
wage. 55 year’s old Salim Muhamad operating mobile cinema with his son which is
inherited from his father. With a Lumière-era
projector and a six-foot-long theatre on wheels Salim Muhammad shows a small clips of
discarded Indian feature films which are consisted with songs, dance and
fighting. Children living in his urban
area flock to see these movies paying some coins.
He has been engaging this for 45 years. He wishes to continue
the tradition. Director brings people to watch the real harsh atmosphere
in an Indian city which is full of shanties. Salim Baba is one of most poignant
documentary of human life which I have ever seen. .This is the testimony of powerful documentary
basin on actual life account.
Salim Baba, 2007, directed by Tim Sternberg, 15 minutes length
film was nominated for r an Academy Award for best
documentary short.
Radio Amina
It is not a matter of your gender, male or female; both of them
should have equal rights in every aspect in the society. This is utmost
recognition in a society where democracy is being conducted. But
this recognition is not applicable to the many societies which are far from
democracy. It is true phenomenon that some religious fundamentalism and feudalism
have been deprived women rights. Radio Amina, Directed by Orlando von Einsiedel
, 8mins running time, IDFA selected film in 2011 is a film which portraits the disappointed life of girls in Nigeria.
Although Nigeria is a oil rich country, now it is become to a
miserable state because of years long conflict with “ Boko Haram” ( in English meaning - western education is sinful)
Islamic fundamental organization fighting for separate Islamic state for the
northern Nigeria. As usual women in some Islamic societies have limited rights
and they don’t have equal opportunities as men. They are confined in to the
society where conservative values and taboos are existed. In this true context,
even though Amina has numerous desires and wishes she has to be cornered
without achieving them. Radio Amina ,
short documentary expresses Amina’s wishes and desires in new form of documentary
storytelling.
12 years old Amina Dibir , a street peddler in Kano, appears in
the film selling some stuffs. Her voice (dreams, wishes and opinions) goes on
air through a fictitious radio and numerous people of the country listen to her
speech. It is worth to listen her own voice ( back ground narration) in the documentary to realize true nature of
girls in northern Nigeria . “Today
we are talking about girl’s hopes for the future. It is hard for us girls here
in Nigeria. We are expected to do everything in the house and then go out to
work on the streets. But we want more from our lives. Girls can be presidents,
run companies or even fly to space. But so many decisions in this country are
made by the fat men in suits. They sit their offices and say educating girls is
not our priority. ………To all the girls listening to my show. I know you have
dreams like I do……Parents, businessmen, politicians no body listen to us girls.
At the moment we are invisible to our leaders. But we can do great things for
our country. We ambitious and we are hard working. We just want to be heard. My
name is Amina. I am going to be someone. All I am asking Nigeria, is that you
hear my voice”
IDFA – International documentary festival is
an event that film lovers either visit or watching film through the online. Immerging
young talented and veteran documentary makers can contribute the festival
submitting their excellent masterworks on variety of subjects in artistic
formats. Although you are mere documentary viewer undoubtedly you could sharpen
your humanistic vision upon contemporary world to be acted as a humanist.
Athulatv@yahooo.com
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