Santhosh Chandran
DOHA
Indian photographer Shiraz Sitara was awarded the ‘ICC Photographer of the Year 2023’ by the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), the umbrella organisation of the Indian community in Doha. The winning photo, captured in Shahaniya, depicts the life, natural beauty and rich traditions of Qatar. The award was announced following a photography exhibition and workshop, the first of its kind organised by ICC.
ICC Photography Club President Vishnu Gopal received a special award for his contribution to wildlife photography, while Sheela Suneer from Birla Public School won the grand prize in the students’ category.
ICC President A P Manikantan highlighted the talent within the Indian expatriate community, noting that the ICC Photography Club would serve as a platform for photographers to showcase their work and exchange ideas. The event featured workshops on natural photography, wildlife photography, travel and portrait photography, and camera operation and maintenance, attended by around 150 photography enthusiasts.
“In the vibrant Indian expatriate community, we have a large number of talented photographers who have proven themselves in major photography competitions and exhibitions in Qatar,” ICC President AP Manikantan told Qatar Tribune.
Additionally, a session on food photography was led by Fuji Film Mentor Arif Al Amman. The photography exhibition displayed 100 photographs by talented photographers from the Indian community in Qatar, and a photo-magazine featuring all exhibited photographs was released during the event. Dignitaries in attendance included ICC Coordinating Officer at the Indian Embassy Sachin Dinkar Shankpal, Founder of the Qatar Photography Center (QPC) Abdullah Al Mesle, and ICC Photography Club President Vishnu Gopal.
