Hyderabad: T. Veerabhadra Rao, an amateur photographer from Kakinada, has received Associate Membership in the Royal Photography Society (RPS), Great Britain. He is the only person from India to bag the honour this year and one of the 40 world-wide.
Each participant had to submit 15 photographs, which were evaluated by a panel of 24 judges, at least 18 of whom would have to approve. “However, in Rao’s case, all 24 judges approved his selection,” says Kruthiventi Perraju, president of the Kakinada Camera Club, adding that Rao is the first photographer from Kakinada to receive the honour.
Rao, who works as a photographer in the agriculture department, had sent his entries under the title “Rural India”. His photos reflected tribal life.
One of his photos, “Street Singer”, depicting a person begging while singing, was particularly appreciated. “An ordinary beggar was given an artistic twist which got accolades from the jury. Like Wordsworth, who transmitted lives of simple folk into poetry, Rao captured the ordinary life of a village” says Perraju.
Rao drew inspiration from the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and he is a disciple of O.P. Sharma, a legend in pictorial photography. He learnt the tricks of the trade from the great photographer, late Somanchi Ravi Shankar.
Rao has received 110 awards and certificates for his photographs. Thanks to him, the Kakinada Camera Club has stood among the top in the world for the past 10 years. He says that his goal is to become a fellowship member of RPS.
