Organised by the North South University Photography Club (NSUPC), KM Ali Asim, the president of NSUPC says, "This year's exhibition reached new heights with over 350 photographs of about 100 photographers of 19 national and 8 international universities from six countries to compete in seven categories: action, landscape, portrait, architecture, life style, nature and still life in both colour and black-and-white.

"Moreover, this exhibition is an occasion wherein the young enthusiastic photographers get to express themselves and find a outlet for their creativity," he points out.

A panel of judges, comprising renowned photographers of the country led by Dr Shahidul Alam of Drik, judged two best photos from each of the categories.

Of images fresh, blunt and compelling in pristine colours

The aesthetic decisions made in capturing and presenting the photographs are varied. And it is strongly distinguished in around 250 displayed colour photographs.

Among the winners were Amaar Koishor, (first prize) which depicts a teenage girl's lonely moments. The work is by Jahangirnagar University student Mukti Khan.

Even those eyes can dream is the perfect title for the photograph by BUET's Mehedi (2nd prize). A girl lost in a dream and unconsciously biting her dopatta, is an excellent composition. Apart from these, there are some other noteworthy portraits titled Amaar Prithibi by Tauseef of NSU and Dadu by Apurba Khandaker of Dhaka University.

In the landscape category, the piece titled Dream at Dusk by Shafkat M Asif of NSU, won first prize. As Shafkat says, " Standing in front of a Bom house in a remote village, the sunset caught my eyes. With a part of Tajindong (the highest peak of the country) on the backdrop I just tried to capture that ineffable moment."

The enduring relationship between painting and photography is explored in the work of Bayzeed Hayder's (NSU) Reflection of the distance. This was a shot of three boats on a river in a moonlit night, without using a flash. In this category the works titled Bishonno Shondhya, Opposite Direction may not have bagged a prize but are well appreciated.

In the lifestyle category, BUET student Muslima Nazneen Khandaker's portrayal of a street worker's back covered in clay, could be regarded as a masterpiece. However, AUB student Prabal Rashid's framing of a nun reading a book caught one's attention.

In the still life category, the photograph titled Oboshishto by Faria Sultana (NSU) shows a number of distorted scissors hanging on a wall. This is an aesthetic composition, while Farhad Shakil's(DU) composition of two mugs in Enigma is magnificent.

Another interesting category that draws the attention is "action". Titled Tk 13,500 (Without Hasil) by Sheikh Rajibul Islam (BUET) the picture shows an old man pulling a sacrificial cow in the busy road. Both the message and the action of the shot are evocative. The framing of the work Perseverance by Nazmul of EWU should be especially mentioned as the semi-aerial view of a man fishing in a pond is done with perfection.

In the "architecture" category there is an element of experimentation, while the "nature" section has its diverse and appealing works too.

The black and white magic

Black and white photography is such a dimension that one should dare to give up one's favourite colours, sharpness, static quality and present one's idea in an ultra wide angle perspective. The display of around 90 black and white photographs is impressive and has a great impact on one's eyes. For instance, Sheikh Rajibul Islam's (BUET) Rhythm of Rural Life reflects the surreal and poetic landscape of pastoral Bangla with shadows mirrored on the water of a bullock cart carrying hay and a running bicycle with trees in the backdrop. In this rich landscape category another composition by Ikhtiar Mohammed (BRAC University) of a solitary tree, volumes of cloud and the immensity of sea can stir one's mind.

A little girl's association with the old edifices of the historical Sonargaon or the boy working with volumes of garbage and a number of vultures flying around; won the two top prizes in the lifestyle section. MHB Mehedi (BUET) and Ahsan Ahmed Chowdhury (NSU) are the photographers respectively.

The still life section is full of surprises with obscure essences. And Mehedi's two images Not My Imagination and Aren't we are perfectly balanced.

Among the portraits, Asifur Rahman Khan's (NSU) Abstraction and Bayzeed Hayder's (NSU) Faith, add a new dimension in this category with their unique portraits of people. With Path to great architecture, Mehedi once again scored top by capturing the steps of an old staircase in a rhythmic manner. However, no prizes were given in the nature and action category.

Pick of the juries

Apart from the regular prizes, four special jury awards were given to four aspiring photographers Asifur Rahman Khan's (NSU) Democracy, Monir Hussain's (NSU) Kaler Shakhkhi, Bassem Hasan's Morning at Uhud and Miran Hossain's (NSU) portrait of a Rickshawpuller.

The International Inter University Photography Exhibition '05, on display from May 28 to June 4, offers an excellent chance to explore the existing state of the medium of photography and its wealth of possibilities by the aspiring photographers. Above all the exhibition introduces a new and promising generation of Bangladeshi photographers.