An evocative celebration of nature and visual storytelling, “Nature Through a Photographer’s Lens” opened at Batighar Art Space on Friday, with Dhaka Tribune photographer Mehedi Hasan clinching first prize at the nationwide photography competition that shaped the exhibition. The show will remain open to visitors until January 17.
Developed through an open call that drew submissions from photographers across the country, the exhibition brings together a compelling collection of images exploring nature through diverse perspectives and creative approaches. It is jointly organised by Mongol Deep Foundation, Batighar Art Space and Radio Shadhin, and is presented as a tribute to Aly Zaker, whose lifelong contributions to art, culture and creative practice in Bangladesh continue to inspire generations of artists.
The exhibition has been curated by documentary photographer and photojournalist Farhana Satu, who also served on the jury alongside Shankar Shawjal and Shafayet Hossain Apollo. Initially planned to feature 30 photographs, the exhibition was expanded to 50 selected works after the jury encountered an unexpectedly strong and diverse pool of submissions. In several cases, multiple photographs by the same artist were included based on merit.
Reflecting on the judging process, jury member Shankar Shawjal underscored the need to democratise the appreciation of photography. He said evaluating photographs should be akin to proceedings in an open court, where ordinary people are present and engaged. “If photography is an art form, its journey begins with life, habit and creativity,” he said, adding that photography cannot achieve its true development unless people form a genuine connection with it.
“Curating this exhibition was challenging, as it is a group show of single images. I wanted the photographs to feel like a collective journey. Different print sizes were chosen deliberately to best reveal each image’s inner strength and beauty,” said jury member Farhana Satu.
Jury member Shafayet Hossain Apollo said: “Selecting photographs was extremely difficult due to the high quality of submissions. We closely examined theme, technical composition and insight, prioritising unseen works. Unable to exclude many strong images, we expanded the exhibition from 30 to 50 photographs.”
Shawjal further noted that photography plays a powerful role in awakening social consciousness. “It must be taken to ordinary people. If it does not reach them, its fundamental purpose remains unfulfilled,” he said.
Alongside Mehedi Hasan’s first prize, the jury awarded second prize to Shovan Prashad Acharyya and third prize to Aneek Chanda. A photograph by Salahuddin Ahmed received the Special Jury Choice Award and has also been selected as the key visual of the exhibition.
The opening ceremony, held on January 9 at 5pm, drew photographers, artists and cultural enthusiasts, offering a space for reflection on nature, creativity and the social role of photography in contemporary Bangladesh.
