Family wins the Grand Prize in India's Aperture Phone Photography Contest

The first season of India's Aperture photography competition ended on a deep and sweet note. Various photographers across India came together to showcase their skills and weave a story through the pictures.

It is often hard to choose a vision and bring it to life. Because photographs carry an essence and a tale that needs to be let loose, it is why the medium used to capture the moment never matters. It always depends on the vision and effort because capturing a moment is like life. You never know what the next moment will bring. We mustn't wait to photograph the moment because we never know if it will be there in the next moment. The ease of phone cameras to capture and preserve the essence and tales that the photograph entails is why people today love to weave stories through the lenses of their phones. The first season of India's Aperture's phone photographer-friendly competition was proof of this. The entries of the first season are something we are still not over as they carry emotions, raw and unfiltered. Seeing those photographs, you might feel you are living in the moment as they embed tales you can weave, and others take you through a series of stories. Coming across those pictures moved something in us and made it hard for us to forget it. We think photographs like these need to be seen and appreciated because they act as a barter system and enrich both the artist and the viewer. So here is the grand winner's entry and the tale it tells.

Deva Darshan's photograph titled 'Family' was the grand winner. The simplicity and the rawness of the portrait made it hard for one to forget. It carried an essence that reminded us of moments when emotions and feelings built a shield around us as we spent time with our families. The ease of the subject shows that they are unaware of Deva's presence. Monkeys are vividly aware of their background. Clicking a photograph that captures them in a raw moment shows the artistic capabilities and sheds light on Deva's potential. Deva's choice of art deserved recognition. And though we can't weigh art against money, a photographer must sustain themself and preserve their visions of the highest quality. So Deva won 40,000 INR for emerging as a grand winner. His constant efforts and magnificent vision came to life and bore him fruit.

The fact that this entry made it to the grand winner speaks tons about India's Aperture's belief and eye for talent. It is hard to find beauty in simplicity. More often than not, we lack the patience to let the simplicity grow on us and narrate its tale. It means that people are not appreciated and recognized for the effort it took to preserve that moment. The best photographs are the ones that remind you of moments in your life. It is the expressive and connecting photographs that can entail us. And it deserves the spotlight. When language becomes a barrier, it is the photograph that prevents people from lacking understanding. The pictures are what carry the history, present, and image for the future. They have witnessed happiness, sadness, anger, war, and daily life. Their omnipresence has helped us relive

moments that had once faded away. But the photographers are the ones who preserve those moments for us so we can relive them when we need them the most. If they weren't there, it would be hard to wrap ourselves in the story of love, joys, heartache, beauty, history, and more. Deva's photography is an epitome and a weighted blanket to many memories and tales. Today it's the best time to exist as a photographer. With brands like India's Aperture, it becomes easier to be under the spotlight you deserve. The first season of India's Aperture has enabled us to see what the world would feel like without photographers. And the need for them to be recognized. India's Aperture gave out participation certificates to all its participants. A participant needs acknowledgement despite the results, as it may be their first step towards their dreams. With the first season's success, India's Aperture has started registration for its second season to capture visions and art. They have announced prizes of up to 1 Lakh INR with participation certificates.