By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, July 4: In Frame, an initiative of a Tibetan Photographer Kalsang Jigme, today launched exile’s first-ever photography magazine on Tibet with Education Minister (Kalon) Ngodup Tsering launching its first edition at an unveiling ceremony at Mcleod Ganj.
With an aim to encourage photography in the Tibetan community, Kalsang, founder of In Frame, said, “It is to bring the works of Tibetans photographers (inside and outside Tibet) together and to provide a platform to showcase their photography.”
The biannual photography magazine launched today features an article from renowned Tibetan writer Tsering Woeser. The Beijing-based Tibetan wrote on ‘Photographing a vanishing Lhasa’, an article depicting how traditional Tibetan houses in Lhasa are left in ruins while Chinese modern buildings takeover. It also features an interview with awarding winning photographer, Tashi Topgyal of Indian Express.
“It is not just articles. We also have sections dedicated for general information on photography (information for amateur photographers and photography career). So it is very informative to those interested in this field,” said Kalsang.
Appreciating the initiative taken by Kalsang and his team, Education Minister Ngodup Tsering said, “Such initiative is morally in line with the concept of giving back to the community. I am here just for moral support since it also falls in line with two of the three present Kashag’s main objectives of ‘Unity, Innovation and Self-reliance’.”
The minister also added that alternative career specializing in various fields is also needed in the Tibetan community as Central Tibetan Administration, Tibetan schools and Hospitals can employ only a part of the exile community. He feels that such initiative would help guide the others in thinking out of the box.
In Frame also awarded the winners of last year’s photography contest in its four categories – environment, portrait, street and wildlife – which they organized at the Tibet Museum near Tsuglakhang in June.
The photo journal called ‘Exile’ (Tib: Tsenjol), a pictorial book documenting the arrival into exile and survival of the early Tibetan refugees, was awarded the ‘Special Achievement in Photography’ for its contribution to the Tibetan society.
As his way of giving back to the society, Kalsang announced that 15 percent of the income generated from the magazine sales would be used to start small grant for Tibetan photographers.
