Members of the Ghana Photojournalists Network (GPN) have commemorated the 2024 World Photography Day with a mentorship programme for Visual Communication Technology-Photography students at the Tema Technical Institute (TTI).
The programme dubbed “An Entire Day-Mentoring Young Photographers” saw the experienced photojournalists, most of whom were past students of TTI, taking the students through the rudiments of photography and the importance of the work of photojournalists in shaping the media landscape.
The mentors also went on a field trip with the students to capture captivating and memorable pictures of the polluted Chemu Lagoon, fish processing, and sea erosion at Tema Manhean.
The General Secretary of the GPN, Mr. Godfred Blay Gibbah said World Photography Day is observed annually on August 19 to celebrate the art of clicking pictures and recognise the contribution of a French artist, Louis Daguerre, who perfected the Daguerreotype (a photograph made on silver-covered copper sheets) on August 19, 1839.
Mr. Gibbah, who is also a former Tema Regional Chairman for the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), added that the day is also used to create awareness about critical issues that affect the sector and is also dedicated to the art, craft, science, and history of photography.
He said the mentorship was aimed at helping the students to appreciate the benefits of photojournalism to society and encourage them to become professional photojournalists.
Mr. David Andoh, the President of the GPN, in a presentation on ‘Photojournalism and Its Impact on Society,” said photojournalism was an important branch of the media that focusses mainly on the use of images to tell authentic stories, adding that it is also known as visual journalism.
Mr. Andoh stressed that “photojournalism is not about taking pictures of events or memorable occasions; it is a vessel to inform, educate, entertain, and also to immortalise the happenings for the future.”
The Head of Department of TTI’s Visual Communication Technology-Photography, Patricia Kukua Arthur, said in a welcome address that the department, which was on the verge of collapse some years back, has evolved and now has about 100 students.
Madam Arthur said the department was bedeviled with many challenges, especially logistics and staff, and therefore appealed to the old students and members of the GPN to help keep the department alive.
The Vice-Principal of Administration, Ms. Vivian Azumah, commended the network for giving back to the school in the form of mentorship, noting that photojournalism was a wonderful programme that collaborated with many sectors, including book printing.
She added that photographers added visuals to the stories and events that happened and brought to bear the truth of the matter.
Mr. Alex Sacki-Laweh, the Chief Executive Officer of C4 Printing Hub, advised the students to turn their passion for taking photos and videos into a commercial and economic venture.
He also appealed to Tema Tech to consider running weekend courses to get people interested in photography to acquire some professional training in the field.
Source: GNA
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