Mohammed Arfan Asif

FRPS, EFIAP/d2, MPSA, GWP.ICS, MICS, MIUP, MAPS, FICS, c*MoL, APSA, Hon.YPS, HonFICS, Hon.MICS, Hon.EUSPA, Hon.FSWAN, Hon.EFMPA, Hon.FPSNJ, Hon.PSPB, Hon.PIP.ICS, Hon.EICS/PSBP, Hon.EIUSF, Hon.CPE, HonMLMG, Hon.GMPIPC 

Mohammed Arfan Asif / Arfan, 58 years of age is a Hospital Pharmacist by profession and a photoartist by passion.

His photographic journey began in the mid-80s in his native Bengaluru in India. Arfan’s photographic subjects are primarily portraits and landscapes, though he has dabbled in all genres including nature and travel with a preference for the monochrome medium.

He has exhibited his photographs regularly in photography exhibitions and galleries all over the world for more than 35 years of intense photography and won many awards including the Grand Prix in Serbia, FIAP blue-pin badges for best author in salons, Trierenberg Gold medal, Photo of the Year in Germany, Al Thani gold medal, The RPS Landscape Photographer of the Year Award, many PSA and FIAP gold medals.

Arfan has been awarded International photographic distinctions from various organizations including the Fellowship of The Royal Photographic Society (FRPS in 2021), the Master distinction of the Photographic Society of America (MPSA in 2018), the Excellence Diamond of the Federation of International Photographic Art (EFIAP/d2 in 2022), Grand World Photographer distinction of Image Colleague Society International (GWP.ICS) in 2021 and Master distinction of International Union of Photographers (MIUP) in 2020.

Many photographic organizations have awarded him their honorary titles. In 1997, Arfan founded “Askary Awards” for promoting photography among the youth in Karnataka State, India. He is currently the Chapter Organizer for the Dubai Chapter of The RPS and the UAE Country Representative for Image Colleague Society International. He is also the Director of the PSA Portrait Competition as well as the 1st Vice Chair of the PSA PID Board apart from his most important role as Mentor of Shutter Bugs Creative Forum in Dubai.

Arfan has given talks, presented workshops, online lectures, judged International exhibitions/salons, featured in group exhibitions, curated 8 photography exhibitions and organized 3 International salons. He has been a prolific writer on photography topics and in the past was the columnist for Photography Middle East and Connector magazines. He has mentored more than 50 enthusiasts to achieve International distinctions from among his 100+ Shutterbugs he currently mentors.

For Arfan, photography is a passion and he strongly believes that it brings people together and makes them human.

Contact details:

Mohammed Arfan Asif, MPharm. PDCR
PO Box 28303
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
arfan7@yahoo.com
(preferred mode of communication is Email or Facebook messenger)

Take u journey to the magic world of Arfans photography passion, just take a peek into the secrets of a noble heart of a great artist and dear friend:

Mohammed Arfan Asif – Dunes

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Mohammed Arfan Asif – People

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Mohammed Arfan Asif – Scapes

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Review from the Photo Camp organized by the Culture and Art Center of Sălaj County, the Photo Club Varadinum Oradea Association

Fortunately, we were able to participate in the 6th edition of Salaj-Beauty, Tradition, Story 2023 Photo Camp organized by the Culture and Art Center of Sălaj County, the Photo Club Varadinum Oradea 19 – 25 May.

This is a prestigious manifestation in the field of creative and artistic photography and we would like to share our impressions with a few words.

Summing up everything we experienced, felt, and learned during this unforgettable gathering with dear fellow photographers, we must say, with a full heart and with a lot of joy that the gathering at the Salaj photo camp was more than unforgettable.

The Salaj Foto Camp exceeded our highest expectations in everything. We have a special honor and pleasure to thank all the organizers and people with good hearts and goodwill for the successful realization of this unique cultural event.

Romania was presented to all of us in one unique and outstanding visual perspective, we were able to fill the hospitality and warmth of our hosts in the ethno houses we visited there, making us sufficient to realize all the cultural potential of the Romanian countryside.

We visited many churches, museums with professional guidance, and many respectful wineries in Romania, making us understand all the variety and rich cultural traditions of the Romanian people.

Especially and with a lot of warmth, we thank our beautiful Adela Lia Rusu, a friend with a big heart and good soul, for her selfless help, extraordinary organization, and the great effort she takes to make every participant of this camp feel “at home” like among their closest friends. In our humble opinion, everything about the organization of this photo camp worked precisely “like clockwork”, bringing us incredible satisfaction during our entire stay in Salaj, Romania, during the actual work and planned activities and all the moments spent with our old and new friends as well.

Thanks to her efforts, cooperation, and socializing, the new friendships have ennobled our hearts with new hope, with the kindness of commitment, and devotion in the organization of such a prestigious photography event.

Only that kind of effort can result in unique success.

Also, we are extremely grateful for the support, warm relationship, and excellent organization of this event to our friend and good and open-hearted man Ovi. D Pop. Without his effort, help, and commitment at every moment of our friendship, this meeting would not have gone like this, especially since the atmosphere in which we worked and lived for 6 days of the photo camp was at a more than enviable level. His powerful drone with “All-Seeing Eye” made our meeting and gathering timeless.

It was obvious that in cooperation with all the organizers and participants of this gathering, Adela and Ovi did their best to make every moment of our gathering a beautiful memory.

In addition, all the photo models, a coordinated selection of beautiful Romanian and Hungarian folk costumes, excellent accommodation, and supreme domestic food fulfilled our impressions. We have outstanding good cooperation with all our friends during the shooting itself, giving the personal stamp of our dearest Adela and Ovi.

During many years working in the field of artistic photography, we had the opportunity to participate in numerous manifestations of this type. We can say with pride and honor, with admiration and full of love – this was our most beautiful and heart-warming meeting with people of goodwill ever, in which Ovi and Adela were far ahead, first of all with their humanity and organizational skills, where, without a doubt, every participant felt respected and accepted as a member of a one loving big family.

We would especially like to refer to the devoted, warm, big-hearted artist, our new friend Mr. Mohammad Arfan Asif, who spread kindness and love with his presence every moment spent in the camp. My unique and unforgettable early morning walks and taking photos with him completed my skills in the field of photography and enriched my knowledge in observing light, atmosphere, photo shoots, and choosing the new angle of photography perspective as well. His rich experience and big heart made our new friendship strong and meaningful, so we can freely say that Arfan becomes a part of our family in Dubai, UAE.

In particular, it was a special pleasure for us to socialize, stay, and exchange experiences with warm and kind-hearted friends from Egypt, Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Hassan and Mrs. Nora Maher, where every moment spent with them was filled with mutual understanding and sincerity. Ljiljana had the special honor of receiving from Mr. Ahmed, The President and Founder of PIPC (Pharaos International Photographic Club) the high and prestigious title of Grand Master Distinction – Hon.GMPIPC for her merits in the field of artistic and creative photography.

I also had the honor of becoming a Life Time Member of PIPC and we are both convinced that we have made new wonderful friends with them and that our cooperation and friendship will develop successfully.

How can we not mention the driving force of the whole group, a person full of enthusiasm and good energy, Mrs. Derya Yazar Atasever from beautiful Cappadocia, Turkiye.

Her enthusiasm and motivation captured every moment and encouraged us to participate with the same enthusiasm in the work of the whole group, bringing us a lot of good photos from the photo camp in Salaj, Romania. Mrs. Derya is an exceptional artist and a friendly person, with whom we would love to hang out and share experiences.

It was very pleasant in the company of photography artists from Hungary – Miklos Mehes and Zsolt Bikfalvi, with whom we also achieved wonderful cooperation and friendship.

Enjoy, together with us in many documentary photos from Salaj Beauty, Romania 2023

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Posted by: Ljiljana Vrzic & Nenad Nikolic

Sara Gabriels, GMPSA, EFIAP/b, Belgium

Sara Gabriëls bought her first DSLR in 2016 and immediately enrolled in an entry-level photography course.

The start of an amazing adventure.

By the end of 2017, she decided to try her luck in the international photography competitions.

She wanted to find out if she had a place in the amateur photography world.

A short overview:

• 2018: PPSA  AFIAP 
• 2019: AFIAP – PPSA  
• 2020: EFIAP – MPSA 
• 2021: MPSA2 – Belgium photography champion
• 2021: EFIAP/b
• 2022: GMPSA

In six years she won many – national as well as international – titles, medals, awards, trophies and several blue badges. One of the highlights happened in 2021 when she earned the title of Belgium Champion Photography.

Sara’s first love is a night photography. However today she equally finds pleasure in portrait photography, street photography and macro as well. She is driven and doesn’t rest once she sets her mind to it. 

Sara operates from the heart. 

Her images don’t need further explanation.

The image is the story brought with honesty, purity, and openness that is so typical for this photographer. 
Every image must connect with the photographer before being published. Without this “seal of approval”, the image holds no value for Sara and doesn’t get to see “the light of day”.

However, every photograph says more than 1000 words.

We suggest you to dive into the Sara’s inner world, feel the trembling tingle of every colour, shade, or shape, originating directly from her hart.

Enjoy!

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Sanjoy Bhattacharya

(LRPS, EFIAP, GPU CROWN, FFIP, Hon. EFA, Hon PESGSPC , GPA.PESGSPC, Hon CPE, National Rep. of  GPU)

Director:
Bengal Photography Institute, C/41, First Floor, Chalantika, Garia Station Road, Kolkata-700084, West Bengal, India.
Canon EOS Mentor

Former Teacher-in-Charge
Department of Photography
Future Foundation School, Kolkata, India.

Sanjoy Bhattacharya was born and brought up in the ‘City of Joy’, Kolkata from the State of West Bengal, India. After completing his post-graduation in Zoology from Presidency College, Kolkata in the year 1996 he has started his photographic journey getting inspiration from his maternal uncle who was a press photographer by his profession.  Simultaneously he has started studying Art-Photography from various personalities in this field. He worked as a wedding photographer, model photographer, advertisement photographer, and product photographer individually from 2001 to 2004. He has started teaching photography at various organizations from 2004 to 2010. He has conducted various seminars and workshops on photography with various organizations like Nikon India, Sony India, etc. from 2006 to 2012.

• Mr. Bhattacharya has won more than 150 awards in photography competitions Nationally and Internationally from 2005 to till date. His photographic works have been exhibited throughout India and more than 50 countries all over the world.
• He is the Fourth Indian whose work has been exhibited in the “Information & Cultural Department”, Govt. of the Republic of China in 2010.
• He has achieved 2^nd position in a very prestigious photography competition in support of “Peace” that was organized by the Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Govt. of Greece in 2012.
• A Photo-Series titled “Life-A Journey” created by Mr. Bhattacharya has been selected and displayed as an archival value under the “Modern Art” category in the most prestigious Art-Museum of the nation “Indian Numismatic historical and cultural research foundation” Mumbai for study and research purpose to scholars in this field.
• He has received the prestigious distinction of AFIP (Associate of Federation of Indian Photography) and FFIP (Fellow of Federation of Indian Photography) in 2011 and 2014 respectively from Federation of Indian Photography.
• He is the most prestigious Honour holder as AFIAP (Artist of Federation of International Art Photography) and EFIAP (Excellence of Federation of International Art Photography ) from FIAP, Rome (Italy) in the category of Art-Photography.
• In 2020, he has achieved the most coveted Honour LRPS from Royal Photographic Society, Bristol. He is the only 6^th Indian who has this Honour.
• Global Photographic Union, Greece has given him GPU Crown Honour for his outstanding work and contribution in the field of Art-Photography in 2016.
• He is also the National Representative of GPU in India.

Presently Mr. Bhattacharya is running his own institute named BENGAL PHOTOGRAPHY INSTITUTE in Kolkata from 2011 and teaches various specialties and aspects of photography. Presently the Institute has more than 500 students in various standards from almost every corner of the society. Among them, almost 40 students are working professionally in the field of photography in various fields. Many students are actively involved in various photographic activities under him and also participating in many Salons and contests. Mr. Bhattacharya is conducting many workshops, seminars, and other educational activities to promote photography among general masses throughout the year.

He is celebrating World Photography Day on 19^th August every year since 2010 by promoting photography through exhibitions and seminars. He is arranging a photography exhibition of works of his students under the name “LENSVISION” every year in January on the foundation day of his Institute since 2012. Mr. Bhattacharya is a very prominent name in the field of photography judging also since 2015. He has completed his 50^th Judging very recently. He has judged almost 30 National Salons and 20 International salons to date.

He is also the Teacher-in-Charge of the Department of Photography, Future Foundation School, Kolkata. He teaches photography there from Grade 2 (7 years) to Grade 10 (15 years). It is a very challenging job for him to teach such young buds in photography. The students of this school have won many awards in photography under his guidance. He is working as an advisor of Photography as co-curricular activities in different schools and colleges in Kolkata.

We have a great honor to have Prof. Sanjoy Bhattacharya in our Jury Team at the beginning of February 2021, judging 5th International Contest Unlimited Photo 2021.

Take a look and enjoy at his photo gallery:

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