The Visual Arts Center in the Washington Pavilion will soon unveil a significant traveling photography exhibition by National Geographic, “WOMEN: A Century of Change.” The exhibition was created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote, and celebrates the trailblazing women who have redefined womanhood.

“The stories featured in this exhibition are powerful and will inspire a new generation of women to pursue their dreams,” says Jana Anderson, Lead Curator for the Visual Arts Center. “Seeing the journeys of women who have broken barriers and achieved success will appeal to art enthusiasts, educators, families and beyond. This exhibition is a must-see for every member of our community.”

“WOMEN: A Century of Change” officially opens to the public on February 16, 2024. More than one hundred photographs by renowned National Geographic photographers, including Jodi Cobb, Lynsey Addario, Ami Vitale, Erika Larsen and Steve McCurry, will be showcased. The images depict the lives of women from more than 30 countries and are divided into six themes: joy, beauty, love, wisdom, strength and hope. The exhibition also includes portraits of women of power and impact.

The power of women can be seen and heard from any corner of the world, including South Dakota! In conjunction with this exhibition, the Washington Pavilion will host a three-part speaker series that will highlight local women of change. Events in the series include:

1. Uniting Generations of South Dakota Women on Tuesday, February 27, 2024: An exclusive moderated panel discussion of local women across many generations will share insightful narratives about their life experiences, providing the audience with a wide range of perspectives and wisdom.
2. Inspiring South Dakota Change Makers on Wednesday, April 10, 2024: Local artists will inspire a younger generation of women to be boundary-breaking history-makers in their own community.
3. The Future Is Female on Thursday, June 20, 2024: An academic speaker will discuss what a female future looks like, the need for it and how society as a whole will benefit because of it.

Tickets to speaker series events are on sale now. Purchase your event tickets online at WashingtonPavilion.org or at the Box Office at 301 S. Main Ave. For more information about the upcoming exhibit, visit WashingtonPavilion.org/NatGeo.

Travel+Leisure India & South Asia revealed its second set of T+L Champions at India’s Best Awards 2023. From travel content creators and entrepreneurs to hoteliers and interior designers, these 12 individuals are making waves in their fields. One such trailblazer who is redefining travel is the T+L Champion of Travel Photography. Meet Ashik Aseem.

Excerpts from the interview with Ashik Aseem:

T+L India: What inspired you to combine travel photography with the unique gesture of personally delivering postcards to the people you photograph?

Ashik Aseem: It all started when I was travelling to Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh on a motorcycle in September 2019. I am a travel and landscape photographer. So, I keep my camera handy most of the time. In Rangrik Village, I entered a small shop where two ladies were spinning yak wool yarn. Seeking their permission, I took their photo. Their initial smiles faded when they realised they wouldn’t see the picture again.

This encounter made me realise that despite being frequently photographed, the people of Spiti Valley had few pictures of themselves. I observed few old photos kept as treasures in various homes due to the rarity of printing pictures there. Promising to send copies, I collected addresses during my journey. Reflecting on this while riding, I decided to edit, print, and deliver photos to everyone I met. Despite sending weatherproof prints later, winter disrupted communication. Unsure if the photos reached, I returned to Spiti in 2021 with larger prints, anticipating duplicates. The warm reception prompted a decision: I would hand deliver photos instead of relying on unreliable postal services.

T+L India: What impact or reactions have you observed from the recipients when you deliver these personalised postcards?

Ashik Aseem: While exploring remote areas, I carry a tent for overnight stays. In hospitable places like Spiti Valley, connecting with families is easy; they accommodate a solo traveller like me. I prefer local homes to hotels. In 2019, staying in Losar Village, I formed a strong bond with a family.

Later, I discovered the grandmother in the house had passed away. Wanting to help, I decided to bring a framed photo on my next visit, despite the challenge of carrying it from Kerala to remote Himachal. Hand-delivering the photo was emotional; witnessing the grandfather’s tears was touching.

T+L India: How do you find unique locations seen in your photographs?

Ashik Aseem: To take the photos no one else takes, I have to go to places no one else goes to. I usually avoid the usual tourist spots and try to live with the locals for at least a month.

T+L India: What is the best camera for travel photography?

Ashik Aseem: For serious photography, I recommend the Sony Alpha R series, and for videography, consider the S series. If it’s a hobby but you still aim for high-quality results in both photos and videos, opt for the Sony A7iii or IV. I personally find Sony to be the best in terms of both quality and compactness.

Champion’s Choice

Best destination that you have photographed: The Himalayan states and northeast India, particularly Meghalaya
A place you often find yourself returning to: Spiti Valley holds a special place in my heart. Kashmir is another favourite

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WORDS Jasmine Pirovic    PUBLISHED Fri, 19 Jan 2024 – 12:58 pm

CHENNAI: According to research, photography has tremendous therapeutic potential helping an individual to express and communicate their emotions. While it has not been fully explored as a therapeutic tool, a few photographers from the city are currently delving into its possibilities.

When 25-year-old Habiba Begum founded The Expressive Lens last November, she aimed to explore the connection between photography and various psychological concepts and how it can be used therapeutically. “I believe photography can lead to self-exploration,” says Habiba. Her upcoming workshop exclusively for kids, aims to explore more about self-expression through photographs.

Although photography is pursued professionally and as a hobby, the therapeutic side has not yet been explored by many. “Art is perceived as a healing tool, but visual art is not used to its full potential. These workshops will make people discover and realise things about themselves,” she says.

At the end of the workshop, there will be group discussions that help in knowing the meaning behind each picture captured by the participants, reflecting on their journeys. “This paves the way in creating a safe space that helps individuals to express themselves and find relatability,” she adds.

Not everyone might like to put into words what they are going through. With this type of photography, we have another medium to open up about our inner selves. A nephophile by nature, Rithika a freelance photographer and assistant director in the film industry, finds solace in watching the clouds and sky during the lockdown. That is when she started taking snaps of the clouds on a daily basis and found it therapeutic. “A picture tells a lot about the photographer. When children capture a picture, it shows their point of view about the world, filled with innocence and positivity. It is just recently that people are accepting the term therapy. Art, in any of its form, is a therapeutic tool. Therapeutic photography is one of its kind and new to Chennaiites. There is a long way to go,” affirms the 22-year-old. The upcoming workshop, titled Therapeutic Photography for Kids, is the first workshop organised by The Expressive Lens for children between the ages of 9 and 16. The three-hour workshop focuses on self-expression. The Expressive Lens’s previous workshop themes include different forms of emotions. “Self-expression helps kids to know how they perceive themselves, how the society sees them, and helps them create a positive self-image. They will be instructed to capture everything they like and dislike about,” Habiba explains.

Habiba elucidates that through such workshops, parents will realise the positive side of mobile phones, which have a bad reputation. “We are aiming to increase our module timing. This will result in the kids travelling with us more and also help them feel comfortable in opening up. We wish to delve deep into emotions and also themes like how they identify themselves and gender identity,” she remarks.

The Therapeutic Photography for Kids workshop will be held on January 21 from 10 am to 1 pm at The Learning Community at Quest, Besant Nagar. For details, contact 9600295212.