Jury 2010

K Madhavan Pillai

EDITOR, BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE (INDIA)

"What I find amazing is that I don’t think the learning involved in photography is ever anywhere close to complete," says K Madhavan Pillai, the editor of Better Photography magazine, the largest selling professional photography magazine in South Asia. "The only thing that one can hope to achieve is describing something as one sees it, or expressing something as one wishes to express it."

In publication for over 12 years now, Better Photography reaches out to over 300,000 hobby and professional photographers. Pillai has been in the field of photography, imaging and publishing for the last 15 years. Apart from commercial assignments in the industry, he has also produced several independent video documentaries and films.

Why did he get involved in photography? "I was fortunate to be introduced to it by my father, who used to teach photography. I loved the freedom of roaming around on foot taking pictures with my old, beat-up Pentax Spotmatic which I had to bind in black insulation tape because of light leaks."

What is a typical day like? "This is the sort of job that involves a lot of thinking, which I enjoy. With Better Photography, a balance needs to be struck between being a serious journal of photography and something enjoyable for a young teenager with an interest in taking pictures. I discuss ideas with my team and try to be a good friend, philosopher, guide, devil’s advocate and punching bag all rolled into one. I also go through about two or three hundred images every day, sometimes thousands."

How has the photography scene changed in India in the last decade? "I see a lot of great work done by some very young people nowadays. There is also a lot more experimentation today with some fantastic results. The digital darkroom, which was almost invisible ten years ago, is now commonplace. In India, photography is now gaining recognition as a serious form of art."

What does he love about sports photography? "Sports is all about the action. It can also be a variety of emotions: joy, jubilation, sorrow, pain, determination, dejection. I love seeing the emotions on the athletes' faces."

As a judge, what is he looking for? "I tend to be a bit of a classicist when judging images. There are technical guidelines for what makes a good photo, but there can be no rules. But a good photograph can often go beyond these guidelines. It could also possibly be something more raw."

Why is he getting involved with Red Bull Illume? "I like the fact that it is an open contest, and that Red Bull has taken an active interest in photography. I am really looking forward to seeing some great adventure sports photographs."

www.betterphotography.in