Art of Cinematography: Celebration of a Light Reflected Life | Saji Babu | TEDxAGBSKochi
Saji Babu underscored four vital elements of his art: light, reflected light, shadow, and darkness. He pointed out that light is the sustainer of life, and darkness is the negation of life. He referred to shadows as a natural product of light and an intrinsic element of life, which has formative importance. In addition, he pointed out that reflected light has something to do with the information about the surface it contacts and thus is essential for cinema as well as human knowledge.He likened the camera to the darkroom, calling it a "chamber of darkness" that isolates the image from reflected light. Extrapolating the analogy to self-improvement, he challenged students to learn how to reflect light, for this operation changes one into a source of light oneself.Mr. Babu also enlightened us on the other side of darkness, perceiving it as a growth process. He provided the encouraging example of seed germination where a seed has to be in darkness first before it germinates and grows. This was a reminder that difficulties, isolation, and darkness tend to prepare people for something bigger.Mr. Saji Babu's TEDx speech was philosophical as well as artistic. By associating the technicalities of filmmaking with the path of human life, he motivated students to face challenges, spread optimism, and become a beacon of light for themselves and others. His speech created a deep impression among the audience members, and thus the entire activity became a memorable experience. Saji Babu is an acclaimed cinematographer with over a decade of experience, known for his ability to bring emotions to life through every frame. His notable work includes Joyful Mystery (Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam), Kerala’s first single-take car movie, directed by Don Palathara and starring Rima Kallingal, Jitin Puthanchery, and Neeraja Rajendran. Recognized as a national mentor for Lumix, he combines technical mastery with artistic vision. Beyond filmmaking, Saji Babu is a dedicated academician and course designer in photography, inspiring and mentoring the next generation of visual storytellers. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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