SUMMARY OF THE EVENT:

THE ART OF SEEING DIFFERENTLY – EVENT REPORT

The Department of Media Studies, Faculty of Science & Humanities, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Ramapuram, actively participated in the three-day photography workshop “The Art of Seeing Differently”, held from 3 July 2026 to 5 July 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai. The workshop was organised by Dr. Hemachandran Karah, Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras, and Co-Founder of the Accessibility Research Centre (ARC), with the participation of 36 students from the Visual Communication, Film Technology, and Journalism and Mass Communication programmes. The programme was convened by Dr. V. Prabakaran, Head, Department of Media Studies, and coordinated by Mr. B. Saravanan and Mr. S. Makesh, Assistant Professor. The workshop brought together academicians, photographers, journalists, accessibility advocates, and media professionals to promote awareness of accessibility, inclusive education, blind photography, and multisensory visual storytelling. The programme featured distinguished resource persons including Dr. Jane Prasad, Registrar, IIT Madras; Dr. Nilesh J. Vasa, Professor, Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras; Dr. Hemachandran Karah; Mr. Karthigaichelvan S., Editor, News18 Tamil Nadu; Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Professor and Head, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras; Dr. Manish Anand, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras; Thiru A. S. Panneerselvan, Director General, Chennai Institute of Journalism; Mr. Mukesh Kumar V., Cultural and Communication Coordinator, Alliance Française of Madras; Mr. Partho Bhowmick, Founder, Blind With Camera; Mr. Pranav Lal, Inspirational Blind Photographer; Mr. Akhil Paul, Advocate for Inclusion of Persons with Deafblindness; Mr. Subramanian, Sports Enthusiast and Journalist; and Mr. Bhavesh Patel, Accessibility Advocate and Blind Photography Resource Person. The workshop introduced students to innovative approaches to photography that extend beyond conventional visual perception, encouraging them to explore photography through touch, sound, memory, spatial awareness, and other multisensory experiences. Students actively participated in expert sessions, interactive discussions, blindfold exercises, collaborative campus photography, practical assignments, and mentor-guided field activities. The sessions provided valuable insights into assistive technologies, inclusive communication, accessibility, and socially responsible visual storytelling. The participation of students from different media disciplines also promoted interdisciplinary learning and encouraged them to understand the importance of inclusive practices in contemporary media. The workshop enhanced students' skills in photography, observation, composition, creativity, communication, teamwork, and visual storytelling while fostering empathy and greater awareness of the experiences of persons with disabilities. The programme also provided students with valuable academic and professional exposure through interactions with leading academicians, journalists, photographers, and accessibility experts. The event concluded with the presentation of participants' photographic works, constructive feedback from mentors, certificate distribution, and a closing ceremony. Overall, “The Art of Seeing Differently” was an enriching experiential learning programme that encouraged students to look beyond conventional methods of visual communication and develop a more inclusive, creative, and socially responsible approach to photography and media. The workshop also contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, by promoting inclusive education, professional skill development, accessibility awareness, and collaboration between academic institutions and professionals. The programme successfully strengthened students' academic and practical competencies and reinforced the Department of Media Studies' commitment to inclusive, experiential, and socially responsible media education.