Our activities involve arranging workshops for providing guidance through talks by experienced photographers, slide shows, series of lectures on various photography subjects, documentaries and conducting competitions and exhibitions for amateurs as well as professional photographers. Thane Municipal Corporation has played a vital role in this process by sponsoring our maximum events consistently.
FCS participates in various cultural activities and happenings in Thane city like ‘Marathi Sahitya Sammelan’, ‘Nav Varsha Swagat Yatra’, and many more to reach out to Thaneites and orient them in photography activities. FCS also undertakes social programs like teaching photography to the students of ‘Kamalini Karnabadhir Vidyalay’ (a school for deaf and mute Children) free of charge. An exhibition titled ‘Pani- The Story of Water’, organised with intent to create awareness on ‘Save Water’ has enhanced the image of FCS in the society. Celebration of World Photography Day on 19th August and our special exhibition ‘Canvas’ are our unique ways to encourage talent.
‘Thane Mayor Photography Competition and Exhibition’ is a unique example in our country. This competition and exhibition is organised by FCS and is fully sponsored by Thane Municipal Corporation, probably the only Municipal Corporation in India to do so. For the first 10 years, it was held as a District level competition and was expanded to State level in the next 9 years. On the occasion of completion 20 years of FCS, it has gone to National level competition and exhibition with sizable amount of cash prizes, trophies and medals. Since last two decades, this event is getting increasingly overwhelming response every year.
A very active team of lady members is a great asset for FCS. Preparation of celebration of 8 March, the International Women’s Day, starts nearly six months in advance. An exhibition ‘Vidyullata’ is organised on that day, which includes photo stories of success of women in various fields from rural to corporate, social to glamour, education to business. For this exhibition, our lady members have not only travelled through entire Maharashtra but have even visited the Northeast states of our country and clicked various women personalities working for different causes.
FCS is also known for its most popular activity- Slide Show, which is organised on 3rd Sunday of every month at Thane Kala Bhavan, in the memory of Late Raghunth Kashinath Shintre, a senior photographer. It began on 17 Jan 2010 and continued till date.
‘Fa-Fotocha’ is our online Diwali yearly publication, in which the experiences and inspiring success stories of renowned photographers from diverse fields of photography are shared.
The journey of more than two decades of FCS would have been very difficult without the support from various stakeholders of the society. Foto Circle Society would like to progress with Thane Municipal Corporation, who extended cooperation to us time and again, due publicity given by print and electronic media, appreciation and encouragement bestowed by photo lovers, well wishers and many known and unknown supporters and last but not the least, the guidance and efforts taken by the founders and senior members of FCS.
