What a day...one of the best days in my life. This is how the dream day unfolded...

We reached the stadium at 9am. Contestants started trinkling in. The stage was set...the final challenge was yet to begin. But we used the time to get to know each other. Meeting the fans and like minded people was awesome. Different personalities from different part of India. Finally the event kicked off around 10:45pm. We were briefed about the event and the various activities. As a photographer we were asked to photograph the match between RCB and Dell. We were asked to submit 3 best snaps related action / mood. I managed to click 350 odd images. Some were keepers. Objective was to capture the action and emotion. Running through my images I finalized 3 images...1 more aggression, 1 for concentration and 1 for power & timing (hands of steel).

Aggression:


Concentration:


Hands of steel - Power & timing:


Lunch was served and Rahul (MC) quizzed us on some RBC, T20 and general cricket questions. In-between I was pulled to submit my images to the organizers. As we were answering the questions, we saw the jury walking in. Our turn came around 5:30 pm. Shankz was questioned first about his strategy for the first match. I was questioned by Anil about the 3 pics I submitted, my photography, equipment and the best photo moment of IPL 2009 that I would have liked to clicked. Sid was at ease answering questions fired by Jennings. In between I managed to show my gallery and also the special presentation I had made for RCB. From the reaction of the jury (expecially Kumble), the presentation seem to have worked. It was a great teamwork and the session with the jury was short and crisp. We came out oozing with confidence hoping that we would make it as a team. The tense moments continued as we waited for the other teams to finish the jury session and then went on to the presentations.

Kumble started off saying all 27 are winners...YES IT WAS AN AWESOME EFFORT BY ALL 27 and ALL DESERVE TO BE WINNERS. Then the moment came when Kumble was asked to announce the chief photographer. I had my fingers crossed. Kumble said that the race was pretty close but one thing that helped to overtake the other was the presentation that clearly explained the strategy in terms of my position on the field to capture the best RCB moments. Then he revealed my name....I was numb for few seconds...pinched myself and ran to the dias to collect my t-shirt and the certificate. I still could not believe and everything was over my head. Finally managed to gather myself to call my friends and family to re-live the DREAM SATURDAY. Met few friends on the way home and celebrated with some Kingfisher blue. It's slowly sinking in now.

BIG CONGRATS TO SIG AND PRASHANTH AS WELL AND THE THE OH THE 24 FINALISTS...3 Cheers to all...

Siva A N
What a day...one of the best days in my life. This is how the dream day unfolded...

We reached the stadium at 9am. Contestants started trinkling in. The stage was set...the final challenge was yet to begin. But we used the time to get to know each other. Meeting the fans and like minded people was awesome. Different personalities from different part of India. Finally the event kicked off around 10:45pm. We were briefed about the event and the various activities. As a photographer we were asked to photograph the match between RCB and Dell. We were asked to submit 3 best snaps related action / mood. I managed to click 350 odd images. Some were keepers. Objective was to capture the action and emotion. Running through my images I finalized 3 images...1 more aggression, 1 for concentration and 1 for power & timing (hands of steel).

Aggression:


Concentration:


Hands of steel - Power & timing:


Lunch was served and Rahul (MC) quizzed us on some RBC, T20 and general cricket questions. In-between I was pulled to submit my images to the organizers. As we were answering the questions, we saw the jury walking in. Our turn came around 5:30 pm. Shankz was questioned first about his strategy for the first match. I was questioned by Anil about the 3 pics I submitted, my photography, equipment and the best photo moment of IPL 2009 that I would have liked to clicked. Sid was at ease answering questions fired by Jennings. In between I managed to show my gallery and also the special presentation I had made for RCB. From the reaction of the jury (expecially Kumble), the presentation seem to have worked. It was a great teamwork and the session with the jury was short and crisp. We came out oozing with confidence hoping that we would make it as a team. The tense moments continued as we waited for the other teams to finish the jury session and then went on to the presentations.

Kumble started off saying all 27 are winners...YES IT WAS AN AWESOME EFFORT BY ALL 27 and ALL DESERVE TO BE WINNERS. Then the moment came when Kumble was asked to announce the chief photographer. I had my fingers crossed. Kumble said that the race was pretty close but one thing that helped to overtake the other was the presentation that clearly explained the strategy in terms of my position on the field to capture the best RCB moments. Then he revealed my name....I was numb for few seconds...pinched myself and ran to the dias to collect my t-shirt and the certificate. I still could not believe and everything was over my head. Finally managed to gather myself to call my friends and family to re-live the DREAM SATURDAY. Met few friends on the way home and celebrated with some Kingfisher blue. It's slowly sinking in now.

BIG CONGRATS TO SIG AND PRASHANTH AS WELL AND THE THE OH THE 24 FINALISTS...3 Cheers to all...

Siva A N