Beauty and Change
When I was in kindergarten, my dad taught me how to use a film camera. That was the first time I held a camera in my hands, felt the buttons, heard the sound of the click, and learned the basic functions. It was a distinctly fun experience for me, but I was still too young to realize that photography would eventually become an obsession for me growing up.
I started to seriously channel my passion for photography in high school; when I finally understood it to be the perfect medium for me to celebrate people, and to express my vulnerable side--something I don’t normally share with others. I used my iPhone back then before buying a digital camera. Now I have a mirrorless camera to call my best friend.
Some people have asked me whether I prefer digital over traditional photography. Personally, I find that digital photography is a major breakthrough in our time. Everything is simple and instant and you don’t need to mind things like film rolls, shutter speed or manual lenses. In Indonesia, digital photography has also provoked the local industry to come up with even more photographic services, which is great. But I also don't think you should underestimate the power of traditional photography in producing beautiful images. The truth is that when it comes to traditional or digital photography, both models allow you to experience much of the world.
For me photography is like a living creature that works to miraculously translate all the unspoken words into one single image. In a world full of conflicts and terror, photography has really become a safe space for me to remind myself and others that beauty, peace and freedom still exist. I learned this while working for an NGO owned by former Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Dino Patti Djalal, where I was in charge of the visual and media department. Not many people are blessed with the wonderful opportunity to address social issues through doing what they love the most. And in so many ways, I am convinced that photography can really spark positive change.