Last May I was commissioned by Silverkris, Singapore Airlines’ inflight magazine to photograph a travel feature about Malang East, Java. It is published in July issue of the publication.
Travel
Around Jakarta for Cathay Pacific's Discovery
Images from recent assignment shooting Indonesian capital of Jakarta for Discovery, Cathay Pacific’s inflight magazine.
Moments in Between: Central Europe
Some random images from the recent two-weeks trip around Central Europe for DestinAsian Indonesia.
Random Scenes: Stretched
Cameras are just like musical instruments, different devices produce distinct imageries. Here are my few takes on the toylike Russian made Horizon S3 panoramic camera. While operating this camera requires some degree of patience and the control also got some real quirks (but yet also very simple), I might find some real use of it in the future.
Onboard inter-island ferry from Sabang to Banda Aceh.
Tsunami relic in Aceh's western coast.
Bogor railway station, West Java.
Rough sea north of the island of Wetar.
Chinatown, Padang, West Sumatra.
Port of Sunda Kelapa, Jakarta.
Eyewitness: Life Among the Mentawai
in News, Publication, Travel
Last week, one of my photo story was published in The Jakarta Globe, an English language-based Indonesian daily. Those pictures was taken May 2010 on my trip to Siberut Island, the last stronghold of the Mentawai society. I love how the editor chose the pictures. The first (and the biggest) photograph depict Bajak Toikot, a Mentawai Shaman, who are getting back from the jungle. He is holding the hunting spear, in movement to the Uma (Mentawai traditional jungle hut), but with an empty basket. The other pictures complete the whole stroy as an insight into the Mentawai life.
The Mentawai are an egalitarian society living inside the jungle of Siberut Island. They used to live in other islands too on the island group of Mentawai. But modernization affected the others while left the jungle of Siberut as the only last place to meet them nowadays. The Mentawai of Siberut live in both traditional and natural way like their ancestors. They still practice hunting and cultivating the sago palm in order to feed the family. They also tattooed all over their body as an identity. They can distinguish people from different village just by looking at the tattoo. More about the Mentawai later.
Actually, I am not the one who documented the Mentawai. There are few others photographers who do so. Some of the best are Joey Lawrence and Diego Verges. However my favorite was taken by Sebastiao Salgado. There are also some more photographers who went here and out with magnificent work. I still remember when I read Smithsonian magazine somtime around last year in edition which covers about tattoo culture. Unfortunately I forgot the photographer's name.
Taj Mahal
Incredible INDIA
in Travel
It's probably quite late to post some pictures now, but still it's better than nothing. As some of you already knew, I visited India at the end of 2009. The main purpose is to travel and making some images out of it. I stayed for two and half month and wandered around this incredible nation.
Varanasi Snake Charmer
Fatehpur Sikri
India is a heaven for anyone who are interested to travel and it will remain so. Yes, indeed, this country is overwhelming for first time visitor, and I am no exception. I still can recall when I was going out of the Trichy airport, the crowd seemed jumped all over me. As an Indonesian who also live in a chaotic place, India still surprise me in many ways. But, "comfort" came easier after a while. After a week, I get used to it and here came the cliche; I'm in love with India and the place was no longer a stranger to me. At the end, my parting with India, before fly back to Kuala Lumpur and then to Padang, remains as one of the saddest moment I ever experienced.
The Ganges in Varanasi
Jallikattu