KAKKIN PHOTOGRAPHY

A Malaysian Photographer based in Kuala Lumpur. Also a global award winning photography at United Nation, Japan, Tunisia. https://kelasfotografi.my/ https://kakkinjaya.blogspot.com/ https://kakkin.my/

Light In Lockdown: Malaysian Photog Wins Un Prize. Photo of Norarsikin Maakim among top 13 in international competition https://www.thevibes.com/articles/lifestyles/24182/not-monkeying-around-malaysian-photog-wins-un-prize The photo taken by Norarsikin was selected by the jury. It will be presented in an online gallery on the Unece website, as well as in an exhibition that will take place at the Palais des Nations. – Photo by Norarsikin Maakim, 17 April 2021. FACE the pandemic has caused many of us to experience a lot of downtime. But photographer Norarsikin Maakim is not sitting still, wondering when his next project will be. Mid-last year, he entered the ‘Humans Locked Down, Nature Unlocked’ photography competition, a global photo competition on flora and fauna in the time of Covid-19. It was held to support ecosystem recovery. The ‘Humans Locked Down, Nature Unlocked’ Photography Competition was launched by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (Unece) to celebrate World Environment Day last year. The contest encouraged photographers around the world to showcase some of the most interesting aspects of the experience of sitting still through nature. Much to the Kuala Lumpir-based photographer’s surprise, his photo was eventually named one of the 13 best photos submitted. It was selected by a jury made up of the Bureau of the Committee on Forest Industry & Bureau of the Committee on Environmental Policy.

Norarsikin Maakim has been training in photography since he was 14 and credits his late father for introducing and nurturing his interest in photography. – Photo courtesy of Norarsikin Maakim “When the pandemic hit, everything slowed down during the lockdown. I had no customers because we couldn’t go out so all we could do was surf the internet. That’s when I saw this competition,” Norarsikin said during a phone interview by The Vibes. “The terms and conditions were pretty simple. But the theme caught my attention because it was a bit different. However, I still couldn’t go out for assignments until the first movement control order (MCO 1.0) ended.” Because the competition had a three-month deadline, he managed to pack his camera and head to Kelanang Beach in Banting, Selangor. “There were a lot of monkeys looking for food at that time, but they were not threatening and were very nice and curious about the people around them.”

‘Water’. Photo of children playing in the rice fields, submitted for the Mara Creative Digital Photography Competition 2016. – Photo courtesy of Norarsikin Maakim

‘Ants’, submitted for the Mara Digital Creative Photography Competition 2016. – Photo courtesy of Norarsikin Maakim

Read on to learn more about the photographer and his craft.

1. What is a typical day of a shoot for you? My shoots are usually planned in advance, whether for clients or competitions, and are not rushed. I will start by doing some research to see if I can develop new photographic procedures and materials to go with them. In doing so, I determine the purpose of my project, potential locations, and equipment needs by briefly reviewing the assignment and consulting with the client where possible. Then, I go out to shoot. Once I am done, I will review the set of images I have captured and shortlist the best pieces for presentation. Of course, standard electronic delivery during the post-photography process includes transferring the images to my computer for further editing and archiving. If I am working with a client, I will wait for their feedback on choosing the ingredients to get the final result.

2. Have you worked in a professional studio before?

I have never worked in a professional studio before, but I have had formal training at Wimbledon Art Studio in London and Giat Mara Kepong in Kuala Lumpur. I have also trained at Dianty Photo Academy and Akademi Fotografi Professional Kuala Lumpur (AFPKL).

‘My Goods’. – Image courtesy of Norarsikin Maakim

‘3 Generations’. – Photo belongs to Norarsikin Maakim

3. Any tips you would like to share while taking photos?

When working with lighting where you want to adjust it to your liking, you can create artificial light not only by using a flash. You can also work with reflectors. Also, use specialized software to manipulate and enhance digital techniques or image scans to create the desired effect. I also advise getting comfortable playing with Aperture settings to give your photos a bokeh effect in addition to working on other techniques.

What is your must-have equipment no matter where you are going to work?

Without giving away the brand, I usually use a DSLR camera with a 20mm prime lens. I like this specification because it never fails to give good image quality. Prime lenses are also more compact, and easy to carry anywhere. Not only that, prime lenses are sharper than zoom lenses.

Have professional photographers influenced your work? Do you incorporate their techniques into your photos?

It’s a bit difficult for me to choose one, because I feel they have shaped me a lot in my work. Here are some of the things that influenced me:

Sawlihim Fotografi, a renowned landscape photographer who gave me great guidance especially on the technical aspects of taking pictures and advice on how to win photography competitions. He has won 25 state-level photography competitions.
Abas Hassan showed me the importance of having charisma in photography. He taught me a lot in applying the principles of photography in my work and how to capture that X factor. He also acts as a photography industry expert at the Skills Development Department (JPK) and is the founder of the Professional Photography Academy (AFPKL).
The founder of Dianty Photo Academy and Dianty Photo in Medan Mara, Rosdiana Radzi, has been a great reference. I always apply her techniques when shooting portraits and evaluating the art of communication in running a photography business.
Zaman Suleiman has helped me a lot in placing the importance and how to capture subjects of human interest. He is a senior photographer at Radio Television Malaysia (RTM).
Amri Ginang is a great commercial and portrait photographer. His photos have been published internationally over his 35 years of practice. I love learning the principles of the art of photography that it produces.

What details do you believe make the best photos?

In no particular order, it’s composition, contrast, unique perspective, capturing moments that evoke emotion through simple storytelling, and of course, lighting – observing the colors and the “Golden Hours” are key. It really helps when you can put a little effort into getting your work noticed.

What about adapting to changing conditions and schedules. What will you do if the weather turns bad while shooting outdoors?

Indeed, as professional photographers, we must prioritize the environment first, before implementing all the previously mentioned details. In doing so, ensuring safety (the safety of those around you while shooting outdoors) is highly advisable. To answer your question specifically, I do my best despite the bad weather and keep trying. But always remember to always protect the camera & equipment I use. I want to take photos from inside a car or building, but I definitely won’t limit myself to such situations. My little piece of advice is, study the human behavior you see, there are so many emotions and spontaneous moments when you watch people in the rain. Patience often gives you the best results. Wait for the “magic moment” when the storm is about to break when the sky changes colors. Look at the side of the road and the walkways and try to contemplate the reflections you have seen all along. Consider capturing the story in a more interesting way. If all else fails, change your schedule to another day or set a different place and time.

What is the best advice you were given when you were first starting out?

To become a knowledgeable photographer, you need to acquire all the technical aspects of working with a camera. To achieve this, never stop working on perfecting your skills, even if it is until the end of your life. In the process, never forget and always respect the mentors who have helped you improve your skills. This includes my husband who is a photographer and my mentor.