Published: 12:53 AM, 26 May 2018
An encounter with 'Poet of Camera'
Nasir Ali Mamun, known to be "The Poet of Camera", is the pioneer of portrait photography in Bangladesh. Born in 1953 in old Dhaka, he captured images of many nationally and internationally notable icons from a diverse background. He had taken pictures of Mother Teresa, Bangabandhu Sheikh Majibur Rahman, Mawlana Bhashani, General Muahammad Ataul Gani Osmani, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jasimuddin, Kazi Abul Kashem, Günter Grass, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, and many more prominent personalities. When Mamun started photography there were no photography institutions, no photography books, and no guidelines in Bangladesh. He is the only photographer in Bangladesh, who never used an artificial studio camera or applied flash for portrait photography. Mamun's portraitures have been highly acclaimed in 57 solo exhibitions both home and abroad. He has authored two books on photography and about a dozen on interviews. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Chobi Mela International Festival of Photography and 'Celebrating Life' in 2017. On behalf of The Asian Age, Anannya Paul has interviewed the legendary photographer.
AA: Why did you dedicate your solo exhibition titled 'Photoseum' to Professor Abdur Razzak?Mamun: This is my 57th exhibition. Previously I had organized many exhibitions and dedicated those to some other creative people like S. M. Sultan. This time I dedicated to Abdur Razzak.
I'm really grateful to him. When I started portrait photography in 1972 I was not even aware of who were the famous personalities for what sector, nationally and internationally. There were no statistics, no such information. There was only a list for poets, who received 'Bangla Academy Podok' from the Bangla Academy. Abdur Razzak was the person, who helped me to make the list of notable people. He did it with so much dedication and edited the list many times to make it perfect. And beyond that, he helped me financially many times. He always gave me lots of advice and inspiration for the work.
AA: Why did you choose black and white photography?Mamun: Everything is colorful in our surroundings. What you can see, touch, listen all the time, that can't be antique or invaluable. Black and white colors are not common. In my photography I have played with light and shadow. And that fits into black and white photography.
AA: Why did you choose black and white photography?Mamun: Everything is colorful in our surroundings. What you can see, touch, listen all the time, that can't be antique or invaluable. Black and white colors are not common. In my photography I have played with light and shadow. And that fits into black and white photography.
.jpg)
I worship the darkness. I like to draw attention of viewers by using sadness, darkness, a gloomy atmosphere and pain. I did not do it intentionally but naturally all elements were presents in my photography. I prefer using natural light. I try to bring life into my photography using the light from nature.
AA: Please tell us about your journey as a photographerMamun: I was a teenager when I started photography. I did not have any personal camera. I borrowed from a neighborhood photo-studio. It was really difficult for me to buy a camera. Later, through my own effort, I started portrait photography in 1972. That time, portrait photography was not that common. I saw most of the renowned photographers gave importance to taking photos of nature or cityscapes, instead of taking pictures of people.
AA: Please tell us about your journey as a photographerMamun: I was a teenager when I started photography. I did not have any personal camera. I borrowed from a neighborhood photo-studio. It was really difficult for me to buy a camera. Later, through my own effort, I started portrait photography in 1972. That time, portrait photography was not that common. I saw most of the renowned photographers gave importance to taking photos of nature or cityscapes, instead of taking pictures of people.
I decided to do something different and challenging and I started to take portraits of famous people from different backgrounds. I tried to capture their moods, personalities, characteristics and emotions in my camera. I have passed 46 years doing this. In the journey, I went through many troubles, hassles and financial problems. But I never gave up.
AA: Your favorite photographer in BangladeshMamun: Manzoor Alam Beg, Enamul Hoque, Rashid Talukder, Anwar Hossain, Dr. Nawazish Ahmed, Golam Kasem Daddy, Aftab Ahmed, Golam Mawla and many others.AA: What is your advice for young generation, who are interested in photography?
AA: Your favorite photographer in BangladeshMamun: Manzoor Alam Beg, Enamul Hoque, Rashid Talukder, Anwar Hossain, Dr. Nawazish Ahmed, Golam Kasem Daddy, Aftab Ahmed, Golam Mawla and many others.AA: What is your advice for young generation, who are interested in photography?
Mamun: "Do not listen to anyone's suggestions" that is my advice. Now, you can easily see the works of notable photographers and their views, collections of worldwide museums by using your gadgets like smart phones, laptops or other such devices. If you have any queries about photography from the internet you will get all the information. So, you don't need any guidelines. Do not go after a mentor, the internet is your 'Guru'.
AA: Is there anyone you wanted to take photograph but you couldn't?
Mamun: Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro and some other personalities.
AA: Do you have failure or regret in your life?
Mamun: I have no failures in my life. I am always grateful for my life, as I have come a long way despite many obstacles. But I have regrets. I think I could have done some work more accurately, more artistically and in a more dramatic way. Also I could have done more historical-based work.
AA: What do you do in your leisure time?
Manun: I don't have any leisure time. I keep thinking about images, photography, faces of famous people (alive or dead).
AA: Please tell us about your dreamMamun: At the moment my only motto and dream is to establish a photo museum for future generation, which is 'Photoseum.' It will be a combination of photography and museum. But I have not given it a final shape yet, because I am not capable to do this museum by myself. I hope rich and cultural people will come forward to support me and my dream to build the 'Photoseum' will come true.
AA: Is there anyone you wanted to take photograph but you couldn't?
Mamun: Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro and some other personalities.
AA: Do you have failure or regret in your life?
Mamun: I have no failures in my life. I am always grateful for my life, as I have come a long way despite many obstacles. But I have regrets. I think I could have done some work more accurately, more artistically and in a more dramatic way. Also I could have done more historical-based work.
AA: What do you do in your leisure time?
Manun: I don't have any leisure time. I keep thinking about images, photography, faces of famous people (alive or dead).
AA: Please tell us about your dreamMamun: At the moment my only motto and dream is to establish a photo museum for future generation, which is 'Photoseum.' It will be a combination of photography and museum. But I have not given it a final shape yet, because I am not capable to do this museum by myself. I hope rich and cultural people will come forward to support me and my dream to build the 'Photoseum' will come true.
