Shamim Shorif Susom shares how he discovered his love for photography. His exhibition will be taking place at DRIK from 5th to 7th May, 2016.
Squadron Leader, Shamim Shorif Susom, is an air force pilot by profession and also an emerging name in the photographic arena in Bangladesh. He is going to present us with his first aerial based solo photography exhibition “Blackbird’s eYe: Bangladesh & Beyond”. The exhibition will take place in Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi and will be open for all from the 5th May to 7th May 2016. He loves to travel and captures the great moments he encounters on his excursions. Shamim has participated in a total of 19 exhibitions both at home and abroad. Having bonded and familiarized himself with the photography culture here, he now works as an organizer with the photographic group “Grasshoppers”. He loves to shoot from great heights to amaze people with his skills in aerial photography. In a candid interview with ICE Today, he lets us have more info about his passion for photography.
What inspired you to become a photographer?
I cannot specifically recall what inspired me to get into photography but I’m pretty sure it had something to do with nature and its aesthetics. It was simple things like the beauty of certain moments or a tiny roadside flower or a falling star. I saw these things and they made me wish I had a camera with me so I could capture them.
The philosophy of my photography is the same as my philosophy of life. It’s all out there, waiting to found, experienced and captured. I find that photography is like a voyage through an ocean of emotions and beauty. I consider my camera as a friend who has helped me see the world in a manner I never did before. I cannot always capture the things I want to but I derive the satisfaction from the effort I put in, not the execution.
What are your favorite moments to capture?
That’s hard to answer as you never know which moment may come up when. Every moment is equally important so it is imperative that one stays prepared. You just have to find the right light and angle when that moment comes up. People may go for different cameras but the best one, is the one you have in your hand, if used properly. A good marksman can do wonders with a lousy rifle but a good gun cannot turn a poor shooter into a good marksman.
Who do you idolize when it comes to photography?
Many names come to mind. Yann Arthus Bertrand is definitely my favorite aerial photographer; I find his mesmerizing work quite inspirational. Other photographers I admire are Steve Mccurry, Ansel Adams and Sebastiao Salgado. Syed Latif Hossain is my favorite Bangladeshi photographer as he never fails to amaze me with his shots. In terms of portrait photography, I would say Zia Uddin is one of my favorites as well.
What is it like to take majestic aerial shots?
It’s a similar feeling to catching a fish after waiting a long time, or encountering a rainbow. Sometimes it feels like jumping off a cliff. It’s difficult to explain but success is a journey, not a destination. One must always try to humbly pursue his or her passion and not let the satisfaction of success engulf them in too much pride or overconfidence.
Photographs: Courtesy