This week I present this interview of Rarindra Prakarsa, a photographer from Indonesia. His amazing photos speak a lot about his photographer. His photographs have an exceptional mood, beautiful lighting and leave you moved in spite of yourself. If you think I am exaggerating, do take a look at a sample of his photos from his portfolio presented here with the interview. And for an afternoon of enjoyment, please browse through his portfolio at photo.net
What’s more, a lot of photographers have tried to reverse engineer his work and try to come up with how he gets the “Rarindra Effect” in photos. That is something indeed, to have a look of photography named after a person!
Do read on to see what Rarindra says…
Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved
SU: Tell me a little about yourself. How did you get into photography?
RP: I learned photography when I was a student at Polytechnic University of Indonesia, studying Graphics Art & Publishing Faculty in the early 90’s. Photography was one of the subjects I studied. Then, I was more interested in graphics design than photography. This was the case until I worked for a newspaper in Jakarta as a graphics designer where many journalists and photo journalists influenced me to learn more about journalism photography.
Then I bought my first SLR—Nikon FM2—with some lenses and took some short courses and seminars on any kind of photography not only journalism related photography.
Today, I am still a graphic designer. However photography is a hobby and I consider myself a serious amateur photographer.
Economic crisis in Indonesia had stopped me from any photography activity. Everything became very expensive. In 2004 I sold all my analog equipment and I moved to “only’ a prosumer Canon G5. But, to my surprise, I found it very versatile and I was very comfortable with digital editing. Because of my job as a graphic designer, I was used to using Photoshop (since version 1.0).
I was surprised that my unique photographic style was appreciated by many people in Indonesia. I am very glad that in this same year, 4 photos were requested by an ad agency for a calendar of a big company in Asia. After that many images were sold and used by many companies, not only in my country also other countries, including Britain.
Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved
SU: Your work is an amazing mixture of people and landscapes. Can you tell me how you find inspiration to photograph?
RP: Humans and landscapes are 2 subjects which the common people love to see and I love too. The viewer can enjoy the photograph and can visualize themselves to be there. Many arts inspire me: Movies, paintings, music, almost any kind of art. But specially, the paintings of Walter Spies, a Dutch painter who lived in Bali in 30’s and 40’s have inspired me greatly, especially about the use of light, tone and rural areas/villages as subject matter.
Technically, it is my tool to compare every element in the photo with the human. How big the tree, the river, the stones compared to the human.
Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved
SU: On your photo.net portfolio, your images are beautiful with this wonderful sense of atmosphere. What are you trying to convey in these photos?
RP: I want to dramatize the scene and I want every viewer impressed deeply. I want people to stop and look my photos, take in every detail and take a long time to analyze the photograph. Every photo has a story behind it. I try to convey happiness, warm but deep emotion.
Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved
SU: You recently joined a group of photographers at Mr.X. How did it come about? Can you tell me a little more about the group?
RP: Actually I was invited by the owner. He was impressed by some photographers who are consistent with their photography and started the group. And of course I am proud of it to join the group with the great photographers there.
Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved
SU: How do you go about learning and improving your photography?
RP: I think digital era with its internet push has an enormous impact on photography. People can see our work instantly. And it is easy to learn photography from many websites. Everyday I can see many new good photos on the internet. Many new techniques are available promptly in different websites. But I think the quality of photos and photographers around the world must grow to be compared to those 10 or 20 years ago. Many beginners grow very fast, but sometimes they do not to know the photography philosophy. They only know how easy and cheap it is to take and edit photo with a digital camera.
Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved
SU: Any recommendations? (Like Photographers, Photo techniques, Music, Books, quotes, food…anything?)
RP: My country is a unique country for its diversity. The biggest Island Country in the World which has 13,000 islands! Lot of cultural diversity too. Bali is a small part of Indonesia. We have Java, Borneo, Sumatera, Papua, Sulawesi and Moluccas. Each of them has their unique landscape, culture, language. Many locations here still virgin. Even photographers have found new good subjects every time. The best period for photography here is May-August because it is summer time.
There many good photographers here in Indonesia. You can see their work at fotografer.net, artphotomania.com, or jakartaphotoclub.com.
If anyone is coming to Indonesia, you can contact me through email or mobile phone and I can provide guidance.
Photograph by Rarindra Prakarsa, All Rights Reserved
SU: Can you mention how people interested in your work can contact you?
RP: The easy way to contact me is to email me at rdpbanget@gmail.com and please browse my gallery at photo.net/photos/rarindra.
Thanks Rarindra!
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