Triggering the art, skill of photography

As appeared in Hobbies
The Brunei Times - March 14, 2008

A PICTURE may be worth a thousand words, but the members of the Brunei Photographic Society do not keep their words to themselves when they get together.

They trade silly jokes similar to the knock-knock variety, insult one another endlessly, and most importantly, they ask questions and exchange tips on how to take better photographs.

And their mentors are not merely those who have just picked up a camera, either. Shutterbugs of the greatest degree, the society is helmed by president Hj Mohd Yusof Mohd Yassin and advisor Hj Jumat Hj Taha, renown as two of Brunei's best photographers with international fellowships and awards to their names.

Hj Mohd Yusof said sharing information and tips was the best way to polish skills as a photographer, and that's why the society held frequent outings and activities, supplemented with monthly competitions and themed photo sharing events.

At one photo sharing event at the house of society member Muhammad Amir Yap Abdullah in Mentiri late last month, Hj Mohd Yusof and Hj Jumat sifted through a few hundred shots of the National Day celebration and the society's own family day event.

Explaining parts of what they were looking for the feeling of pride and of being there for the National Day photos and an activity oriented theme for the family day shots the two men gave this writer a quick lesson on pictures that merit a second glance.

Then that information was shared with the members who had sent in their work for consideration.

One of them, Mohd Noriman Mohd Ali, 30, said such get-togethers were beneficial as the members could receive immediate feedback on their photos, thus allowing them to learn where they had gone wrong in composing or metering their shots.

Mohd Noriman, who had one of his National Day shots picked in the top three, said such input was important as learning from books or the Internet was not as good as picking the brain of an experienced photographer.

A lensman who knows the ins and outs of one kind of photography could also benefit from this information sharing, said Azlyn Wisma, 40, who joined the society last month.

The wedding photographer whose interest in photography was sparked in 1995 said he might know a lot about taking pictures of brides and the wedding ceremony, but the other members' knowledge about other types of photography was invaluable to a person who is not shy to continue his education.

"I know some things, and they know some other things, so by sharing our knowledge, we can only become better photographers," he said.

And you don't really need a photograph to tell you this.