Asaf Ud Daula is a talented young Bangladeshi photographer whose photos have been exhibited in Europe and different countries in Asia.
Recently, Asaf stopped by the Dhaka Tribune office and sat with Showtime to speak of his journey and experiences.
“I started photography just as a hobby, but with the passing of time it became a part of my existence, a passion of my soul,” Asaf said.
He began taking photos with his Nokia 5300 mobile phone in 2008.
“Back in the day, I didn’t know the difference between an image and a photo,” Asaf reminisced.
He added that he inherited his passion for photography from his father MD Shamsul Alam, who also pursued it as a hobby.
“My father had an old Nippon camera that he kept carefully and never let me use. It was my dream to get that camera and, after many years, I earned it,” Asaf said. “That day was one of the happiest of my life.”
While still going to school, Asaf rented a film camera on one of his birthdays and took 33 photos with it.
“I like to challenge myself, which is why I preferred using film cameras in the early 2000s. I waited for a long time before I got myself a professional camera, because I wanted to learn how to take beautiful photos before upgrading my gear.”
Though the equipment changed, Asaf’s love for photography never did. To him, photography is a means to escape from the everyday struggles of life.
In 2010, Asaf came to Dhaka to pursue higher education, often he would often get lost in the narrow lanes of the megacity. He began using his photos to learn the city streets and, after adapting to city life, he got in touch with the photographic community through social media and bought his first SLR camera in 2012.
“I bought the camera with my own savings and some help from my father,” Asif recalled. “That camera was my first true stepping stone towards photography.”
Over the years, Asif has been involved with various photographic clubs, started joining photo walks, and became a part of the local photographers’ community. Subsequently, he bought a Nikon D3200 SLR camera in 2015.
Milan Expo 2015
The Milan Expo 2015 was the first international exhibition where Asaf’s photos were displayed. The exhibition was organized by Aurora Vision. Photographers from all over the world submitted their photos for the exhibition, and Asaf was the only Asian photographer whose photos were showcased.
While talking about the expo, Asaf said: “I am very grateful to Shovon bhai (festival director of Dhaka International Film Festival) for helping me submit my work at the Milan Expo. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
A total eight photos by Asaf were on display at the expo for six months. One of his photos have been put on display at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage in Italy.
In 2017, Asaf participated in the Astana Expo held in Kazakhstan.
So far, his work has also have been featured on National Geographic and Geo Asia, a Spanish travel magazine. His photos have been displayed at more than 40 photography exhibitions.
21st Religion Today Film Festival and his solo exhibition
This year, Aurora Vision selected one of Asaf’s photos for use on the poster of the 21st Religion Today Film Festival held in Trento, Italy in October.
During the festival, a total 33 photos taken by Asaf were on display at a solo photography exhibition called “Spirit of faith.” It was his first international solo exhibition.
While discussing his days in Italy, Asaf said: “Those days were very exciting and I spent memorable days there with Sadia apu, Shovon bhai, and Tuquir bhai, who attended the festival from Bangladesh along with me.”
Asaf also expressed his gratitude to his family, peers and all the people of Bangladesh who inspire him every day.
During the festival Asaf was invited as a guest speaker at the Istituto di istruzione Marie Curie.
Asaf’s other work
Since 2015, Asaf has been active on social media and involved with different organizations to promote photography. Currently, he is a member of many local and international photo clubs, and has organized various events and workshops.
The photographer extraordinaire has also participated in many contests, and has bagged numerous photography awards. However, there is one particular award that is very close to his heart.
In 2014, Asaf was selected as one of the top 10 photographers in Mymensingh, and he received a book and Bangladesh national flag as prize.
“To this day, I have that flag and take it with me wherever I go,” Asaf said.
The young photographer has explored different genres of photography, but lifestyle and nature photography are his favorites.
“I want to represent the inner beauty of humans, so I picked up lifestyle photography,” Asaf said.
He also boasts a collection of over 250 photos of different kinds of birds of Bangladesh, and the country’s natural beauty is a source of inspiration for him.