Obscure Malaysia

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Saturday, October 16, 2010 | flickr photos

Photography to me means more than just taking beautiful pictures. For all my life, I have always wanted to make a difference; just like many others I’m sure. But being the geology student that I am, I often find myself analyzing even the merest trifle. Combine that with what my heart truly desires, I believe I have the potential to not only create thought-provoking photographs but also contribute back to society with new/forgotten convictions and perspectives.

I’m very privileged to have grown up in Malaysia, a country rich in culture and diversity and also to be given the opportunity to study abroad. Such independence has changed the ways I mould my views and allowed me to see my home country both as a true Malaysian-breed as well as an outsider. The series of photos I’ve assembled were taken in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur, notoriously known for its rampant prostitution reputation, high concentration of vagrants and immigrants along with the exuberant dynamic it bears. Such amalgamation is a common sight in most places in Malaysia but many people forget the unacknowledged stories behind what they see everyday. And that’s what I tried to capture and convey- a portion of what I believe makes Malaysia absolutely raw yet prepossessing.

I’m a self-taught photographer and until now my only guidance in photography is my appetite to seek and learn, the mistakes I’ve made, perseverance and the immense faith my family and friends have in me. But even with such bona fide attempts and aspirations, I believe one could only go so far without proper edification and exposure. And I for one would like to go far in photography by seizing this learning opportunity to try and eventually be the conduit between those whose voices are unheard, and the audience.