INSPIRATION FOR THE NEW

Munem Wasif is one of the first photographers in the Bangladeshi photography scene to make it big on a global platform. What started out as a hobby for this student of sociology has now reached a level of quality for him to be working at the prestigious Agence VU. A documentary photographer, Munem has three books published - the latest of which deals with his long time muse - Old Dhaka. ‘Belonging’ explores the old city through the eyes of an artist looking beyond the place he grew up in.
Photography is today one of the most popular hobbies in the country with a swarm of youngsters out with their cameras trying to make it big. But before DSLRs were so widely available, and the craft was still one where the cost had to be constantly weighed, starting out for Munem was not easy.
Munem tells us how his uncle inspired him to take up photography initially. “When I finished school, my uncle enrolled me in the Begart Photography Insitute.” Learning the basics there, he fiddled around with his camera. A year later at the Chobi Mela he was introduced to the big names in global photography when he saw the World Press Photography exhibition. “That had a big influence on me. I then got admitted to Pathshala,” he says.
In a country where the arts are never encouraged as a trade, Munem tells us of his early challenges. “My father told me that if I wanted to pursue photography, I would have to pave the path for myself.” Working in film can be quite expensive and it was challenging for Munem to have to constantly weigh the costs for the path he had chosen.

Photo: Munem Wasif

Not daunted, Munem Wasif decided that practicality was the best approach. With his big ambitions still in mind, he started working small jobs of wedding photography and such to pay for the costs which would come with his bigger projects. He soon moved on to work professionally for Star Lifestyle at The Daily Star, where he was faced with the challenge of working a full time job and assignments which ranged from fashion to food. “It really ground me. I honed my craft there and the fact that my photos were getting published every week was a big help.”
He never stopped studying though -- while working for The Daily Star, Munem kept studying at Pathshala while also continuing with his Sociology degree at Dhaka University. “I have had to work with all sorts of subjects -- from fashion, food, travel -- I had no prejudice.” With the money he saved, he would travel to the tea-gardens where he worked on the untold story of the conditions of the workers. This led to bigger things, and when Drik News started its journey, the famous Abir Abdullah offered him a job. “I had been wanting to work in journalism and there I got the chance to go to Fulbari to cover the movement of the workers and that's where it started.”
Of his earlier influences, Munem talks of Raghu Rai - the Indian Magnum photographer. “Shahidul Islam has a big influence on me -- he has taught us to look at life differently.” Munem Wasif learned early that to follow his line of work, he had to keep his expectations low and not aim for a lavish lifestyle. “As a photographer living in Bangladesh, you can earn just so much if you want to keep your integrity.”

Photo: Munem Wasif

In terms of the photography scene today, Munem seems less certain. He thinks more people nowadays are interested in taking pictures and uploading them on social media compared to people who want to understand and learn the visual algorithm that goes into photographic thinking. “In one sense though, I think the increase in number is good. Photography is a democratic medium.” But he feels it would help the upcoming photographers a lot more if they learned to introspect and think about a photo instead of rushing to upload them. “We are looking for recognition in the form of likes instead of trying to learn the craft.”
But on the positive side of things, Munem says that due to the presence of a good photography school and more scholarships to study abroad available, the resources to learn from are more than ever. “So the scope of working has increased too, people can now work anywhere from the New York Times to The Daily Star depending on what they want to do.”
Munem talks of a certain lifestyle and sensibility that comes with living his life which he thinks is important for any artist. He thinks that the challenges facing upcoming photographers are more inherent to the way the art is approached these days. “There are too many photographers looking at things the same way. Everyone thinks they can take photos so the studying and learning hands-on in the dark room – all that is absent.”
Like any good artist, for Munem Wasif the medium is irrelevant – from film to DSLRs to Instagram, he holds no prejudice. With so many people taking on this new art, his story and approach serves as a lesson in perseverance and dedication.