CALL it a will-to-manifest or self-fulfilling prophecy. Nadirah Zakariya knew from a young age that she would end up as either an artist or a teacher.
Now considered a fine arts photographer who has inspired and continues to guide younger aspirants, Nadirah believes she is able to successfully merge both roles.
“At the time, I was at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, US, majoring in graphic design, and there, I had to take a photography class. That was when I was introduced to the camera, and I am now able to express myself through the medium,” she told theSun.
At that point in time, Nadirah began to pursue photography seriously. However, even before college, the interest was already a seed waiting to sprout, she explained.
“I always had an interest in taking photographs,” she said.
“My dad always had a camera around as an enthusiast. It was a natural transition for me.”
Familial trait
On the aspect of being someone that teaches photography, this too was a facet that was already there.
This talent was lying in wait to blossom as Nadirah comes from a family of teachers.
“I come from a family that values education,” Nadirah said.
“My parents are retired professors, and I’m the fourth of five siblings. All are teachers in their respective fields.”
Rather than billing what she does through workshops as “teaching”, Nadirah says it’s more akin to sharing.
“There are a lot of workshops that are very technical in photography, which is great. But there aren’t a lot where it’s more about the concepts and content. I think, in Malaysia at least, there are a lot of people who understand how to use a camera technically,” she said.
“But it would be really good if they start thinking about the kind of photographs they take. It will elevate their work and set them apart from the next photographer.
“This was also why I wanted to do workshops that focus more on concepts and ideas that pair well the technical skills in photography”.
Sticking around
Her observation on the state and future of photography in Malaysia began when she came back from the United States for a holiday, and it was this decision that led her to stay on.
“A three-week holiday ended becoming three months and that became three years,” Nadirah said, laughing.
“I wanted to be closer to my family and I saw a lot of potential for the local photography scene. It was exciting and I wanted to be a part of it. I felt like I have some valuable experiences to share”.
She also found that a lot of women were beginning to take an interest in photography, with many getting in touch with her.
“I started to do talks around schools and that inspired me to see if I could help others grow”.
Quiet introspection
The most recent, and arguably most striking, photograph series by Nadirah on her social media involves flowers, inanimate objects and food items.
“I’ve always loved flowers. When I’m not photographing, I’m spending time on my balcony growing plants,” she revealed.
“I love working with flowers as props, even while I’m shooting portraits of people. When the lockdown came last year, I didn’t have access to people, and I needed to keep myself creative as a coping mechanism. I started to use household objects and it became my sort of lockdown diary.”
For Nadirah, photographing flowers was an easy decision that also turned out to be therapeutic during possibly the weirdest two years for her.
“I feel like, for me personally, I’ve taken this opportunity to use my time on personal projects, which is a luxury that I wouldn’t have had if we weren’t in lockdown.”
“This is something I appreciate during the first lockdown and this one, which is taking the time to pause, find my center, and experiment with projects where I hope I can grow as an artist”.
In that sense, Nadirah says it has become a positive thing, and that she is lucky to have art as an avenue to process her feelings.
“I think I’m less rigid, more intuitive and my shots have become more abstract. That’s telling how I’m becoming more introspective, and I think it might affect how I approach my works post-pandemic.”
