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Campus Spotlight

A passionate photographer's profile

Arif Ashraf Nayan

Saud Al Faisal is one of the pioneers who contributes to institutionalise photography in private university sector. He is the founder of the NSUPC ( North South University Photography Club) which is among the leading photography clubs in Bangladesh. His initiative has become a platform for amateur photographers for grooming themselves up as professionals through workshops and guidance from experienced photographers like Saud. Besides working with a telecom company, Saud is currently enrolled in the MBA programme of American International University Bangladesh (AIUB). He did a Diploma from Ecole de Cinema, Alliance Francaise. Saud Organised a number of Inter University Photography Exhibitions. We talked to him last week about his passion for photography. The excerpts are given below.

AA: What inspired you to take photography as a hobby?
SF:When I was in school I used to learn painting and my art teacher asked me to carry a camera all the time and to take pictures of whatever I like and she also asked me to visit painting as well as photography exhibitions to open up my aesthetic eye. In view of that lesson, one of Anwar Hossain's photography exhibitions inspired me to take photography as a hobby.

AA: Since when you started taking photography seriously?
SF:I was so much inspired by Anwar Hossain's work in that exhibition and I joined a photography course offered by Alliance Francaise. From and after that course photography became my passion. Gradually I completed Intermediate and Diploma in Black White photography.

AA: In what competitions did you take part?
SF:My first Exhibition was organised by Ecole de Cinema, Alliance Francaise for Diploma Graduates, then I participated in several International University Photography Exhibitions ( NSUPC Organizes this kind of exhibition once every year since 1998), Intra NSU Photography Exhibition 3 times , group exhibition titled “Nepal: through the lens”- a photography view of scenic Nepal, my last exhibition was “Southern Glances- A Journey through Southern Part of Bangladesh”.

AA: What are your achievements in this field?
SF:I think my greatest achievement is forming NSU Photography Club which now among the best university photography clubs of Bangladesh.

I won the First Prize in Landscape category in 3rd International University Photography Exhibition, Second Prize in Life Style in the same Exhibition.

AA: Tell us about your experience in the competition? Who were the participants?
SF: It was a great experience. Any kind of competition encourages one to work better and it also gives a comprehensive idea about contemporary trend of photography. There were about 15 universities including 4 overseas universities with more than 30 Photographers and about 100 photographs

AA: What is your future Plan?
SF:My future plan is to start a photography library and a training institute, which will primarily offer several courses for students.

Currently working on Old Dhaka, we are planning to keep a photographic record of our fast vanishing architectural heritage.