By Bahtiar Dwi Susanto/ INSOMNIUM Indonesia
At its early development, the phenomena of digital photography in Indonesia is sided with both pro’s and contra’s. For its role in business, digital photography, by most, is considered a benefit supporting their industries and particularly for the published media industry. But for many others, its technology has made it much too effortless and unchallenging especially when leisured by digital imaging. Ideological aspects and idealism may influence each side in contra towards the other. Nevertheless, digital photography is utterly an extortionate technology.
As global crises continues, entering its second period (post economy bankruptcy in the US), many photography communities that give more concern on fundamental knowledge of this subject see the existence of digital photography as a challenge. Today’s photography due to its digital trend is an exceptionally exclusive and expensive subject to mingle with. As a consequence, for 108.7 million impoverished Indonesians or about 49% of its populace (figures from world bank annual report 2006), photography seems even more untouchable. The challenge is a matter of how to present photography in an economic creative way so that it can be accessible for a broader public. One resolution we come to is by providing inexpensive learning courses and by using alternative instruments that are affordable like the pinhole camera for instance.
For the record, in the year 1999 two photographers by the name Ray Bachtiar Drajat, supported by I-See gallery (now vacuum), and Yudhi Soerjoatmodjo, a famous research photographer in Indonesia, formulated a project on the pinhole camera and established the Indonesian Lubang Jarum (pinhole) Community. The Indonesian Lubang Jarum (pinhole) Community progressed with members coming from nine cities around the country, Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Malang, Surabaya, Bali, Makasar and Medan in only two years time (1999-2001). Although with very limited funding, this program was able to achieve remarkable success. It had opened new views on photography as not only an inexpensive but also a fun and practical activity. It became common for more people and many found the pinhole camera as a helpful instrument to learn about the early technology of taking and processing photographs.
By using a simple tin can as a camera and photo paper as the recorded media, people will enjoy the product of photography in a unique sense. The complete output is processed in the dark room and the photos created will be highly appreciated both esthetically and technically. The pinhole program promotes creativity in economy Evoking interest for more people on photography by making it accessible for everyone. Further to add, its basic technology will teach people to better understand how to operate the modern camera and its lens.
In Indonesia, programs like the pinhole camera had been promoted since the early 21st century. These programs had also promoted the study of photography thru history and its science. The pinhole camera had placed a new current and nearly started a new trend. Now it is time to reinforce and continue its progress for even more generations.
As a consequence of Indonesia’s economy condition we believe that the pinhole camera and providing inexpensive workshops will be the best solution to maintain the existence and popularity of photography in our country. Creating a product of photography doesn’t always have to depend on one popular technology, on the contrary, some problems as a result from technology itself may also evoked alternatives, such as the case of digital technology. In other countries such as Cuba and China, a photography revolution had also taken place during an unfit economy conditions. At the period of economy impediment, Cuba had produce their own creative photography using conventional technology. In china means of democratizing photography by producing products in their own country had made photography a subject accessible for their impoverished citizens.
In Indonesia the reliability of digital photography is inevitable especially for numbers of business purposes but for the rest of our 49% impoverished this pixel phenomena is somewhat an exceptional venture. Concepts for creative Economy like the Kamera Lubang Jarum photography program manifest importance in developing countries such as Indonesia. And with the help of photography communities socializing this activity will make it possible to keep the existence of photography as well as have every layer of community be involved in learning its techniques. By maintaining its practice and popularity amongst our future generation, hopefully photography will become a subject not only oriented in business and industries but also a subject of studies oriented for education and even further become a part of Indonesia’s culture.
Lets have a peep thru the pinhole…
