Fatima Chowdhury
I’ve been taking pictures for years, using various cameras at my disposal. My work has always been centered around the present moment, capturing what’s most eye-catching or what’s unseen by most. I’ve been inspired by Carrie Mae Weems to use limited space but still portray a wide range of emotions and scenes that can take place at the same spot, whether they are happening simultaneously or at different times. Her style of work has been particularly eye-opening during the pandemic, when being stuck at home can feel like being in an empty box. In reality there’s a huge amount of interesting moments in this box that just need a spotlight.
Azikiwe Mohammed’s photography also inspired me to start taking more pictures of my food, and helped me learn to appreciate the artistry and blessing in every dish. So far on this journey, I’ve been trying to test different techniques and use this camera to capture my life. I like a photograph to be as natural as possible, to capture a picture without setting up too many things. Those candid moments are the most special to me since they aren’t forced to fit a certain narrative. If I can capture a moment and still tell the story I want to in one picture, I feel that I have succeeded. Bounce Back, 2021Blessing, 2021