KUALA LUMPUR: Self-taught photographer Yuji Haikal (Syed Muhammad Haikal Syed Mahbar) fondly remembers something his late father once asked him in early 2020: “Why aren’t you taking photos anymore?”
At the time, the question didn’t seem significant to the 39-year-old Johorean. Sure, his father had gifted him his first digital camera, a Nikon D70S, using his pension money while Yuji was studying IT at Unitar. But photography was only a hobby for the youngest of three brothers.
Three months later, his father passed away from chronic lung disease and Yuji returned home to be with his mother. There, that simple question from his father started to weigh on him.
“I felt really guilty, so I decided to pick up photography again,” Yuji shared with FMT Lifestyle.
“I went to the streets in KL where my father used to take me and started shooting. Even though I was alone when I took these photos, I felt like my dad was with me throughout the journey.”
These black-and-white street shots turned into a self-published book titled “Why Aren’t You Taking Photos Anymore?” The book won him the prestigious Book Photographer of the Year award and first place in the “Book, Self-published” category at IPA 2024.
“I was speechless when I got the news. I couldn’t sleep all night – it was just too big. I felt so grateful,” Yuji, who likes taking concert and music event photos, said.
After his dad’s passing, Yuji turned to black and white photography, feeling it reflected the loss. He soon realised he loved the depth it brought, inspired by his idol, the iconic music photographer Jim Marshall.
His journey with photography, however, began long before the awards. Yuji’s passion was sparked in childhood, when his dad would bring along a simple film camera on family trips. “I cherished those family photos,” he recalled. Joining his school’s photography club in secondary school fuelled his interest even more.
Today, he’s proud of his progress, especially after winning the IPA awards for his book.
One photo from the series holds special meaning for him. It shows a man reading the news on a bridge connecting Petaling Street to Kota Raya. “When I saw him, it reminded me of my dad, who used to lie like that at home reading the newspaper.”
The book may be a tribute to his father, but the project’s journey started earlier, during workshops and deep reflection on photography.
“At first, I wanted to create a photo book, but a workshop encouraged me to tell my dad’s story instead,” he shared. This shift gave the book its deeply personal narrative.
Yuji also learnt the craft of bookbinding at a workshop. “They taught me how to bind the book and curate the photos, making sure the book had an artisanal feel.” He sewed the book covers himself using old jeans, adding a pocket in the back for a thank-you card – a photo of him holding his dad’s hand for the last time.
“Why Aren’t You Taking Photos Anymore?” is a big milestone in Yuji’s career, but it’s just the start. “I want to take my photography further and focus on long-term projects.”
His next project? A quarterly photo zine focused on Malaysia’s music scene. “I want to document emerging local bands, but not just their performances. I’m more interested in their offstage lives – the personal stories people don’t usually see.”
Beyond his own projects, Yuji is passionate about building a photography community. Along with fellow street photographers, he founded the “Pecah Pala Photo Club” aimed at nurturing young talent in Malaysia.
The club plans to host workshops and educational sessions focusing on both the technical and creative sides of photography, encouraging new photographers to pursue it as a hobby or profession. “Malaysia has so much talent,” Yuji said. “We just want to help it grow.”
And with every project, every frame, Yuji continues to answer that lingering question, one that now drives his passion: Why aren’t you taking photos anymore? The answer is clear – he never really stopped.
Find out more about Yuji Haikal here. Follow Yuji Haikal on Instagram.
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