Capturing the Face of Islam in Photos: the Opening of the Doc-Camp
After being delayed because of two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, the exhibition of seven photo story themes from the Photographer who received the Doc-Camp (Doctrine-Media Camp) scholarship in 2019 was also successful. This time, the exhibition also collaborates with 16 participants of the 2022 Doc-Camp, a collaboration with a communication student community that focuses on the world of photography at UII, namely Klik18. Klik18 contributed five photo story themes to this exhibition.
The aspiration to see the face of Islam 20 years after reform has existed since 2018. “We, Mas Muzayin, Ali MInanto (both are Communication Lecturers at UII), and I have a dream to take a picture of what Islam looks like after 20 years of reform. Then we made training to make films, photos, videos, and feature writings,” recalls M. Iskandar Tri Gunawan about the first release of Doc-Camp. Initially, Doc-Camp was two activities with two names to be merged: Doctrine (documentary training) and Media Camp in 2018. According to Iskandar, in 2019, these two student development programs were merged into one name with the same passion for becoming Doc-Camp 2019 At Doc-Camp 2019, the theme raised is no longer about Islam 20 years after the reformation but Islam and transformation: depict the cities and villages, said Iskandar at the opening of the 2022 Doc-Camp Photo Discussion and Exhibition on September 20, 2022, at the Mini Theater of Department of Communications, UII.
Several years of creating a series of training called Doctrine in 2018, Media Camp in 2018, and Doc-Camp in 2019. “The year 2020-2021 is a vacuum due to the pandemic. Until finally, we invited our friends to collaborate with Klik18 for a joint exhibition,” said Iskandar, a Laboratory Assistant in the Communication Department at the Universitas Islam Indonesia, at the opening of a photo discussion entitled Islam and Transformation on September 20, 2022.
Pause and Reflection Space
The time lag for activities is two to three years because the pandemic provides an important time marker. “The existence of this event also manifests the results of that process. The process of providing space for creativity, space for expression, and encouraging dialogue with clubs from other campuses,” said Zaki Habibi, one of the lecturers of the UII Communication Department, giving a speech representing the UII Department of Communications. According to Zaki, the 2022 Doc-Camp photo exhibition and discussion in collaboration with PSDMA Nadim Communication UII and Klik18 is a space to reflect on photos and Islam after a break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This stage is an appreciation for Klik18, mentors, the Department of Communications of UII crew and all of you. Our waist is stiff because he’s been lying down for two years,” joked Zaki, a Communication Lecturer at UII specializing in Urban and Visual Culture studies.
Photos are like a pandemic. Zaki explained that photos are part of frozen moments, space and time to give pause. Pause for a moment to read the visual space. Pause, take a little time to take a break from the constant flow of routine, to reflect.
Zaki Habibi, a representative of the Communications Department of UII, gave a speech at the Opening of the Doc-Camp 2022 Photo Discussion and Exhibition on September 20, 2022. According to him, this exhibition is the result of a pause and reflection during the two years of the Covid-19 pandemic (Photo by Desyatri Parawahyu)
Here in this exhibition, reading photography and reading society in terms of content. “It seems that our friends see Islam as not narrow, not only Islam with theology and rituals,” said Zaki.
Through photographs, Zaki said, it can be seen in our society that Islam is not limited to theological, ritualistic, and spiritual teachings. “But we can see Islam which is more cultural, which interacts with the community,” said Zaki in his speech
. “We must be able to read it with glasses that are beyond the symbol of worship.”
On many other sides of culture, photography can take a moment to pause to see the world stopped in the frame. The hallmark of photography is that it freezes the moment, freezes space and time to stop for a moment, giving us pause to reflect together.” the lid.
The next session was filled with material on Photo Editing from Boy Tri Harjanto, a training companion since 2018. Boy is a photographer for the European Press Agency (EPA) Photo, he provides both technical and conceptual input on several photos exhibited at this photo exhibition with the theme of Islam and Transformation.
*Featured Photo by Nabiel Marazieq
