Rony Zakaria Jakarta, Indonesia

Rony Zakaria graduated with a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science. He started his career as a photographer after finishing his studies at university. He studied photojournalism at Galeri Foto Jurnalistik Antara. In 2009 he studied as a fellow at Asian Center For Journalism in Manila Philippines. Rony has received several awards for his works which includes NPPA Best of Photojournalism and Mochtar Lubis Award Grant.

In 2013, he published his first book, Encounters, a collection of personal photographs taken since the beginning of his career. He lives in Jakarta but continues to travel.

Rony Zakaria

Rony Zakaria was chosen by photographer Veejay Villafranca

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Latikkomo’s interview with Rony Zakaria September 28th, 2016

L:  Where are you from? What cities, and/or countries have you lived in – or what places have influenced you?

RZ: I’m from Jakarta, Indonesia. Born and raised here. I traveled frequently but rarely stayed long when I am traveling but if there is a place that influenced me, it would be Yogyakarta, a city in central part of Java.

L:  What is your earliest memory of photography?

RZ: The disposable camera that my parents brought from Japan and gave me as a toy. I was 10 at that time.

L: You use a variety of colour techniques in your work: black and white, strong colour contrast and tinted images. What inspires you to use colour or not?

RZ: I mainly work with black and white for my personal work because I can express more with this medium and not distracted with the complexity of color. I also shoot with color for assignments and projects that I think would be better shot in color.

L:  You first graduated with a degree in mathematics and computer science. Do you find the work you do today, with photography and writing, is influenced by your education in mathematics?

RZ: Not technically.

L:  Your images have been used by many different kinds of publications for various articles in many countries. How much control do you have over the context in which these companies present your images?

RZ: I worked for a few magazines and newspaper in the past and in my experience we as photographers have almost no control in how to present our work. I think there were only two publications that asked my opinion and send me a draft layout before publishing it.

L: As a documentary/street photographer you have travelled to many different locations around the world, photographing a variety of demographics. Is there a specific place or story that you would like to photograph in the future?

RZ: I recently went to China and found the country so fascinating. If there is a chance I would like to go back. And my country of course, I would like to travel to the eastern part of Indonesia in the near future.

L: Photography, and documentary photography in particular, is often a tool for telling stories. Do you have an all encompassing story or message you want to tell with your images?

RZ: I have of course. But it is better to see the photographs first than to spoil the imagination ☺

L:  Could you list five or more words related to the work you are showing in Laatikkomo?

RZ: Encounters, walking, chance, hope,  city

Thank you so much Rony!