Mazlim Husin has several interests, and his photography serves as a medium to capture his life’s journey. Over coffee, the amicable man explained, “I have a lot of different hobbies and interests. I like to keep busy in my free time by doing lots of different things.

Recently in March this year, I was cycling in New Zealand for three weeks, it’s an annual adventure holiday. The year before that, I rode bikes in Northern India and the Himalayas. Basically, photography and my outdoor activities go hand in hand. I explore places, and capture the moments and scenes I come across.” However, when asked which of his loves came first, photography or travel – Mazlim said it was photography.

“My father actually taught me how to use a camera when I was 13, using a manual one with film. That is how I picked up my love for photography. I’m originally from Terengganu, now I’m based in KL, and use primarily Nikon and Leica cameras.”

Seizing opportunities

Mazlim said that he doesn’t actively sell his services as a photographer, but doesn’t shy away from the opportunities that come to him.

“One of my interests are classic and vintage cars, I collect them. A member of the club I belong to liked my work and asked me to photograph his car, which was a fun project.

One project I really enjoyed was when I did pro-bono work for Kiwanis, as a sort of personal CSR. Last year, it was their 25th anniversary, and I was the photographer for the event which was actually for a book that they released, entitled ‘Unlabel to Understand’.”

Besides loving to photograph landscapes, Mazlim is also passionate about heritage and culture.

“Another notable project of mine is doing the photography for Kulit Manis: A Taste of Terengganu’s Heritage, a book celebrating the state’s historical, cultural, and culinary heritage.

“It wasn’t just about the photography, we interviewed people, heard their stories, and learned so much about the heritage. It was great, and the book actually ended up winning a gourmet award in France.”

He went on to explain that he prefers to classify his work as fine art photography, presenting something deeper and more evocative than a simple image.

“That’s how I look at my photography. In fact, I would love to be a full-time fine art photographer. But in Malaysia, people don’t put enough value on fine art, and I would probably be struggling to make ends meet if I went down that path. But it’s my passion and I love doing it.”

The world as his subject

Mazlim the globetrotter has visited several countries around the world. Travelling and exploring new places, including rural villages and quiet towns, has clearly made him a man with an open mind and open heart. “When I travel to new places, the first thing I do is take my compass out to find out which direction is east. This is because I want to wake up early enough to capture the sunrise. Of course, it doesn’t always work out.

“Sometimes there are clouds and you just won’t see the sunrise. I have waited for hours in the cold for a sunrise that never appeared. But I don’t mind because it brings about other experiences. While being up that early, I may stumble upon a nice café to have a good breakfast and meet their nice owner. My adventures and the experiences that come from them make me happy and keep me going.”

He loves travelling and exploring new areas so much that he couldn’t pick just one favourite shooting location when I asked him about it.

“I find shooting at new places for the first time the most exciting. And when I find a particular place captivates me from the first impression itself, I always make a mental note to return.

“Most likely, when I don’t really like a place from the first day, I know I won’t be back. So it’s always the first glance of something new and exciting that really gets my adrenaline going, and I think it shows in my work.”

Travelling with camera equipment is always a challenge, and Mazlim is no stranger to this. He is a frequent visitor to Nepal, and while hiking, he uses an assistant to help carry his bags. However, in Nepal this service is cheap, and not necessarily the same in other countries.

“In expensive countries, I have to lug my own stuff around. I frequently have problems at the airport with the excessive weight!” Everyone loves to travel, but it’s not always easy to do so with limited vacation days and commitments. “I am unmarried, perhaps that’s why I have so much time and freedom to travel!” he said with a laugh.

“I think for most people, time is a luxury. You may have the money to travel, but time to do so is harder to come by when you have a demanding job and family commitments. I used to own a mining business, and being my own boss gave me a lot of flexible time to work with.

“Now, I am back in the corporate world, but I still make use of my free time to go on my adventures. I have also taken on the role of official photographer for the company!

“I’ve taken up doing the photography for the corporate profile, website, and things like that.

“My next project for the company is actually doing a photo shoot for 12 individuals who have worked for the company the longest.

“They were so proud and felt so appreciated when they found out we want to photograph and feature them. I do it for free because I want to help the company and also because I enjoy it.”

Mazlim concluded the interview by reiterating what he really loves about this travels, the fact that he gets to meet all sorts of people.

“It’s almost always been a good experience when I meet new people. Travelling exposes me to other cultures, other people, other religions, which in turn makes me more open-minded.

“I advise everyone to travel when they can, see new things, and learn from them. It really makes you a better person in more ways than one.”

This article was originally published in The Expat magazine (November 2016) which is available online or in print via a free subscription.