Benyamin Wari: Photographer of the week

by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 8th of November 2021

Benyamin Wari is a skilled landscape photographer. He found peace pressing the shutter in front of a mountain view, waterfalls, sunsets, sunrises and open seas. He wants to share that peace with the viewers and would love to be an inspiration for future generations showing those memories.
Let's start with this interview as a journey through Benyamin's works and life.

'Kawah ljen And Flowers'

Dear Benyamin, please briefly tell us about yourself, your hobbies and other jobs.
My full name is Bunyamin Muhamad Wari, my friends call me Benjamin Wari, I am a husband and father, I am the president director at PT. Wulandari Sukses Sentosa engaged in Real Estate, and Director of PT WMI which is engaged in plantations.
I was born on a small but very beautiful island called Bawean Island located in Gresik Regency, East Java, Indonesia.
My hobby is playing Golf and lately I'm more often travelling to the mountains and beaches to enjoy nature.

How has your history and life experiences affected your photography?
The story of my life: as a child, I often travelled and moved with my parents. I even lived in several including the Middle East. That inspired me a lot, founding adventure in the unexpected and that is probably what made me tend to like dramatic photos.

Which are your most important experiences that has influenced your art?
I like watching action movies and love things that are unusual. Not from the violent side but from the moody side. Colours really influence my works too.

'Single and Beauty'

'Sawarna Beach'

What first attracted you to photography?
Travelling with my family made me start taking pictures, and travelling with photographer friends makes me take more and more pictures.

Describe your overall photographic vision.
I want to share my stories with as many people as possible. I want to tell everybody about the frames I took in my unique way. I would love to be an inspiration showing those memories for future generations.

'The Gate Of The Ocean'

'Planet Earth'

Why are you so drawn by landscape photography ?
Actually what made me interested in photography is Nature. When I left my busy life as an entrepreneur and started to spent some time in the wild, I found peace and I want to share that peace through my landscape photography. I found peace when pressing the shutter in front of a mountain view, waterfalls, sunsets, sunrises and open seas.
It is difficult to me to find the right words to describe that feeling. The only way to explain it is 'painting it through photography'. Through my landscape photography, I can share my life experiences.

'Green Life'

'Mystical Rocks'

'Green Crater of Papandayan'

What is more important to you, the mood,/story behind your images or the technical perfection?
I prefer the story behind the image rather than having to think about the perfect technique, because everyone has a different style and technical judgement.

'The End'

What generally is your relationship to your subject matter beyond being an observer?
Usually, before taking an image, I visit that place first. It has to touch me straight away and I have to feel a strong emotional connection to it. For instance when on a beach with towering rocks or in a crater, it has to amaze and to touch me, creating an inner bond that is difficult to describe in words.

Do you prepare carefully the locations where you are intending to photograph?
Yes, I always study the location on the forehand. What month has the best weather conditions, when is the best sun's direction, when are the best light conditions, etc. I often invite local residents to accompany and advice me.

What gear do you use (camera, lenses, bag)?
I am Using Sony A7R4 and Sony GM Lens, Vanguard for Bag and Gitzo for Tripod.

What software do you use to process your images?
I am Using Photoshop and Lightroom.

Can you tell us something more about your work flow?
First, I pay a lot of attention to the compositions and during the post processing, I try to remember the feeling I had that very moment when I pushed the button. From there, I start to edit my photos, to fix the exposure, the colour grading. And that's it.

What is your most important advice to a beginner in landscape photography and how do you get started?
Get inspired by the compositions and colour use of the masters. Keep on trying and never stop learning.

Who are your favourite photographers and more importantly, how has your appreciation of their work affected how you approach your own photography?
I watching works from many photographers to get inspired and until now, I'm still watching and learning a lot.

Are there any specific directions that you would like to take your photography in the future or any specific goals that you wish to achieve?
I want to leave a legacy of landscape photographs and truly hope that someday I will be remembered form my works.

'Sunset and the Boat'

'Papandayan Crater Mountain'

'Cold in the heat'

Describe your favourite photograph taken by you and why it is special to you?
I like the sunset photo in the Ijen crater, because the challenge of climbing as well as the challenge of the fog covering the crater gave me the patience to wait for the right moment when the fog slowly disappeared. That beautiful sunset over the volcano really touched me deeply.

'The Crater'

'ljen Crater Volcano Mountain'

Is there anything else you wish to add and what do you think about 1X as a home base for your work?
I think 1x is very important for the world of photography. Here many people can learn, seek inspiration, train their eyes through the works awarded at 1x.
Thanks a lot for inviting me for this interview.

Good Lights
Benyamin Wari

My instagram: @benysukasuka18

'Smoking forever'