Rony Sharafat: Capturing Beauty of Bangladesh Through Lens

January 26, 2024

The Journey of Rony Sharafat: Capturing Beauty Through a Lens

Rony Sharafat, a graduate of Textile Engineering, has seamlessly woven his passion for photography into the fabric of his life. Residing from Bangladesh, Rony’s journey is a testament to pursuing one’s artistic calling beyond traditional career paths. His transition to the creative realm of photography was a bold step, reflecting a desire to follow one’s passion. Photography, for him, became a canvas where he could weave stories and capture moments that transcend the ordinary. During an exclusive interview with TINDS, he shared his story of coming this far and becoming the skilled photographer he is today.

TINDS: Tell us a little about yourself.

Rony: I graduated in Textile Engineering and Management from BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology. I currently work in a marketing agency called COdesign as a photographer and videographer. I have also been a freelance photographer and cinematographer for around four years.

TINDS: What three words describe you the best?

Rony: Travel-freak, Homesick & Film-enthusiast.

TINDS: Being a graduate in textile engineering, why the transition to photography?

Rony: My university is a fashion university, and students are initially required to create a portfolio. I had a knack for photography before that and used my mobile to take shots back then. We went to Keokradong, Bandarban, for a trip with my friends, and one of my friends suggested we shoot a video. Following that, I assisted one of my friends create a lookbook for her, shooting her dresses. That’s how things started. I had only been on a few tours before I got admitted into the university. I was lucky enough to be introduced to a junior who managed a travel group in Bangladesh, which was very popular back then. I accompanied them on several tours, and that’s how I started mainly traveling. Later, I met an elder brother, Shohan, a documentary filmmaker and the mentor of one of Bangladesh’s only two authorized photography institutes, Counterfoto. Most content creators are self-taught, learn from YouTube, or are inspired by any other content creator they follow. I learned much about composition, lighting, etc. when I started working with him.

TINDS: Would you want to be recognized as a photographer or a videographer?

Rony: If anybody wants to be a videographer, they have to start with the basics of photography and then move on to making videos. I started my journey in the opposite direction. I recognize myself as a videographer, but I also love photography.

TINDS: How often do you work as a freelancer?

Rony: I was a full-time freelancer before I started working for Codesign. More offers started coming in during 2022. Initially, gigs came in only through personal references; after my page grew, I started getting more offers, but I tend to be very picky about the projects I work on due to the lack of time availability.

TINDS: Pursuing a career in the creative industry is a rather challenging thought from the perspective of our previous generation. Why did you still consider pursuing this instead of a career in textile?

Rony: Most of my university friends have pursued careers in the textile industry while I was having the time of my life shooting in different districts. I appeared for different final exams online in other districts during my finals. I often heard negative feedback from my friends regarding their textile jobs, which demotivated me, and I eventually decided not to pursue that. A career in videography has been challenging because there are months when we have access to less money due to a lack of projects, and sometimes it is the opposite. I suppose The key is managing resources, which applies to every job or field.

TINDS: What role do you play working for COdesign?

Rony: I have worked with other agencies besides being employed in Codesign. I first visited for a meeting at Codesign regarding a project where I was offered a job. I found it very interesting and joined the team. No other workplace would let me have the freedom to work outside the office for several days a week. A particular work diversity is present and has allowed me to work with several clients like BMW, Ford, KIA, Eastern Bank Limited, several restaurants, etc. Working with clients from different fields has enabled me to understand my skills and capabilities better. If somebody wants to work commercially, more is needed to be good with the camera. One must know how to take criticisms positively, handle customers, and cater to their needs.

TINDS: What are your plans for the future?

Rony: I currently plan on working as a freelancer only. I have plans for some personal experimental work I might take up on. I wish to be a filmmaker someday and develop my cinematography skills as I move forward.