Looking Into Farid Renais Ghimas’ Poignant Photography Works

INDONESIA | LONDON | PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographs by Farid Renais Ghimas
Words by Vanya Harapan

Published on May 30, 2022

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LINEAL talks to the emerging image-maker about finding a voice and maintaining balance.

As a young Indonesian photographer who is currently pursuing master’s studies in the prestigious Central Saint Martins, Farid Renais Ghimas is on his way to making a mark in the world of photography. Although Farid is relatively new in the industry, he has established a refined, sentimental and nostalgic style evident in his photographs. 

Farid’s interest in photography was sparked through Instagram. “At first, I only used the app to post my travel photos. And then my dad noticed how I liked to take photos, so he ended up getting me a camera and I started to use that to take photos of my friends in high school,” the 22-year old lensman says. He then pursued the craft for his bachelor’s degree in Leeds, where he had an epiphany that his love for the lens ran deeper than he thought, “But I realised I liked it too much to be considered as just a hobby, so I started to pursue it more seriously. I still found it weird until this day how just an app ended up determining my career path.”

Despite only taking photography professionally in 2018, it seems Farid has found a style that makes his work distinct and recognisable, quite early on. “I usually emphasise the depictions of the ‘everyday’ with the use of a rich and vibrant colour palette,” answers Farid, as we ask him how he would describe his works. “I like to create work that connotes an evocative feeling of a summer afternoon.” 

Some factors that helped him develop his visual identity were his influences and idols. Two photographers that Farid admired are Jamie Hawkesworth and James Perolls. As he studied and analysed their styles, he found his voice. “After doing a bunch of shoots there is a pattern that appears within my work that makes me want to pursue it in a specific way. It’s like when you’ve finally discovered your voice and what you like, you kind of just want to keep refining it. […] When someone comes across a photograph and can  immediately tell it’s yours, that is like a sign of success as an artist.” 

Like all other young photographers navigating their careers, finding balance in both the work they create and how they live can be an endeavour. To Farid, he explores balance in his work by focusing on composition and colours, “I think how I interpret balance is how I’m able to compose my image harmoniously and selectively without having too many distractions within the frame.” But in a more personal sense, the word ‘balance’ to him can be described by how he copes with being a working image maker and a university student. He admits to struggling at times.

Another sense of balance that most creatives find themselves coping with is one that is between idealism and commercialism –– the experience of juggling a client’s needs whilst making sure the photographer’s authenticity stays present. Farid is fortunate to be working with clients who respect and understand his work, giving him the freedom to navigate projects. “I think the advice I would give is to find other people that share the same vision as yours, and remember you can also turn down a job or collaboration if it doesn’t align with your interests or explain that this job isn’t something you’re looking to do at the moment,” he shares, reminding us that it’s alright to draw the line when a brief is beyond our comfort zone and artistic values. “I’m sure any potential clients or collaborators will appreciate someone with their own vision, and they can come to you when something related comes up.”

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