ISTIAK KARIM

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Born in a very small village in the south-eastern part of the country (Bangladesh) name Lakshmipur in 1992. Istiak karim’s first introduction with camera was at the age of 12 when his cousin let him handle a camera which was Yashica DX to take their photograph. His interest in photography grew when he came to the capital city for higher education and met with his elder brother’s friend who had a hobby of photography. While he was studying Business at East West University he became serious on photography and won several photography contest including International Intra University photography competition. In 2013-2014 season he became the president of his university’s photography club and decided to take photography as his profession. After completing Business studies he joined “Pathshala South Asian Media Institute” as a student of Department of Photography (2017-2019).

In 2018 he received Sam Bank Memorial fund to study for one year in Pathshala. Later his photographic work was displayed and presented at the Lympstone Sailing Club by his Department head during his UK visit tour in March, 2019.

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As a documentary photographer he photographed many major political, environmental and economic issues of Bangladesh in 2017 and 2018. One of them is Quota Reformation Movement. Quota reform movement in Bangladesh started on 17 February, 2018 demanding reforms in policies regarding recruitment process in the Bangladesh Government Services. The movement has proved its fairness and that the anger of the students is absolutely justified. Istiak’s works from the Quota reformation movement published on The Daily Star newspaper on April 13, 2018.

 

The following year he achieved Australian Government fully funded one month workshop session in Nepal named ‘Doing Visual Politics’ focuses on “the politics of AID.” There he documented one of the community of Nepal called “Tamang” living in a small village ‘Jagat’ located just outside the Kathmandu Valley in the Jhor district, deeply affected by the 2015 Earthquake. The main issue he documented  how AID given by their Govt. failed over there. In March, 2019 Istiak got the chance to attend a workshop ‘Learning to see with legendary war photographer Christopher Morris from Agency VII’.

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Beside that Istiak  covers social magnanimous issues. He photographed Rohingya refugee crisis who escaped Myanmar to live in Bangladesh in 2017. His project on river bank erosion in Bangladesh’ reflects how  climate change and environmental hazards affects the country and its people. Currently Istiak is working on his long term projects.

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Achievement :

Workshop on “Learning to see” under Christopher Moris from agency Vii

• Workshop on “Doing Visual politics” in Nepal funded by Australian Government from 09/12/2018 to 29/12/2018.

• Workshop on “Learning to see” under Christopher Moris from agency Vii

• Received Sam Banks Memorial Fund 2018

• President, East West University Photography Club Period: 2013 to 2014

• Basic Photography Workshop” – from Dhaka University Photography Society

• Scholarship in Product Photography by Photo Lounge 2011

• Workshops/Courses: “Basic Photography Workshop” - from East West University Photography Club.

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Exhibition :

• Participated and awarded in Spa Tour De Rainbow-Photography Competition, 2018.

• Honorable mention in Portrait category , representing Bangladesh in International Inter University Photography Exhibition 2012, 1st National Photography Festival2012,

• Participated in “ A diary of Nepal” by EWUPC in the year 2012.

• Participated in – 7th East West University Annual Photography Exhibition 2011.

• Public relation and Event Coordinator, East West University Photography Club Period: 2012 to 2013(Co-ordinate the club activities and manage the fund of the club.)

• Awarded 2nd prize in “Words Of life” organized by 71pix.com in 2016.

• Participated in Out of the box 2016 Photography exhibition.

• 1st Prize in Photo story category-8th East West University Annual Photography Exhibition 2012.

• Participated in “A diary of Nepal” by EWUPC in the year 2012.

• Participated in – 7th East West University Annual Photography Exhibition 2011. 

• Participated in Still Life Photography Exhibition 2011 by East West University Photography Club.

• Participated in Travel Photography Exhibition 2011 by East West University Photography Club.