Tara loyal to his calling
Tara loyal to his calling
Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Tara Sosrowardoyo may not be an outgoing kind of person. But the
calm photographer shows his enthusiasm when it comes to the field
he is famous for: Photography.
The 50-year-old man compared a photographer to a good jazz
singer, where both professions require one to practice to make
perfect.
"In reality, we (photographers and jazz singers) must be ready
for improvisation as sometimes things don't go to plan," he said.
Just recently Tara shot the picture of Insp. Gen. I Made
Mangku Pastika, chief of the Bali bombing investigation team.
Pastika was named as one of the newsmakers of the year by Time
magazine Asian edition.
The shooting had been well-planned down to the minutest detail
but Pastika, who achieved widespread recognition for leading the
inquiry team into the Bali bombing, refused to be pictured near
the blast ruins.
"I don't know the reason but the general strongly refused to
be pictured near the blast site. So, we had to go back to square
one and improvise," said Tara recalling his recent assignment.
For Time alone, Tara has shot six cover photos and numerous
others for international media like The New York Times, Newsweek,
Fortune, Paris Match, Far Eastern Economic Review, Business Week,
Vogue, GEO, Asiaweek and Marie Claire.
His photos can also be found in many books and coffee-table
works, including Pusaka Art of Indonesia (as a principal
photographer), Java Style (sole photographer), Filipino Style
(one of two photographers) and Abode of Peace, Brunei Darussalam
(as chief photographer).
Tara was interviewed days after the opening of his 1/2 (Half)
exhibition at Galeri Dua8 on Jl. Kemang Utara, South Jakarta.
Born in New York on Dec. 12, 1952, Tara celebrated his 50th
birthday by attending the exhibition held and initiated by his
wife and friends.
"I feel the passion (for photography) is during the shooting
session. And when you know you have the right shots, well that's
it," he said, snapping his fingers.
"It's almost like sex. Sex with a stranger. Exciting."
His favorite objects were people: He has probably shot
thousands of faces from well-known figures to unknown ones like
Haji Kocen, whom Tara claimed to be "popular too in his own ways.
His passion for photography developed while he was still a
student at junior high doing school newspapers or producing
yearbooks.
"By the time I learned photography, I took it seriously. What
we need to be good in our field is, I think, love and
seriousness," said Tara, who admires legendary war photographer
James Nachtwey.
But his parents, avid collectors of paintings, of course once
insisted that he studied something else and become something
other than just a photographer.
He did learn and study something else, behavioral science, at
Masquarie University in Sydney. He also learnt graphic design and
cinematography at Reverina College of Advanced Education in Wagga
Wagga, New South Wales, with a brief stint at the Jakarta
Institute of Arts (IKJ).
Only in 1977 did he start working professionally as a
photographer for the now-defunct Jakarta Jakarta magazine. At
that time there were few photographers and he realized that to
become a photojournalist was not his cup of tea.
"The situation was quite different back then. There were no
challenges and you know how it was in the 1970's. But I really
admire some friends who served their time as photojournalists as
I know that wasn't easy," he said, reminiscing about his past.
Tara's photos serve various functions, from advertising to
graphic design products. Art photography is what he craved.
Mostly in black and white, Tara's pictures speak for themselves
on the smells, the weather and the air quality when the pictures
were taken.
"I am restless, I want to do many things and shoot as many
pictures as I can, but I have my limits. I get physically tired
and just throw all my equipment aside for rest," said son of
former diplomat Sumaryo Sosrowardoyo.
"I only make pictures in my mind then."
Of all his works though, Tara said he had two favorites, which
he shivered at whenever he saw them.
"Both pictures are of the critical moments when my children,
Haga Tara and Shaista Mayada, were born," Tara said.
He added he was shaking when he took the two pictures inside
the delivery room.
"Blood was everywhere and to know that they were my children
was a very unique feeling," he claimed.
The father of three apparently has earned more international
recognition than local. He seemed quite happy and undaunted by
that though.
Outside the country, Tara is a shining lensman. Since 1988 he
has been with New York-based Getty Images, which became the agent
for his work.
Now he divides his time between his Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur
homes since getting married to Marina Mahathir, daughter of
Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
For him, his marital status and issues related to his father-
in-law are considered "irrelevant" for discussion.
His relations with Marina or her father have not influenced
his career as, for example, he still had the chance to take
pictures of Mahathir and his political opponent Anwar Ibrahim
long before the marriage.
Tara and his wife met in 1993 in Jakarta at the photo
exhibition, Eyes on ASEAN. The marriage was the second for both
of them. His first wife, Meilihanny, is now his good friend.
"We lead very ordinary lives, nothing special. We have no
guards (like many state officials and their families here), not
even a servant in our house. My wife drives her own car back and
forth to work. Really, there's been no special treatment."