Cobram’s Jawid Iqbal Anwar turns photography into works of art

By Gabriel Garcia

Apr 2, 2024

Many of us have made photography a regular part of our lives.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

However, in the hands of Cobram’s Jawid Iqbal Anwar, photography transforms into art.

The Cobram local has had a passion for photography since he was young and living in Malaysia.

“Since I was a kid, when I was playing around, I was already thinking how I could record memories for the future,” Mr Anwar said.

In 2008, he bought his first camera, a Sony QX 100 lens which can be attached to a smart phone, and since then he hasn't looked back.

When Mr Anwar moved to Cobram in November 2016, he brought his passion for photography with him and has since posted photos of wildlife he has taken on the Cobram community Facebook pages.

Asked why he has taken a special interest in wildlife, Mr Anwar said it was all about capturing the animals' emotions, adding photographing animals makes him happy and allows him to find solace away from the daily hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Like all good nature photographers Mr Anwar often wakes up early to capture animals as they wake.

Shy: A koala captured by Jawid Iqbal Anwar peeks from behind his tree. Photo by Contributed

“The animals are still trying to get up from their sleep,” Mr Anwar said.

“Koalas are very slow in the morning. Birds are also slow in the morning, but in the afternoon, they will be more active.”

According to Mr Anwar, birds, especially the smaller ones, are the most complex animals to capture, and he is currently on a mission to take a great photo of a kangaroo and a kingfisher.

"With kangaroos, you need to stay far away,” he said.

“You cannot get too close because they become scared of you.”

As for the kingfisher, Mr Anwar said he had been working on getting the perfect shot for the past year, but they often flew out of the frame just before the photograph could be taken.

Though animals are Mr Anwar’s passion, he is also highly skilled in photographing landscapes and sports.

Mighty Murray: Cobram's Jawid Iqbal Anwar took this photograph of the mighty Murray River. Photo by Contributed

As for anyone thinking about taking up photography, Mr Anwar said that they should give it a go, noting that with enough patience and dedication, anyone can take good photographs.