A creative path shaped by film photography and the pursuit of imperfection

Who are you, where are you from, and what do you do? Please feel free to share anything about yourself.

Hi umu! I’m Raufan, also known as notmegapixels on some of my social media. I’m originally from Indonesia and currently living in Tokyo, Japan. I’m working as a digital product designer (UI/UX) for my full-time job but also film photography as another side. I documented my film photography journey on YouTube and also wrote it on Substack. Someday, I want to have a career as a full-time film photographer and creator too.

What inspired you to start photography?:

My first encounter with photography was about eight years ago, when a friend let me try to take a couple of shots using his small, beautiful pocket film camera, an Olympus Mju II. A week later, he gave me the developed photos, and one of them instantly brought back the exact feeling I had when I took it. That moment sparked my love for photography, especially with film. I think that kind of feeling, remembering memories through the photo I captured, is always something that inspires me to start and keep going.

Do you remember your very first project as a film photographer? Could you share that experience?

My first real project as a film photographer was shooting a pre-wedding for my friends! There were actually two events close together, and honestly, I was nervous. I really wanted to shoot on film, but I was also scared the results wouldn’t turn out and I’d ruin their plan. But back then, I just went ahead and risked myself, of course with some backup plan. Thankfully, the photos came out much better than I expected! Everyone was happy, and I’m proud of them too. In a different way, my first project was also my first photobook and solo exhibition. It was a surreal experience for me. In short, my first photobook is about my dream to live in Japan and then I can finally move here permanently and then my first solo exhibition is connected to that within the same theme as well. I think the good thing here in Japan is that doing exhibition or publishing a book is accessible for everyone regardless who you are, at least that’s what I feel.　I think it’s on photography in particular and I think it’s because I compared it to Indonesia (where I came from), so that’s why I think here is better.

How do you continue learning and gaining experience to level up your career and skills?

In film photography, I want to keep documenting my life, stories, and feelings through photos. Along the way, meeting like-minded people and connecting with others from very different backgrounds has helped me grow, not just as a photographer, but as a person too. What I love about photography (and any creative field, really) is that every process brings the chance to learn something new.

When you feel down or unmotivated, what do you do to keep your motivation up?

I’ve felt burned out before, and what worked for me was simply pausing. I stepped away from my routine and asked myself why I was feeling that way. In my case, it was the fast pace of social media. The pressure to always be in the loop and post daily. That mindset felt completely opposite to what film photography teaches me. So I shifted a bit and I started writing on Substack. Looking back, that was one of the best decisions in my creative journey. It helped me connect with more people, sparked meaningful conversations, and shifted my focus from chasing likes to sharing stories and reflections. So for me, taking a pause and switching perspective really does work to keep motivation up and recover from burnout.

You must have faced many challenges and taken risks along the way. How do you usually make decisions in difficult situations?

This is pretty interesting. I think it’s influenced a lot by my full-time job as a product designer. In design, we always validate what we create through user tests or interviews. Without realizing it, I’ve brought that habit into my art and photography projects too. I don’t mind creating something, publishing it, and seeing what happens, then using the insights to inform my decisions later. For me, the process of learning and iterating is more valuable than waiting until something feels perfect. I’ve noticed this isn’t a common approach among my creative friends. Many prefer to refine their work until it feels “finished” before sharing. Personally, I’d rather put it out there—even if it’s not perfect—because that’s what helps me create better art in the long run.

Is there a must-have item you cannot work or create without?

Film camera 😆 In terms of dream camera. I think it’s been a long time, I really want to try panorama photography in film and then processing it until it becomes a panorama photo print. So I think that’s all for now.

In your work as a film photographer, when do you feel the happiest?

For me, the whole process of film photography is pure joy. Of course, if we talk about quality or ease, digital cameras win. But shooting film has never been just about the end result to me. It might sound cliche, but It’s the process itself that I find most meaningful. From loading the roll to waiting for the scans, every step brings me happiness. And when I turn those photos into something tangible, like a photobook, zine, or prints, and someone connects with it, that feeling is priceless. That’s what makes it all worth it.

On the other hand, have you experienced any particularly difficult moments, or times when you felt like quitting?

Not really to the point of wanting to quit. I think it’s because film photography is still just a side for me, not my full-time job. It’s my way of escaping reality, which is why, even after 8 years, I still find it enjoyable.

What kinds of doubts or struggles have you faced while building your career?

I think my biggest struggle right now is balancing my artistic/creative mind with my business mind. To live off film photography, you need money, whether by selling work or finding clients. But once it becomes too tied to money, the joy of the hobby can fade as it slowly turns into just a job. So I’m taking it step by step, experimenting with ways to keep that balance, until I can hopefully make the leap to being a full-time artist and film photographer.

What does taking photography mean to you?

For me, photography is a way to document myself and my story, and to build connections through them. As a form of art, it’s also a tool for growth, a way to reflect, to share, and to become a better person. Photography lets me see the world through other people’s windows, what they see, what they experience. The best thing about photography is how we could all be using the same camera gear, be in the same location, at exactly the same time and all end up with different photos because we all have different perspectives and observations of the world around us.

How has it influenced your life? Looking back, what has changed the most between before you started this career and now?

For me, it’s really influenced my perspective. I used to see things almost in black and white, but now I realize there’s no absolute right or wrong. We’re all different, and anything we create may not reach everyone, but it will always reach someone.

What does Tokyo mean to you? Do you like it?

I like Tokyo, and I love my life in Japan. In the context of creative and film photography, I think pursuing a career here is better compared to my hometown/country. There are a lot of group exhibition opportunities, a way of publishing books, solo exhibitions, etc. It is really great so far. Can’t wait to see what comes next.

What would you like to achieve in the future, and what is the furthest vision of yourself you can imagine?

I like this question. I personally really enjoy talking about dreams. For me, the end goal is to live fully from film photography: creating photobooks (maybe twice a year), doing exhibitions, building my own darkroom at home, selling prints, and more. But beyond that, I also dream of moving to the Japanese countryside, for now I think about either Ehime or Gifu, once I reach a point where photography sustains me. There, I’d like to spend 40–50% of my time (maybe around four hours a day) giving back to the community. That could mean teaching design, photography, English, content creation, or art to young people (or anyone, really). Or even something entirely different, like helping with farm work or supporting local city projects. That’s my vision: not just living off photography, but living with it, in a way that lets me give something back.

As you move toward big goals, do you have your own way or method of taking steady steps forward?

Yes, like I mentioned earlier, I’m experimenting with ways to earn while still prioritizing my creative side, because I don’t want to lose the joy that photography gives me. I’ll be releasing my second photobook early next year (January!) and planning my second solo exhibition in the same year. Moving forward, I want to be more consistent in creating tangible works with my photography.

Do you have any message you would like to give to your past self, back when you were still unsure about pursuing this path?

I think just keep going and don’t be afraid to create things. Every path I’ve chosen and every experience I’ve had has brought me to where I am today, and I’m deeply grateful for that.