Feeding fish

DW: Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into photography?

Afrijal Dahrin Zega: My name is Afrijal Dahrin Zega. I'm from Bekasi, a city in Indonesia and am 33 years-old. I've loved photography for many years, but have become more interested in learning the correct photography techniques over the past two years. And now I am still learning to be better.

What is the story behind your photo?

I took the picture when me and my family sitting at the side of the fishpond. There, every day at 5pm, the park manager gives visitors a chance to feed the fish. This is a special moment for everyone - especially children, because we can interact with the fish directly. Feeding the fish becomes a moment for visitors to love and pay attention to the environment. Interacting with the fish directly allows provides a lesson about the fish's life.

Are you interested in photographing nature and the environment? Are you concerned about threats to the environment and climate change?

I am very interested in shooting pictures with a nature background. It's the thing I most love to do. I am seriously concerned about nature preservation and climate change. As a country that supplies oxygen, Indonesia has bigger contribution in this world. That's why Indonesia is called the "world's lung." Therefore, Indonesia must have important policies for nature preservation. Many habitats are protected, like orangutans from Kalimantan/Borneo Island, tigers from Sumatera Island, one-horned rhinoceros from Ujung Kulon and komodo/giant lizards from NTT Island.

What do you hope to achieve with your photography? Why do you like to take photos and share them?

By taking and sharing pictures of nature picture - that is one way to show my awareness about nature preservation. I'm asking for everyone to care about the environment so we can live with nature harmoniously. Natural resources are limited, that's why we should work together for natural conservation programs. I have a motto: "Nature is not our parent's heritage but our grandchildren's future."

Afrijal Dahrin Zega uses an LG-G3 for his mobile photography. More of his photos can be found on EyeEm.

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.