Few Malaysian photographers are illuminated in the annals of photographic history but the works of Dennis Lau will hopefully join the ranks as the work of a pioneer. Nikki Lugun examines his latest book - Borneo - A Photographic Journey and finds the images of eternity in his portrayal of his homeland.

Photographers in the late 20th century tend to complain if they have to do anything as arduous as fiddling with a focusing ring. Four decades ago, to pursue their craft they would have needed a complete laboratory and something akin to a degree in chemistry. They would also have required large reserves of physical strength or a team of porters. The rigours were bad enough for those who wanted to capture a scene in their own living room; the hardships were considerably worse for photographers with Borneo in mind.

Dennis Lau, however, reveled in hardship where taking photographs is concerned. Utilising every free time he had, he would pack up, much to the displeasure of his family members and take off into the wild. His journeys have taken him the length and breath of Borneo. "I must admit that my family were not too happy when this happened," said Lau. "It was especially hard on them during the school holidays which were the only time I could take off since I was a teacher."

Nevertheless, it paid off with an excellent book of amazing photographs taken over a period of 40 years. "These are the moments in my life - a photographic record of a life which has changed drastically over such a short period of time."

When Lau first started taking pictures, his focus was landscapes after which he found people a more fascinating subject. "People gave life to land," he said.

The first photographs he saw in Life Magazine influenced him. "My first camera was without any exposure meter or any other accessories," he reveals.

"I learnt from mistakes and this is the right way to learn where photography is concerned. In the old days, every shot counted. There were only 12 frames in the first films that came out and you did not have the luxury of snapping away like we do now."

Lau was 12 when he received his first camera, a Yashica as a gift from his father. He learnt the art of developing from a friend and was fascinated by the process. It is a process that he still indulges in today.

At the age of 19, Lau won second prize in the Borneo Photographic Competition and through this, he met his mentor, K.F. Wong, one of the first Sarawakian photographer who become internationally known. Wong encouraged Lau and gave him the boost he needed to continue his interest in photography.

What started as an interest, photography has become an all-consuming life's work for Lau. "It is up to you how you want to treat the subject matter," he commented. "You have to see with your eyes instead of the camera. The camera is only one part of your eye. As a photographer, I know instinctively when I have taken a good shot even before I develop the picture.

Lau never realised that his interest would span forty years. "I kept going further inland and the more remote the area, the better images I would capture," he said. "There were many occasions when these trips were dangerous especially in 1987 when the boat taking us up to Ulu Belaga capsized and I lost my two Leica's and nearly my life."

Throughout his life's work, Lau has managed to capture images of the natives of Sarawak with sensitivity and subtlety. His photographs of a group of Penans seeking medical treatment in Long San are some of the best ever taken of this nomadic groups.

Through the lens of his camera, he has documented the changes and upheavals facing Sarawak's indigenous peoples in a time of rapid change, recording colourful customs and traditions, living cultures, vanishing lifestyles and moments from the past.

Lau enjoys working with black and white film and finds colour prints too distracting. "I find that it is a better medium for me and the pictures can express emotions that do not appear well in colour prints."

Now retired from teaching for the past six years, Lau finds plenty of opportunity to indulge in his passion.

Dennis Lau who is the President of the Sarawak Photographic Society, is also the Overseas Service Representative for Malaysia which is a fitting acknowledgment of a fine photographer and a recognition on his contributions to photography in this part of the world.

He is a leading photojournalist and ethnographic photographer whose work appears in a number of books, including Sarawak Style: This is Borneo; Malaysia - Heart of Southeast Asia; Crafts of Malaysia; Archipelago Guide to Singapore and Malaysia; and the Official Kuching Guide 1996-1998, as well as his own classic book Penans - The Vanishing Nomads of Borneo


Sarawak Tribune, 25th October 1999