Moshfiq Islam won the Fujifilm Students of Storytelling competition for his quest to seek out the elements and fragments of America that gave it a mythical status in his childhood memories. His story takes the form of a road trip across America, an exercise in connecting cognitive biases with the reality on the ground. His travelogue is an attempt at belonging and finding greater meaning in his immigrant experience.

Fujifilm created the contest to identify the next generation of U.S. storytellers, and to provide them with Fujifilm X Series or GFX System gear to bring their vision to life.

Rangefinder: What interests you as a storyteller? Which stories are you drawn to? 

Moshfiq Islam: I am drawn to stories that try to highlight reality and give a voice to people and communities living on the periphery. Our societies have interwoven networks of historical and cultural meaning; I love stories that try to unweave some of that content. 

Rf: What stories do you want to share through your work? 

MI: I really like documentary photography and often try to identify the true essence of a place and situation through my work. I am also drawn to the accidental and serendipitous nature of street photography. 

Rf: Describe the evolution of your style and approach. How has it changed over time?

MI: I think that over time, I have become a believer in taking up long-term projects. This partly comes from the fact that I follow the works of different photographic cooperatives like Magnum. And this strategy seems to be a key component in the works of their photographers.  

Rf: What are the key things you have learned or done that have helped you advance your career since you began shooting? 

MI: I have learned that continuous evolution is key. Finding an artistic and narrative style is a process that takes time and effort. 

Rf: What is the most helpful piece of advice you’ve  received and followed? 

MI: Someone once told me to try shooting with limited gear. I think that shooting with just one camera and one lens can be both daunting and liberating at times. I try to do it as often as I can. 

Rf: How has photographic education affected your career and development as a photographer? 

MI: I consider myself as mostly being self-taught and have learned a lot by actively studying the works of other photographers. I have also taken several shorter photography classes that have only added to my understanding of the subject.   

Rf: Can you tell us about your submission to Fujifilm’s Students of Storytelling program? How did you come up with the project? 

MI: My submission to Fujifilm’s Student of Storytelling program takes the form of a travelogue and is my attempt at connecting with the ethos of this land. As I was growing up in South East Asia, the impact of the American Century was hard to miss. Hollywood dominated screens of all sizes, putting the American landscape on display and framing life on the new continent into marketable plots and storylines. These fictional narratives formed my understanding of this country and when I eventually migrated here, I realized that I was still playing the role of a spectator who was chasing old celluloid phantoms. There was so much familiarity in those holograms and yet I did not understand the nuances of reality on the ground. I decided to travel across the land—from the west to the east—partly to understand my new context and partly to relive those hyperreal moments.

Rf: What have you learned about your immigrant experience as you seek out the elements and fragments of America that gave it that mythical status? 

MI: During this project, I have realized that the immigrant experience is unique to every individual, and everyone should try to narrate and document their stories for the sake of their future progeny. I have also traveled to a lot of places and have realized just how much history and diversity there is in the land. It should be customary for everyone to go out and see as much of this great continent as possible. 

Rf: In what ways do you see this shoot informing future shoots? 

MI: I feel that this story will eventually lead me to other stories about cultural assimilation and belonging. 

Rf: What works have you produced with your new Fujifilm systems?  

MI: I have done several shoots with X-Pro3 body that was provided to me by Fujifilm. I used to own X-Pro2 before, and this seems like an excellent upgrade. The viewfinder is bigger and brighter, and the hidden screen really does cut down on my chimping habits. I also loved the collection of fixed prime lenses that were provided. 

Rf: Where do you see your work going from here?  

MI: From here, I want to keep producing photo essays and stories and grow as a photographer.  

Visit the official Fujifilm Students of Storytelling site for more information about the complete program. Follow @moshfiq_islam to stay up to date with Moshfiq Islam.