Known as Tapa Otai among local musicians, the former graphic designer works independently and has taken photos at hundreds of concerts, mostly rock performances, without the backing of media companies or official access.
“Taking pictures has always been my hobby, but I’m not an official photographer and I don’t have a media pass. So, if I want to attend a concert, I have to find my own way in.
“Sometimes I ask friends, promoters or crew members for help … what’s important is building contacts from there,” he told Bernama.
His transition to photography began in the early 2000s after he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and advised by doctors to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Mustaffa began walking around Kuala Lumpur for the exercise, armed with a digital camera.
“On the first day, I took the LRT from Petaling Jaya, got off at Kampung Baru and walked all the way to Bukit Bintang taking photos. That’s when I began to feel the excitement.
“Later on, a friend invited me to a concert. I’ve always loved music, so I began taking pictures,” he said – and the rest is history.
‘Not just entertainment’
Mustaffa revealed that his love for music began during his school days, when his uncle introduced him to records by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
But it was while watching the documentaries “Woodstock” (1969) and “The Concert for Bangladesh” (1971) that he began to appreciate the important role photographers play in capturing stage moments.
“Then, when Santana came to Malaysia to perform for the first time in July 1973, I hitched a ride alone from Taiping to KL just to watch the concert. That made me realise there were people who make a living photographing concerts – that for them, it wasn’t just entertainment but an art form.”
His past work experience with record labels gave him an advantage in understanding the flow of live performances.
“Even if your camera is glued to your eye, you may not necessarily capture the right moments. You have to understand the tempo of the music, know when the guitar solo is coming, when the stage lights are going to change.
“If you’re not immersed in the music, the photos will feel empty and soulless,” he said.
After over 20 years of photographing concerts, Mustaffa has compiled a portion of his work into a book titled “Stage 0.1 – Concert Photography”, published in collaboration with the National Art Gallery.
The 240-page publication, which features close to 300 black-and-white photos of local rock concerts, was conceptualised by film director U-Wei Haji Saari.
“I dedicate this book to musicians who rarely get the spotlight, like guitarists, drummers and keyboardists. Each photo comes with full details such as names of the musicians, concert dates and venues.
“Some of the concert locations have been demolished and rebuilt, so this book can serve as a reference. In fact, some of the musicians have passed away, and I included their photos as a tribute to them,” Mustaffa said.
He is now planning to publish “Stage 0.2”, which is expected to focus on alternative or traditional music.
Follow Mustaffa on Facebook. Get your copy of ‘Stage 0.1 – Concert Photography’ at the National Art Gallery bookshop or on Shopee.