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Many of us have passions we secretly dream of pursuing, but fear, risks, challenges, and possible failure makes us push those dreams aside.
Yet, there are people who choose to face those obstacles head-on even when the odds are stacked against them. Instead of giving up, they find ways to adapt, persevere, and carve out their own path.
One such individual is Azwan Ali, a 32-year-old photographer who is colorblind — a condition that might seem like a huge disadvantage in a field built on color and visuals.
But rather than letting it stop him, Azwan turned photography into not just a passion, but also a profession too.
Early days
Growing up, Azwan was inspired by his late father, who was a tech enthusiast and artist. Surrounded by gadgets, cameras, and video recorders, he developed a fascination with capturing moments.
My dad was the reason I fell in love with photography. He never supported me in studying Arts, but ironically, he was the one who introduced me to cameras.”
Azwan was only 18 when he discovered he was colorblind. The diagnosis came as a shock during his driving license exam, when he managed to answer just two out of 25 questions correctly on the color recognition test.
I was stunned. I didn’t even realise I had trouble with colors until that moment,” he recalled.
For him, telling apart red and green, blue and purple, or yellow and green has always been confusing. While his condition isn’t extremely severe, it has shaped the way he navigates everyday life and eventually, his career.
Before I discovered I was colorblind, life felt completely normal. To be honest, it still does now — except for the lingering insecurity about whether what I see is accurate. “
He shares that he sometimes worries about giving the wrong information, like pointing out someone in a red shirt when it’s actually green. While it may sound amusing, it often makes him second-guess himself more than he’d like.
Getting into the world of photography
What made Azwan discover his love with photography was a magazine he stumbled upon years ago. It was filled with striking, razor-sharp images, which led him to believe that every photo had to be perfectly composed and technically flawless to be considered beautiful.
Despite starting out in photography by chasing perfection, as he grew in his craft, his perspective evolved. He learned to see beyond perfection and embrace creativity in its raw form
I used to think photos had to be sharp and perfect,” he said. “Now I realise even imperfect images can be beautiful if they tell a story.”
Azwan’s first real step into photography came in 2018, when he took on a friend’s engagement shoot. What started as a small favor quickly turned into a passion and eventually a side hustle.
Unlike many in the industry, Azwan never attended photography school and mainly taught himself through YouTube tutorials, online resources, and plenty of trial and error.
I’ve never been to a single photography class. Everything I know comes from the internet, practice, and making mistakes along the way.
“The turning point came during the MCO (Movement Control Order), when I left my job in public relations to pursue photography full-time.
“With the support from my parents and friends, I decided to dive headfirst into the creative industry,” he said.
Overcoming challenges
Being colorblind in photography is far from easy. Editing, in particular, has always been Azwan’s biggest challenge — especially when working on human portraits or fashion shots where color accuracy is critical.
One of the hardest things is editing people’s clothes or skin tones. Sometimes I just can’t tell if the color looks right,” he admitted.
Colorblindness continues to shape Azwan’s daily experiences in unexpected ways. Beyond photography, even simple routines like driving can become tricky.
Something as simple as a toll booth light can be confusing for me,” he said. “But it forces me to be extra careful — and maybe that’s not such a bad thing
Still, he sees it as a reminder that while his condition brings challenges, it also pushes him to be more observant and resourceful in navigating the world.
One of his toughest tests came when he first landed a food photography project with Nestlé.
“A client first reached out to me through email, and suddenly I found myself on a full-fledged commercial shoot”
It was a nerve-wracking experience for Azwan — setting up the studio, managing equipment, and coordinating with a food stylist all at once.
Despite his insecurities and lack of planning, he pushed through with the support of his small team and successfully completed the shoot, leaving his client satisfied with the results
I didn’t even plan properly, not knowing if I can mange it, but I just went with it. Thankfully, my team backed me up and we pulled it off. Until today, I still feel surreal about that shoot,” he said.
As I like to say, as long as the client loves it, other opinions don’t really matter,” he said.
Azwan also shared that he almost gave up on photography entirely during the Covid-19 pandemic and even considered selling his gear and moving back home.
I was so close to quitting. I thought, maybe this isn’t for me. But then opportunities started coming in, and I told myself, why not give it another shot?”
As it turned out, that decision changed everything. After being featured in his first interview, people began recognizing Azwan’s work and his story as a colorblind photographer.
Azwan doesn’t run a massive company behind him — just a small, flexible team of freelancers who occasionally come together for larger projects.
Most of the time, they work independently, but over the years, they have collaborated with several big brands.
As both a photographer and content creator, Azwan has worked with Samsung, GWM, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Polaroid, AEON, and more. Each project, he says, brings a fresh challenge and valuable lessons.
Every brand I’ve worked with teaches me something new. That’s what keeps me grounded and motivated,” he shared.
Being limitless
Azwan has met many other colorblind creatives like himself and believes they are proof that limitations don’t define talent.
“I used to feel insecure calling myself a photographer because I’m self-taught. But I’ve learned that passion matters more than labels,” he said.
When asked what advice he would give to aspiring photographers, especially those struggling with insecurities, Azwan kept it simple yet powerful.
He urged newcomers not to limit themselves and to experiment with different genres until they discover their own style.
Trust your perspective. Gear and trends will always change, but the way you see the world is uniquely yours.”
Above all, Azwan believes in being kind to oneself, saying that people will always have something to say, but passion is what truly matters in the end.
Above all, he reminds new photographers to respect both the art and the business side of photography.
“Photography isn’t just about the picture you take. It’s about the story you tell, and the community you’re part of,” he said.
Through it all, Azwan credits his mother and close friends for being his strongest support system, always ready to lend a hand or an extra pair of eyes when he needs them most.
My friends are literally my eyes sometimes. They help me check colors when I’m unsure. Without them and my mom, I wouldn’t be here today,” he added.
And while colorblindness may have changed the way he sees colors, it has never stopped him from showing the world his vision through the lens.
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