Young Street Photographer Documents Real Public Moments, And These Photos Will Make You Think

Shawal Lee Kassim is a Melanau photographer from Bintulu, Sarawak, who spends his days supporting his family business, KakJuneCafe, and his free hours walking the streets with a camera in hand. His main focus is street photography, where he looks for unscripted, humorous, and human moments that appear in public places without warning. Rather than staged shoots, he prefers real-life scenes that capture daily routines unfolding.

For him, photographing the street is more than a hobby. It works as a personal reset - a practical way to reduce stress and stay mentally balanced while staying creative. The appeal comes from the fact that each scene is temporary. Once a moment passes, it cannot be recreated, giving every frame its own value.

His first steps started with candid shots of friends and ordinary street life. Over time, his direction became clearer through the influence of his father, Lee Ka Sim, and involvement with Malaysia’s FJM photography community. He also studies the work of respected street photographers, including Daido Moriyama, to sharpen his visual judgment and timing.

He treats photography as an ongoing learning process built on observation and repetition. His long-term goal is to publish a photo book that documents the character, humor, and emotion found in everyday street scenes he encounters.

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Waterfront Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Plaza Merdeka Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Waterfront Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Medan Niaga Satok, Sarawak, Malaysia

Waterfront Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Waterfront Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Carpenter Street, Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia

Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia

Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia

Carpenter Street, Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia

Aeon Mall Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Masjid Jamek Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Pustaka Negeri, Sarawak, Malaysia

Stadium Negeri, Sarawak, Malaysia

Carpenter Street Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Waterfront Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia

Waterfront Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Stadium Negeri, Sarawak, Malaysia

Gawai Parade, Sarawak, Malaysia

Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia

Waterfront Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Jambatan Darul Hana Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

India Street, Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia

Hikmah Exchange, Sarawak, Malaysia

Sheraton Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Canroll Sport Festival, Sarawak, Malaysia

For Shawal, the street is both a classroom and a quiet form of therapy. Between helping at the family café and walking with his camera, he keeps chasing honest, unplanned moments that say something real about daily life.

Each photo is a small, unrepeatable slice of time - and step by step, he’s building toward a book of stories told through his lens.