Professional Profile

Skills

• Digital Photography
  
• Studio Lighting

• Fiction & Non-Fiction Writing

• Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, & PhotoImpact Image Editing

• Excellent English Communication

• Basic Malay Language

• Social Networking
  
• Blogging
  
• Detail Orientated

• Research Proficient

• Organizational & Planning
  
• Negotiation Skills

Professional Experience

Nawfal Nur Photography, Penang, Malaysia

1998 to Present

On the Internet: 2002 to Present (http://nawfalnur.com/ )

Freelance Photographer

Responsibilities:

·         Business Development & Public Relations

·         Website Development using EXPRESSION WEB 2.

·         Developing a Photography Business on the Internet.

·         Creating ideas for Stock Photography and then photographing these concepts.

·         Developing PDF publications for Photography EBooks.

·         Writing and managing a successful photography blog.

Photo Library Representation: Photographer’s Direct (Online Library, United Kingdom)

DEAKIN UNIVERSITY, DSA, Geelong, Australia

1999 to Present

Chief Supervisor / Contractor – Exams' Centre for Penang, Malaysia.

Responsibilities:

·         Managing the exam events from preparatory stages to final stages and coordinating exam events at several venues at the same time.

·         Negotiating venue space and pricing.

·         Inventorying and security of exam materials.

·         Liaising between local hotels & vendors and DEAKIN University.

·         Hiring and training exam supervisors, implementing university exam policies, enforcing exam security.

·         Establishing and managing manpower schedules for the exam sessions.

Cliffs Studyware Corporation, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

1992 to 1994

Technical Support – Head of Department

Achievements:

·         Maintaining high-level customer support center achieving greater than 95% customer service satisfaction.

·         Processing on average, over 4,000-customer service technical calls per month with a staff of only six professional software specialists.

·         Developing and implementing successfully a series of technical support initiatives to improve service to customers and reducing problem resolution period.

Responsibilities:

·         Supervising and training technical support personnel.

·         Beta testing new software modifications and coordinating focus groups for feedback about new software.

·         Training Sales staff in operating software for computer trade shows and demonstrations.

·         Liaising with Software Development Department for product improvement   and design. 

·         Interviewing and hiring new technical support staff.

University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

1991

Research Associate

Achievements:

·         Developed FORD FOUNDATION Grant.

·         Researched and developed needs assessment for an educational software program to teach and educate about architectural historic preservation.

Responsibilities:

·         Researching potential target markets for an educational software package dealing with historic preservation.

·         Developing a needs assessment for historic preservation education in South East Asia, especially Malaysia.

·         Writing grant proposal for the FORD FOUNDATION.

Lincoln & Lancaster County Planning Department, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

1990

Systems & Research Planning Intern

Achievements:

·         Researched and wrote “Ground Water Quality of Lancaster County, Nebraska,” booklet for the Planning Department.

·         Assisted in the huge 'Lancaster County, Vacant Land Study.'

·         Researched and contributed to the comprehensive plans for pedestrian pathways throughout Lincoln, Nebraska.

Responsibilities:

·         Researching vacant land throughout Lincoln city limits to determine total amounts of non-developed land in the city.

·         Researching about possible chemical contaminants and geological makeup of Lancaster County to determine potentially 'best' locations for groundwater. 

·         Communicating with Federal Government regarding legislation that may have impact on planning issues in Lancaster County.

·         Writing and recommending county standards for signage on buildings.

·         Organizing community focus groups to obtain citizen input on the planning process.

Education

University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Master of Community & Regional Planning

Thesis: “Planning For Land Acquisition In Areas with Limited Land Space in Southeast Asia: with Emphasis On Singapore And Penang Island, Malaysia” (UNL Press, December 1990).

December 1990.

University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Bachelor of Arts, Major in History, Minor in English Composition

1988.

Scholastic Honors

Tau Sigma Delta National Honor Society in Architecture (1990)

Certificate of Superior Scholarship (1988)

Golden Key Honor Society (1987)

Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society (1984)

Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society (1984)

Hazel V. Emley Collegiate Scholarship (1983)

Elected Positions

President – Islamic Foundation of Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (1991 – 1992)

Secretary – Islamic Foundation of Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (1990 – 1991)

Photography Positions

Photography Trainer – First Photography Academy (Penang, Malaysia):  Abstract Photography instruction/training (March 2010 – Present)

Volunteer Positions

English Instructor – Adult English Communication class conducted for the NGO, Nor House, Balik Pulau, Penang, Malaysia (2003 – 2004)

Current Project:  ETHEREAL VISIONS & HOPE, a portfolio-book of Fine Art Smoke Photographs and Inspirational Quotations (Expected Publication, Fall 2010).

PDF Folio EBook:  SHELLS & SANDSTONE, a PDF photography folio in EBook format, published in March 2010.

Album Cover Art:  Album cover for the Irish rock band, Million Dollar Reload (M$R).  Album released for worldwide sales in October 2008.  The photograph used for the cover is “Burnt Out Car at Night.”

Featured photograph published in the online publication, The British Journal of Photography, (2005).  Published photograph is "Surface Tension, v2b,” and several other photographs published online in 2006.

Featured Photographer at DIGIMARC, MyPictureMarc, Customer Showcase Website, (2005 until Present).  Photo Featured: "Kellie's Castle."

"Cutest Pets Around The Globe" (2005)

“Colorful and Historic Malay Dance.”  Penang Travel Guide, (February 2000).

“Bharata Natyam Dance.” Penang Travel Guide, (February 2000).

“The Historic Keris in Malaysia.”  Penang Travel Guide, (February 2000).

Photographed published in “The Star” newspaper (March 3, 2000 edition) Malaysia.

“Telling Tales Of The East.”  DANCE TEACHER Magazine, (October 1999).

“Ancient Enlightenment: Bharata Natyam Dance Of India.”  DANCE SPIRIT Magazine, (July 1999).

“DANCING INTO THE LIGHT:  The traditional Indian dance that can lead to enlightenment.”  GOLD Magazine (Standard Chartered Bank Gold Card Magazine.  July 1999).

Photographs accompanying story, “Riddle Of The Elusive Kris.”  BLADE:  The World's #1 Knife Publication (June 1999).

“THE GOLDEN YEARS:  The Peranakan heritage lives on in Baba Nonya jewelry.”  GOLD Magazine (Standard Chartered Bank Gold Card Magazine.  April 1999).

Photographs accompanying story, “THE SACRED SWORD: The history of the traditional Malay Keris.”  GOLD Magazine (Standard Chartered Bank Gold Card Magazine.  July 1998).

Photography Awards

Curator's Choice Award: “Abstracts” Exhibition, online at PhotosandArt.com. The exhibition will last one year, starting on January 1, 2007.

Second Prize: BetterPhoto.Com (USA): January, 2007 Contest. Photo Category – Close-up/Macro Photography. Photo Title: “Dragonfly Portrait.”

Second Prize: BetterPhoto.Com (USA): June, 2005 Contest. Photo Category - Special Effects.  Photo Title: "CST, v19"

Finalist Prize: BetterPhoto.Com (USA): June, 2005 Contest. Photo Category – Places.  Photo Title: "Kompleks Islam Al-Bukhary."

Second Prize: BetterPhoto.Com (USA): February, 2005 Contest. Photo Category - Special Effects. Photo Title: "Recipe for Pi."

Finalist: BetterPhoto.Com (USA): February, 2005 Contest. Photo Category - Digital Darkroom. Photo Title: "Ingredients of Life."

Finalist: BetterPhoto.Com (USA): November, 2004 Contest. Photo Title: "Gumballs & Glass, v26a."

Finalist: BetterPhoto.Com (USA): October, 2004 Contest. Category - "Special Effects" - Photo Title: "Executive Toy, v1a."

Finalist: BetterPhoto.Com (USA): October, 2004 Contest. Category - "Digital Darkroom" - Photo Title: "Pipe-9-iC Spikes."

Second Place: BetterPhoto.Com (USA): September, 2004 Contest. Monthly Theme Category - "Blue" - Photo Title: "Odissi Behind the Curtain."

First Place (The International Library Of Photography, Maryland, USA, July, 2000. Category - "Nature" - Photo Title: "Caterpillar-No.1").

Time Capsule Award ("The Millennium Photo Project," Toronto, Canada, April 2000).  Photo Title: "Lion Heads".

Honorable Mention (The International Library Of Photography, Maryland, USA, August 1999).

Honorable Mention - Passed 1st Inspection ("The 3rd International Internet Photography Contest", Japan 1999 (2-Photos)).  Photo Titles:  "Lipstick Cooler-v2" & "The Old Man of the Rocks."

First Place ("Cultural Angles Photo Contest," University of Nebraska, USA, 1990).

Second Place ("Cultural Angles Photo Contest," University of Nebraska, USA, 1990).

Second Place ("Cultural Angles Photo Contest," University of Nebraska, USA, 1989).

Honorable Mention ("Cultural Angles Photo Contest," University of Nebraska, USA, 1989).

First Place ("KINSA" - Kodak International Newspaper Snapshot Awards, Regional Level, USA, 1987).

Honorable Mention ("National Journalism Write-Offs Competition," 'Photojournalism' Category. Chicago, IL, USA, 1983).