There was evidences that Arief love photography since junior high school (1983). His first experience doing photography as hobby was since film era using pocket camera. He Learn photography autodidact then attending some short photography courses, photography seminar and sharing. Arief Rahardjo keep learning and upgrade his photography knowledge from books, videos, and other tutorial. 

He practices photography skill by joining photography groups in social media, following photography challenges, photo competitions, self or group photo hunting. In January 2021 Arief join Candra Naya Photographic Society, well established photography club since 1948 in Jakarta. 

Arief start using digital pocket camera in 1998, then having first DLSR in 2011. Since 2020 He joint Photo Salon either in local or international. He got photography award and recognition from several photo competition, Gallery Photography Indonesia, Stylus Photography Indonesia, GPA Salon 2021 Indonesia. Some photos was published in Kompas News Paper, Jawa Pos Weekend News Paper. In 2019, and 2020 Arief also participate in Geongnam International Photo Festival in South Korea.