Archive for the 'Behind the Camera Interviews' Category

25
Nov

Behind the Camera Interview: Anton Hazewinkel on “Beijing Walks of Life”

By Sue Anne 4 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews

Anton Hazewinkel’s dedication in depicting the wide spectrum of Beijing’s society is impressive. Be it the art collector next door, the punk rock band member or the frustrated unemployed, Hazewinkel portrays his subjects with great care and technique. He adopts various mediums which lends breadth and depth to the stories but it is his patience that illicits remarkable honesty from his subjects. Here, he shares with us about telling the tales of Beijing’s remarkable residents, his portraiture work and panoramic sweeps.

Website: Portfolio and blog “Chinesense”

SA: Share a little about yourself, Anton and your journey to Beijing.

AH: I’m Dutch. I started my career as an artist after graduating in Audio Visual Arts (video and photography) in the 80s. In those days the economic climate was not so good and when I was offered a chance to make a career in IT, I took it. For over 20 years I worked in a business environment; first as a manager in the airline industry and later with my own company as an interim manager and as an investor in ICT and call centre ventures. In 2005 I ended up in Beijing for an IT project. I enjoyed the environment and energy a lot and at that time I was ready for a change. I sold my house in the Netherlands and moved to Beijing. With the Olympics upcoming, I founded a company, together with a partner, that provided call centre and concierge services for sponsors of the Olympics and other expats. After the Olympics we closed the business and I started a photo retouching company that I am still running today. It was the start of using my skills in photography as a professional. Ever since I arrived in Beijing I have been using my spare time to make photos on the streets, but I never had the time to focus on projects. In the summer of 2010 I decided to give it a try and dedicate most of my time on developing myself as a photographer.

Mr. Zhang, who is unemployed, smokes a cigarette.

SA: How would you describe your style of photography? 

AH: I like to work in different styles and there is a lot I’d like to try in the future, but my main focus is currently on social documentary. Within this focus I divide my time between street photography and making portraits. Continue reading ‘Behind the Camera Interview: Anton Hazewinkel on “Beijing Walks of Life”’

19
Sep

Behind the Camera Interview: Tan Tien Yun on capturing Shanghai’s rural face

By Sue Anne 1 Comment
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews

Tan Tien Yun (陈天昀) is an engineer by trade, a documentary photographer by curiosity, and a self-described humanist by passion. By integrating with the people, culture and environment before lifting his camera, his works reflect in intimate detail the people’s emotional attachment and adaptations with their chaotic environment, the harsh reality of their way of life and the collective emotions of simply living. Currently, he is documenting the local rural folk as they try to adapting in the rapidly industrialising Minhang district in Shanghai. 

Website: arendezvous.wordpress.com

SA: I’m chuffed to meet a fellow Singaporean doing street photography in Shanghai. Please share with us where and what you’ve been photographing in your time here.

TY: Well, I am equally chuffed too! I have only been a relatively short time here by my standards, almost a year. As I have a hectic day job, my time to spend on the camera is curtailed, so I have only been pretty limited to my trips back and forth from work in Minhang district (闵行区), and metropolitan areas such as Xuhui /Changning district (徐汇/ 长宁) and downtown. While such coverage seems pretty canned (i.e. photographed way too often) and narrow, it offers a good scope to cover for what is a generic slice in Shanghai society.

I am a simple person, and I have a firm belief that you do not have to be anywhere exotic to deliver an emotive selection of work; all it takes is a good eye and a strong sense of inspiration. What have I been photographing? People of course! If I may delve further however, my rather flippant answer goes further. My work dictates a good basics in composition and elements of a scene, but what I look for and photograph what Bruce Gilden calls ‘characters’: People that somehow in that moment of time gel the scene together with their actions, their display of emotions, and their overall impression and relationship with me.

SA: While your subject range in general is relatively broad, I want to highlight your work on capturing Minhang, a suburb of Shanghai which is both industrialized and rural at the same time.  You describe this specific portfolio as “Seeds We Plant, Factories We Toil”, which was most recently featured in a cross-city collaboration entitled “The Living Streets of Shanghai and the Hague”. What was the driver behind it? Continue reading ‘Behind the Camera Interview: Tan Tien Yun on capturing Shanghai’s rural face’

29
Aug

Zaijietou.com (在街头) perspectives and the 1-year anniversary “Relay” (在接力) project

By Sue Anne 5 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews and Take To the Street

I’ve expressed my thoughts about street photography in China before and how it does not seem to be a genre that is widely understood or practiced in spite of the growing prevalence of niche camera equipment and the snap-happy society at large. A Chinese friend recently joked that Canon 5D MKIIs and Leica M9s are now considered ”entry-level kits” for China’s nouveau riche while  for the younger generation,  photography has become a natural outlet for self-expression made easy with the ubiquitous camera phone.

But to be fair, street photography is very much alive here in Shanghai, considered to be the best city in China (and arguably one of the best cities in the world) for said craft. Like New York and London, Shanghai’s sprawling metropolis of 22 million people can awe as it can inspire. Which is naturally why the street photography collective Zaijietou.com (在街头) or “in the street” in Chinese, is largely made up of contributors from Shanghai, with the rest peppered across the country. You can view my recent collaboration with them here.

Below are excerpts of two bilingual interviews with a Chinese and a German contributor of Zaijietou conducted by the site’s admnistrator Liu Miao (刘淼). Local photographer Lahem (拉黑) describes himself to be an individual “imprisoned” in Shanghai and believes honesty and photography to be the highest forms of humor. His work below seems to reflect this philosophy well.

Lahem has set up his own photo club, a platform to further advocate his philosophies about photography.

We insist photos must care about life. We insist the neglected facts are in our daily life. We use photos to discover these facts. We face joy, pain and sadness. This is how we define our photo club. During this age, anybody can have a camera, Anybody can be a photographer, taking photo can be as easy as breathing. But in the mean time, we found that though more are more people are taking pictures, they do not have a free will, they are taking photos according to someone else’s will and to cater for others’ needs. In 2009, I knew some friends, we all thought photography should care about life itself,to confront the inner heart.

我们坚持照片须关乎生活；我们坚信被忽略的真相存在于日常之中；我们用照片发现日常掩盖下的真相；我们直面快乐、痛苦和悲伤。”这是我们图片社对自己的定位。在这个人人都有相机，人人都可能成为摄影师的时代，拍照是一件如呼吸一样简单的事情。但与此同时，我们发现越来越多的人虽然都在拍照片，但拍的都不是自己，大家都在按照别人的意志拍摄别人需要的照片。2009年，我结识了一些朋友，我们都认为照片应该关乎自己的生活，直面自己的内心。于是大家在2010年5月底一起组了拉黑图片社，定期交流拍摄心得与想法，并建了自己的网(lahem.info)。拉黑图片社并没有实体的工作室，也不以盈利为目的。

Berlin-borned Ingo compared street photography in Germany and China (his work above), sharing a view I find common with many foreigners who call Shanghai home. A foreign environment is often most stimulating whereas a familiar one can dull our senses.

The streets in China are more colorful, people and places more divers. Also a bit “luan” (乱 or ‘messy’, ‘unruly’)which is nothing negative and can be very inspirational. Things are changing and are constantly on the move. It’s easier to spot interesting pictures. When I’m in Germany on the street I don’t know what I should photograph. It all seems so boring. But it might be because I grew up there. The city view for me is just something I have known my whole life.

Regardless of background or motivations, Zaijietou contributors share the same qualities of street photographers all over. Ingo captures this perspective well.

I think for me it’s definitely not a way to make a living but more like an obsession that doesn’t let me go. It’s also not a lifestyle. Photography is all about watching and observing. I’m good at that. This is me. I like to stay back, observe and discover the small and interesting things around you. Maybe some situations tell an interesting story about life in a pure and straight way and some details even let you smile to yourself while participating in this situation: I’m always trying to find those small moments.

Zaijietou is celebrating their site’s one-year anniversary with plenty of pomp. In addition to an upcoming exhibition, they have launched an ambitious ”tagging” exercise called Zaijietou Relay (or “在接力”). Essentially, a photographer will post a photo and a short story and another photographer can respond in a similar fashion. Ideally, the relays will create a continuous dialogue on street photography. You don’t need to be signed up as a member of Zaijietou, getting involved in easy.

For street photographers outside of China, this is a good opportunity to interact with China-based counterparts through the common language of the viewfinder. So take to the streets and join in!

15
Jul

Behind the Camera: Jack Simon on street photography from San Francisco to Shanghai

By Sue Anne 2 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews

Based outside of San Francisco, Jack Simon’s widely exhibited street photography is composed of wonderful juxtapositions of people and their surrounding elements.  Whether it is an intentional or coincidental (mis)alignment of light, shadows, reflections or movement, his work has the ability to tickle and perplex at the same time. Here, Jack shares his journey into street photography, shooting in the diverse neighborhoods of San Francisco and his impressions of his first visit to China.

Website: jacksimonphotography.com and flickr His latest book is UNTITLED.

SA: I have to say, after corresponding over Flickr for over a year, I’m glad we had a chance to catch up in person over a beer and share our experiences on street photography. I’m thrilled to introduce you to the blog’s readers. Please share a little about yourself.

JS: I’ve worked as a psychiatrist for the last forty years. I began taking pictures seven years ago with a digital point and shoot. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but the immediate feedback of the technology allowed me to experiment, make a lot of mistakes, and move closer and closer to the image I was after. Now I rarely go anywhere without my camera. My work has been shown in several street photography publications. I was selected to show at the biennial Format Festival in England this year, and my book UNTITLED* was also selected to be featured in the festival. I’m definitely a passionate amateur and will not give up my day job.

(*Jack’s work has also been published as a cover image of The Tate Modern’s publication “Street or Studio – A Photobook.” and the British street photography monograph “Publication.”)

SA: How would you characterize your street photography in terms of style and focus?

JS: It’s easier to say what it isn’t.  I don’t have a specific theme or idea in mind of what I am going to photograph. I am not especially interested in documenting aspects of life in the public domain which I think is the general focus of street photography.   I am using the “street” to find complex, colorful, and sometimes cinematic views. I  prefer when the story is not clear and it is left up to the viewer to put their own interpretation on the scene.
Usually something catches my eye quickly and I take the photograph fairly mindlessly.  Oddly too I find that “working a scene”, in other words trying to spend time waiting for the right light, people’s actions, etc. does not work for me as it does for many.  Often my first and often unconscious shot is more successful than when I try to improve upon it.  So generally I am  on the move and looking.
(Eds note: Please note there is one R-rated photo located within the post)
02
May

Behind the Camera: Ishi Mak on photographing Shanghai’s architectural heritage

By Sue Anne 6 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews and The Fading Vestige

Main entrance of Shikumen. Zhabei District.

Ishi Mak (麦宇斯) is a dedicated photographer of Shanghai’s architectural heritage with a style reminiscent of Japanese minimalism. Widely known on Flickr as シャッターBUG, he captures what remains of Shanghai’s vanishing heritage structures, showcasing their beauty and elegance as deserved. Ishi’s attention to the photographic process and reverence for his subject detail are reflected in his tightly edited and timeless work.

Websites: ishimak.com and flickr

SA: Tell us a little about what your photography focuses on in Shanghai. (i.e. can you address why only architecture and design, no humans) Why is it a specific interest of yours?

IM: The series in question, “fragments of Old Shanghai” are the visual confluence of my interests in history, architecture and photography. By employing compositions with only architecture and design (without the presence of socioeconomic elements i.e people), I hope to draw attention to new perspectives of seeing architectural elements that together and form the architectural style of their heritage.

As a singular entity, these architectural elements illustrate their connection with history and culture. On their own, every piece has its story and purpose. When they disappear, a part of local history is lost.

It’s hard not to feel the residual energy of history in places that I venture to. Hence, the notion of lingering shadows comes to mind as I work on “fragments of Old Shanghai.” It’s impossible for shadows to linger after the object is gone forever. The only way for shadows to linger so to speak is via photography. We document the moment that was.

SA: Your black and white photography reflects a very minimalist and austere style, and you mentioned how light and shadows are key themes for you. Why is it about this particular aesthetic that appeals to you?

IM: Yes, I do subscribe to a minimalist approach when composing a frame; I will quote Hans Hofmann to reflect my vision and thoughts on this: “eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”

When I think of light and shadows, I think of visual poetry. Why it is so appealing to me? It’s because it defines our existence.

上海南市, within the Old City

SA:  I notice you have an expressed love for Old China through the intricate details of houses you photograph, such as the carvings in doors, ceiling beams, boundary stones etc. Do you have a particular period of architecture that you favor?

IM: I am very fond of architecture from the Tang and Song dynasty. Unfortunately, I believe there is not an authentic piece of it in Shanghai unless you venture south to Songjiang. Continue reading ‘Behind the Camera: Ishi Mak on photographing Shanghai’s architectural heritage’

11
Apr

A look at zaijietou.com (Part 2): 8th Shanghai Photographer Night

By Sue Anne 0 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews, Exhibits, Talks and Publications and Take To the Street

◄ Back
Picture 1 of 6

Street photographers are of the mind that their genre of work is often underappreciated and hence less commercially viable than other forms of photography (fine arts, fashion, etc). “不可以靠它吃饭” one street photographer says to me, and I agree, you definitely cannot depend on it for a living. It is less a profession yet so much more than a hobby. For all the passion and zeal the street photographers I know place in the process and art of the craft, it is an expressed form of themselves.

Shanghai is no different. When you see the works of the Chinese street photographers of Zaijietou this Wed for the 8th Shanghai Photographers Night at Dada Bar , you will notice how different their perspectives and styles are when it comes to interpreting the same city. At the same time, we ask ourselves: Are we really that different or do our individual experiences measure up in the same way?

Participating photographers (in order as above): Wuhao, TJ, 69, 拉黑 (la hei), 蜕 (tui), Coca

On why I do street photography ….

“Street photography presents a lower threshold for beginners; anyone can turn a street into one’s own stage: the colorful and strange. But over time, street photography feels to be the hardest kind of documentary photography. It’s not like photojournalism because people do not know why you have appeared, why you are there and photographing them etc. This kind of ambiguity is a the key draw of street photogrpahy. ~ Wuhao

“而街头摄影对于一个入门者来说门槛更低,街头就像是一个谁都可以展现自己的舞台,形形色色,光怪陆离,随着时间的推移,对街头摄影的看法也开始改变,开始觉得街头摄影其实是纪实摄影最难的一种,不像新闻摄影,事件现场的人们往往知道你为什么出现在那里,为什么拍摄那些影像,而街头上的人们往往不知道你为什么出现,又为什么拍摄,对我来说,这种不确定性也是街头摄影的一大魅力。” ~ Wuhao

Street photography makes me feel…

“Street photography makes me sensitive to life while sad about how time passes.” ~ 69

“街头摄影让我对生活更加敏感,同时对时间的逝去充满忧伤。” ~ 69

“Warm, safe, I am able to forget myself temporarily.” ~ 拉黑 (la hei)

“温暖,安全,暂时忘记自己。”~ 拉黑 (la hei)

On one’s photography and its relationship with the city

 “My feelings toward the city are complicated: resistant yet embracing at the same time. After all, I’ve lived here for years, even if I’ve no sense of belonging here, I cannot avoid the inevitable and profound impact the city has on me. The reason why I speak at length about my relationship with the city is because it has much to do with my photography. I feel that my state of mind impacts the way I photograph the city.” ~  蜕 (tui) 

“对于这座城市,内心的感情是复杂的,抵触和溶入的心态并存,毕竟生活了几十年,就算再没有归属感,也不可避免的在无形中被这座城市深刻影响着。对于我与这座城市的关系说那么多,是因为我觉得我这种复杂矛盾的心理,与我所拍的这座城市的照片是息息相关的。”~  蜕 (tui)

08
Apr

A look at zaijietou.com (Part 1): 8th Shanghai Photographer Night

By Sue Anne 0 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews, Exhibits, Talks and Publications and Take To the Street

In addition to Tang Ying and Eric Leleu, another major showcase we have lined up for the Shanghai Photographer Night next Wed (13 April), is a collection from the photographers of Zaijietou.com.

Zaijietou (在街头）or literally “on the street” is a street photography blog that is home to over 60 street photographers from all over China, largely concentrated in Shanghai. (Shanghai is ranked as one of the best cities for street photography in China)

I’ve written before about how and why street photography as a style and genre is not as widely popular as compared to major cities like New York and London. Which makes Zaijietou.com such an outstanding local endeavor.

A coterie of unique perspectives and insights, Zaijietou is administered by Liu Miao (刘淼), an avid street photographer and an occasional author of novels who also has his own blog.

Today, Liu Miao shares with us a little about Zaijietou. Continue reading ‘A look at zaijietou.com (Part 1): 8th Shanghai Photographer Night’

07
Apr

A look at Eric Leleu: 8th Shanghai Photographer Night

By Sue Anne 0 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews, Exhibits, Talks and Publications and Take To the Street

Yesterday, we had an insight into Shanghai-born street photographer Tang Ying who will debut her new work from Cologne, Germany at the 8th Shanghai Photographers Night next Wed (13 April, 8pm at Dada Bar).

Today, I want to introduce you to our next artist, the Shanghai-based French photographer Eric Leleu who maintains a wonderfully diverse and eclectic photographic diary Shanghai Airport.

Eric will be presenting Chapter 1 of his project, “Instants décisifs”, made up of reality-like digitally-composed images taken during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His showcase will include an impressive video timelapse animation of all the photo material he used to produce the series.

Continue reading ‘A look at Eric Leleu: 8th Shanghai Photographer Night’

06
Apr

A Look at Tang Ying: 8th Shanghai Photographer Night

By Sue Anne 0 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews, Exhibits, Talks and Publications and Take To the Street

Have you marked the upcoming 8th Shanghai Photographer’s Night in your calender? It’s 13 April, 8pm at Dada Bar where Shanghai’s best street photographers will be featuring their work.

The first participating photographer I am featuring on this blog, as part of a wider introduction of their work to you, is none other than TANG Ying (唐颖) whose style and wit has translated across boundaries starting from San Francisco to Shanghai. She is one of the many renowned international photographers, and the first from Mainland China, I believe, behind the seminal book “Street Photography Now”.

TANG Ying will be debuting her recent series from Cologne, Germany, entitled: “Snapshot: Street in Germany”.

I interviewed TANG Ying last year where she shared her inspirations and processes. You can read more here.

 Some excerpts of the interview:

Unlike other forms of photography, you don’t need expensive equipment for street photography – I still use the same equipment and basic lenses. I believe that photos must have a narrative element to draw people so I have yet to change my set up. What fascinate me about street photography are the narrative and humanistic elements, and its sudden and unexpected nature. This is why street photographs have to spend a lot of time and have patience to capture that “decisive moment”.

I’ve seen many people documenting in Shanghai. I think that this is the best time for a photographer in Shanghai what with the different people and all the changes. I believe street photography in China has great potential but there are not that many people who are able to expend long periods of time (on street photography) and be able to publish such work.

10
Jan

A review of 2010 (part four)

By Sue Anne 2 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews, Street Stories, The Fading Vestige, The Lives Within and The Roving Exhibit

I trust everyone had a nice weekend?

This is the last installment of my review of 2010. Posting slowed down a tad in those few months due to travelling and more personal projects, but the individual posts have grown more substantial and I hope quality trumps quantity in this regard.

The first week of the new year is behind us, and we’re on to new and exciting things. If you’ve made it through most of your new year resolutions, good on you!

October: “Before and after on Sinan Lu” – For those who live in Shanghai, you might have ventured to Sinan Mansions, the latest trendy F&B and leisure development to have sprouted in the French Concession. Developers have called it a new approach to preservation but most would find it underwhelming if not generic. I photographed the original interiors of a few old villas across from Sinan Mansions which served as dormitories for workers of the development. Have a look, because the interiors are expected to be completely ripped out and rebuilt with new materials as part of Sinan Mansions’ expansion. Yea, that’s how some interpret “preservation”.

November: An action-packed month. Street photography ruled again this month, with a thought-piece on why street photography remains unpopular in China. A small discussion ensued and continued offline, and I remain grateful for readers’ feedback. Local street photographer Tui also weighed in on the relationship between street photography and his rather complex feelings toward Shanghai in his Behind the Camera interview.

Oh yes, if you like fast cars, I photographed the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) Shanghai 2010 here and here.

December: It was all about my new project, The Roving Exhibit. Why and how I am carrying out the exhibit. And the first experimental session held next on the sidewalk in the middle of a street market. There is no space for ego here, only a thick hide and a wicked sense of humor.

A review of 2010 (part one) (part two) (part three)

 

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