Your very first camera?
It was a Nikon F. I was 16 years old, and saved up my earnings from my job as a camera assistant to Mr. Choi, my first photography teacher in Hong Kong.
What were some of your earliest images?
Mostly portrait shots of my friends, maybe that was why I became fascinated with shooting people.
How did you start working with Hong Kong-based auteur Wong Kar Wai?
During the mid 90s, I was a nobody, just an ordinary creative professional, working full-time in a company. Fortunately, we had a mutual friend who hooked me up with a meeting with Kar Wai, who was impressed with my portfolio, and immediately made me the official photographer for Happy Together.
How was it like working with him?
Very interesting. He doesn’t say much but has a great eye and feel for beautiful images. Sometimes, I can’t even understand why he picked a particular photograph, but that is his special gift. The best thing about working with him is the amount of freedom that he gave me, not even once did he interfere during my shooting sessions.
What was the experience of working with Tatsuyuki Tanaka, the famous Japanese manga artis, like?
It was an awesome project with a very tight deadline. I am usually very particular about cropping my images but in this project, I followed the perspective of Tatsuyuki’s storyboard very closely. With any collaboration, it is important to show the vision of all the different artists involved.
You have shot numerous famous personalities, who has impressed you the most?
I enjoy shooting actors because of their ability to convey an emotional feeling. Some of my favorites include Gong Li, Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung, who get into character effortlessly. You don’t even have to give them special instructions.
Your heroes?
I come from a fine art background, hence my fascination with Anselm Kiefer. From the world of pop culture, I like Andy Warhol.
What’s your philosophy?
Never play safe, always push boundaries. I get bored easily and like to find places that are ugly(for example a tacky restaurant) , shooting images from a new perspective, and capturing an essence that others have not seen.
Here’s you last chance to catch This is ‘Real’ A Wing Shya Retrospective, which ends on Apr 23. ION Orchard Art Gallery, 2 Orchard Turn, 6835-8748. Free.
