Creative Capital: Pivoting from travel and concert photography to wedding shoots
Ashok Kumar understands lite. That was the first thing I thought of when I showtime discovered this 32-year-old Singaporean lensman's portfolio. Both his gorgeous travel shots and his dynamic concert stills are imbued with a striking apply of low-cal, colour and dissimilarity to make subjects pop. His wedding portraits, by contrast, are filled with warmth and personality. Less drama, more eye. Which, given the bailiwick and occasion, is entirely appropriate.
It speaks to this young lensman's skill that he's able to piece of work across these singled-out subjects, adapting him vision to best showcase whatsoever he's focusing on with his cameras.
The final two years must accept been hard for Ashok, and many others like him. While many of u.s. were able to shift to work from dwelling without also much fuss, if your livelihood is made by documenting public gatherings, events, celebrations and travel, and all of those are restricted, how practice you proceed going? I decided to grab up and check in with Ashok.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST Choice Upward A Camera? WHEN DID YOUR INTEREST IN PHOTOGRAPHY BEGIN?
I think messing around with some of my dad'southward moving-picture show cameras at home merely I simply really got into photography when I joined the Photography Order at school.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAMERA AND HOW LONG DID It Accept YOU TO Experience Similar YOU WERE PRODUCING GREAT SHOTS?
My start DSLR was a Canon 550D. I bought it after saving up some coin during NS, then you can imagine how long information technology took to make that purchase. I could tell that my shots were getting ameliorate based on the accomplish of my posts on Instagram. At that time, I was mostly taking photos of sunsets and a lot of my peers encouraged me to practise more.
WHAT DO Yous LOVE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY?
Being able to capture a moment in time. How looking at a particular photo takes you lot back to the exact moment it was taken, and the feelings that come with it. Photography was my escape from the existent earth.
I SAW One PROFILE OF Y'all THAT Chosen YOU AN "INSTAGRAM PHOTOGRAPHER". IS THAT KIND OF Description A GOOD OR BAD Affair?
At the start of my career, it provided some sort of validation of my piece of work, but I would rather exist known equally a photographer at present. I don't think it has to be a good or bad thing, but rather how yous want others to recollect you. Plus, these days, it's one way of avoiding getting paid with "exposure".
YOU SEEM TO SPECIALISE IN MUSIC AND TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY. ARE THESE YOUR TWO LOVES?
Spot on! They are definitely my offset loves.
WHAT IS THE All-time CONCERT Y'all Take Ever BEEN TO?
Muse! My all-fourth dimension favourite band. I missed the chance to grab them the first two times they were here but the third time's a charm. Their functioning was electrifying and everyone was just having a great fourth dimension singing, and screaming, along.
Neon Lights 2022 was some other unforgettable one. The festival was outdoors and it started raining when Cigarettes after Sex activity came on. Watching their ready in the pouring rain was nothing curt of magical.
Childish Gambino's This is America Tour at the O2 Arena in London was also one of the best concerts I've been to. I was visiting Europe at the time, and knew I couldn't pass up the gamble of watching him alive. The temper was totally dissimilar overseas. The crowd was another level altogether and it's also ane of the last concerts that I attended earlier the pandemic hit and then it'south sort of a bittersweet retentivity.
WHO HAS BEEN THE NICEST CELEBRITY THAT YOU Accept PHOTOGRAPHED?
Honne! I met them twice – once in Malaysia and again in Singapore when they performed at Neon Lights 2019. They were super nice on both occasions and were kind enough to photograph the photos I took of them.
JJ Lin was besides really nice. I shot his functioning during the official opening of Jewel Changi Airdrome. He said he loved my photos. One of my favourite shots is a photo of JJ Lin taking a selfie with PM Lee at the event.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD TO PHOTOGRAPH?
Tokyo. It's difficult to describe the beauty of the urban center. From the skyscrapers to the neon lights and the people – everything looks and feels beautiful at that place. In that location were days during my travels where it would rain all day and it just added to the metropolis'south charm. I tin can't wait to go back.
BY EXTENSION, IF YOU COULD PICK 1 Place TO TRAVEL TO THAT YOU Have YET TO GO, WHERE WOULD YOU WANT TO Go?
Definitely Iran. I've seen the stunning architecture and mosques in photos and would really dearest to encounter them in person.
WHAT Camera GEAR DO Y'all Employ THESE DAYS? WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS FOR THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SHOOTS YOU Practice?
I employ a Canon Mark III and IV for most of my wedding shoots but I do accept a Fujifilm XPro 3 that I employ for casual shoots and travel.
WHAT IS THE MOST Important THING Most COMPOSING A GREAT SHOT?
For me, it's the way the subjects are framed in the photo so that it will stand up out. Having an idea of how I want the final shot unremarkably helps me compose my shots.
DO You FEEL THAT You lot HAVE A DISCERNIBLE STYLE?
I'd similar to call back and so. Some of my clients appoint me because they can vibe with the manner of my photographs. It'southward a work-in-progress though and I still endeavour my best to pace out of my comfort zone and explore different ways to shoot.
WHAT WAS THE HARDEST SHOOT You lot HAVE HAD TO DO?
Mew'south concert at SOTA Concert Hall in 2017. There was very limited lighting on stage and in that location was only one projector pointing at the frontman. Thankfully the photos turned out okay and the feel felt even more special when I saw that the band reposted my photo on their Instagram.
AND WHAT WAS THE Best?
Foo Fighters. I don't get starstruck hands but seeing Dave Grohl through the viewfinder was another feeling all together! At the same time, the barricades behind where I was standing kept moving forrard from the pushing of the crowd, so it was too the scariest as well. If I could pick some other it would definitely exist JJ Lin'southward concert. Was peachy seeing a fellow Singaporean doing so well in the music industry and his concert was a visual masterpiece! too.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION Virtually WHAT YOU Practise?
That having the nigh expensive or newest equipment means your photos volition automatically plow out nice.
HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED You lot AND YOUR Work?
Concert and travel photography take been on a standstill. Thankfully, I pivoted my career to photographing weddings three years ago and it'south my major source of income now.
WHO IS HARDER TO SHOOT, A ROCK STAR OR A COUPLE GETTING MARRIED?
Both have their own gear up of challenges. For concerts, photographers are commonly immune to stay for the first three songs then I merely have that amount of fourth dimension to get my shots.
Every bit for weddings, some moments tin can't exist recreated. For instance, at an Indian wedding, yous can't re-tie the thali (one of the most important parts of a Hindu nuptials ceremony; the equivalent of exchanging rings in a western ceremony) and then you have to exist ready to get the coin shot.
Lately, shooting weddings in this pandemic, it too gets tough having to double upward as an unofficial safe distance officer and reminding guests to abide by the rules.
HOW Do You PUT SUBJECTS AT EASE?
By making them laugh. Showing them the photos on the spot besides helps them to loosen upward and be more confident to pose.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM COMMISSION?
Beingness the official lensman for Muse or The Killers and shooting Emma Watson's wedding.
FINALLY, I HAVE TO ASK, WHY WON'T You SHOOT CHICKENS?
It was meant to be a joke that I put on my Instagram profile. Coincidentally, I had a wedding ceremony customer who had two silkie chickens as pets. And she came to me and asked why I don't shoot chickens. I had to express joy information technology off and explain that time
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/living/ashok-kumar-travel-concert-wedding-photography-283141
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