stefen chow photography

It is that time of the year, where one looks back. It was a pretty satisfying year, I must say. There is a lot to take in, and be thankful for, at the same time some lost opportunities that one hopes could have turn back the hands of time.

This marks my 4th year as a professional photographer. 5 years if you count me as a part time photographer and part time corporate trainer. 7 since the seed of thought as a photographer was planted in me. 10 when I first assisted a photographer when all I wanted was to raise funds to backpack in Europe. It all connects back, but looking back, it wasn’t too bad. Less regrets more relief, less sitting on my butt more getting out and doing stuff even if it means stumbling on the first few rounds.

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This month marks one of my busiest months since I started as a photographer. I have shoots planned in Singapore, Paris, Tokyo, Brunei, Jakarta, Shenzhen and also doing a 3 country shoot in Madagascar, Le Reunion and Mauritius. Along the way, I will be giving a seminar about photography for Nikon and National Geographic during a layover in Singapore. 3 continents, 10 countries and 15 flights in September 2011 alone.  » Read the rest of this entry «

Hi Stefen,

Thank you for your reply. I was truly happy to receive it as I had waited every moment for your advice. Seriously.

I am fine with the ‘harsh’ replies as I had expected and actually looked forward to that. You are actually pretty ‘composed’ in making remarks.

What im gonna say may sound cliche, ya, but fact is always fact: I don’t seek nice, neutral appraisals if I sense what I am lacking, especially with insight of the depth of works of a an artist like you. Wont write to you ‘with guts’ at the 1st place if i want reassurance to say I am good. » Read the rest of this entry «

Hi Stefen,

I’m J from Singapore. It took me some guts to write this email, attempting to seek advice from a photographer I admire very much. I was impressed by your work @ Nikon  Through Asian Eyes.

A bit about myself:

I quitted my job and study 2 months ago to set myself to think and face what has been calling me as passion, which is photography. My very 1st intention is to pursue something close to photojournalistic approach, which is Street Photography. I self taught and started shooting 1 year+ ago, on streets and travelling. » Read the rest of this entry «

I was too 27 when I saw Amy Winehouse for my first and only time. The venue was the Bowery Ballroom, in New York City in 2007 when I was struggling to be a photographer then. I got a contact with the venue, who wanted me to photograph a British artist who was in town. The gig wasn’t paid, but I needed to pass them the pictures. I was just happy to be doing a gig.

I arrived at the venue earlier than everyone else, and waited on the dance floor. I had no idea who this artist was, but I was determined to do a good job so I could possibly secure future paid gigs with the venue. As the crowds started to form, I notice that the crowd was a middle aged, well dressed crowd. No Tshirts, no bermudas, but nice heels, dapper shirts and pants crowd. The lights went out, and she came out and sang. And sang she did. The crowd started dancing, the beer taps kept pouring, while I was in the crowd working my ass off for the gig.

She wasn’t having a direct rapport with the crowd, but the crowd was clearly enamoured with her. As I photographed away, I was slowly enchanted by this strange, eccentric but clearly a performer in her element. I asked one of the audience, ‘Who is she?’

‘You don’t know who she is? She’s Amy Winehouse. She is currently the biggest star in Europe’

‘Oh’

‘She is new in New York. The rest of America will know her very soon.’

‘Oh. Okay’

Looking back on that day, I was witnessing one of the greatest lost singers of our generation. While her performance was clearly a glimpse of what made her the superstar she was in the rest of the world very soon, her troubles with drugs was also apparant that very night. As her set went by, her singing also became slurred, her swaying reminicent of the many incidences caught over the internet where she appeared either drunk or very drugged out.

She was a genius in her own right, but she passed on too soon. Rest in Peace, Amy.

Stefen
Beijing
26 July 2011
www.stefenchow.com