CARMEN CHAN

CARMEN CHAN

 
LA fashion photographer Carmen Chan sits down with OSCARICHARD about her challenges and what drives her to work in Hong Kong.
 
Tell us about yourself and your work?
I was born in Las Vegas and worked as a photographer in LA and in 2011 I decided to move to Hong Kong to be with my family.  When I was younger I used to live in Hong Kong but haven't lived here for 10 years so I feel like a complete tourist!  My work is organic, calm and a little ethereal.
 
Who inspired you to become a photographer?
My friend Ken Wu (http://www.the-wu.com) inspired me to start photography. One day I saw his photos on Flickr and thought they were amazing. I asked Ken to teach me how to shoot and he gave me a photography 101 course in a park. A few months after that, I left my previous career and decided to pursue photography since it's all I wanted to do in my spare time.
 
What is your favourite photography subject?
Portraits and fashion. I have a personal project How I Met Your Style that is a combination of both of these things http://himys.com/
 
Which camera are you using at the moment?
My favourite camera is my Mamiya RZ67.
 
Who is your favourite photographer?
At the moment, Peter Lindbergh, Lachlan Bailey, Kalle Gustafsson and Justin Hollar.
 
How do you find working in HK vs. US?
I really value the support and encouragement of the tight-knit creative community in Hong Kong. The work process is different in terms of the speed in which things happen, but that translates to me shooting infinitely more work in a shorter amount of time which I'm thankful for and it keeps things exciting! 
 
What is the biggest challenge in the HK and US creative industries?
The most challenging thing about working in both industries is to constantly shoot something which feels new and creative. Pushing myself to create the best work possible so that it conveys my client's message in the most relevant and interesting way, and represents both my client and my own aesthetic.
 
Is there anything you haven’t done yet?
Yes! But they're in the pre-production stages so I can't share them yet.
 
Which projects have you never done but are willing to try?
I feel like there is a lot that I haven't done yet as I am in the early stage of my career. I’m very open-minded and willing to try but it depends on the project and whether it's a good match with my photography style.
 
Which country most inspires you?
I'm inspired a lot by people watching wherever I go. There isn't a particular place that inspires me, but I am attracted to more spacious locations that are not easy to reach in Hong Kong. I do love the light in Hong Kong though!
 
Carmen Chan’s info:
 
 
Pictures from carmen-chan.com