Hi Carl, I’m based in Singapore as fashion photographer since mid of 2005. I think Singapore is a spouting city for photographers strangely for a pretty small island of 693 sq km in total land area. In my opinion it is really a great place for models to start building their portfolios, as there is a very vibrant publication market here. I was introduced to photography when I was studying in a local design college back in 1998. The subject of photography didn’t appeal to me right away. It was a compulsory module I had to do in school, and I really dislike the tutor back then as his overly emphasis of technicality in the subject didn’t really appeal to me. It was far too mechanical, and lacks the emotional response that I seek to keep me interested in a subject

It was much later during a photojournalism module where I remembered changing my perception of the subject. I was intrigued by the emotional responses and energy I got out of working with the human subject at that time, and like a sprawling catalyst of shooting with complete strangers, to familiar people around me, I started liking the subject and experimented everything I could possibly imagine with the school’s camera systems, studio lightings and darkroom equipments. Looking back, my work has always been about people. It’s what drives me, maybe it’s because it mirrors my passion for life

The digital era: technology speed up the workflow of photography

Technology definitely has speed up the workflow of photography. In fact, I think it couldn’t be a greater time to be a photographer than this age where we can almost have full control over making of an image. However with every new technology that man has ever created to solve problems, he creates new one. Today photographers have increasingly more responsibilities with technical issues. Unlike our film predecessors, where one can rely on labs to control photographic quality, digital photographers now have to learn how to manage colors, computer soft wares, and digital retouching all at their end

The idea of quality has significantly changed over the years. What was acceptable in the past by publication of a magazine, maybe not be acceptable or deem relevant in today’s society with the advent of digital manipulation. But looking back in the history of fashion photography, works such a Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, or William Klein, still stood the test of time, and many of their works still look very current till this age. I think if we look at the medium itself, it is really just a tool. At the end of the day, it is more important how we choose to work with the tool to make it work for us. It is our attitude towards the medium that defines us

The worldwide Swatch Competition editorial and the new models on the spot!

I have just completed a worldwide Swatch competition editorial with Cleo magazine, and an editorial for a bags brand story a fashion magazine called Designare. I am also in the midst of preparing for 2 covers shoot, and will be working with some Singapore celebrities as well. So I guess it’s kind of like a madhouse here in my studio at the moment.

My 2 favorite new models whom are I am working with currently are represented by Upfront models agency in Singapore (They represent some of the best models in my opinion). Hana Sigutova who is Czech model represented by PMST Model Scout Team in Prague, and has recently been signed by DNA New York. She has such an amazing current face and a great personality to match. I pretty sure she’s going to do very well in months to come. Another model named Vojtech Maryška who simply oozes great sex appeal in front of the camera despite barely working as a model for less than a year. He is very handsome guy and I really look forward to see how modeling will work out for him

Working with the models: "Life is more than just all about work and money"

Well honestly life is more than just all about work and money. It’s the love, relationship, the good times and the hard times we share or experience that we all care and will remember during our lifetime. I’m just happy that I could share a deep relationship with my models and be able to leave a part of me in their life, vice versa

Worldwide crisis in the fashion photography?

In my opinion, the demand for images will be here to stay, be fashion, lifestyle commercial or any other form of genre in photography. The only difference is the method in which how they will be used and presented. i.e, website vs. prints medium. There is a growing demand for images to be presented digitally today as it is an easier, faster and cheaper medium to disseminate information as appose to the print. From the latest invention of the ipads, and iphones, you see an ever-increasing demand and changing of behavior to obtain information within our current culture. Even traditional magazines and news publications are forced to reinvent, creating online versions to cater for this change of this social behavior

With the web, photographers now are exposed to a dynamic range of visual language, which does not exist in the print medium. I guess we all have to start preparing for the time where digital will be the main tool of communication over prints, just like how digitally cameras has grown to replace the film medium in commercial aspects. It is both frightening yet ever so exciting

Capturing a perfect moment and the cool places for a shooting

Most of the time u will be totally absorbed in the moment to even care about what comes out on other end of the computer screen or the back of your LCD screen. Most people take photography far too seriously. They forgot what’s in front of them

I had the opportunity to work in some of the most beautiful places on earth. I personally think all the places are different and unique in their own ways, and I like the idea of being unpredictable. But if there is one place that I really end up shooting a lot at is my bedroom. It’s more comfortable there

Funny/unusual backstages moments: A couple of crazy moments!

I don’t remember my photography set being very unusual. Maybe because my team and I are constantly in the midst of working and it is very common sight for example to have the models completely naked in front of us. We did have a couple of crazy moments though. I had a shoot a few months ago at a beautiful resort in Koh Samui (Thailand) for a very brilliant London based designer Ashley Isham. By the end of the shoot, everyone had been literally thrown into the pool for a couple of times by someone from my team (even the designer and model wasn’t spared. We work hard and we play hard

An unforgettable moment: his stay in Berlin

I guess I would never forget that day during my stay in Berlin, I had my roommate knocked at my door one afternoon asking me to shoot his girlfriend nude. This was because he is totally frustrated with her constant low self-esteem even though she is actually quite good-looking in person. He wanted me to help her, and I gladly agreed. In the end we shot the pictures, and when I finally delivered the pictures to her, her mum broke out in tears of pride when she shared the pictures with her family. Something changed in her after the shoot we did together that day. At that moment I knew I wasn’t just taking images. It was a beautiful feeling and it felt magical.

Upcoming projects

Well, apart from my constant editorial and commercial projects, which I am handling, I am also looking forward to a potential collaborative exhibition with another artist mid of spring next year. So I’m keeping my fingers crossed on that. I’ll usually keep my fan posted on my facebook page at www.facebook.com/skyetanphotography
So do check on that if you are interested to see what’s happening in months to come

IMAGE worth a THOUSAND WORDS?

Or perhaps, nothing close to the truth at all…

Motto: The only thing that can ever stop you is your mind.

And when you´ll come to my world?

I’m up for some Brazilian heat anytime. You guys rock at parties as well I heard

Contact info: www.facebook.com/skyetanphotography , www.skyetan.com