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Interview
by Edo Q ©
2009 CoverMen
Mag!
November, 2009
-Hello
Ronald, I am really flattered you accepted to be interviewed
for CoverMen Mag!, just to start this interview off,
please give me some brief background information.
Hello
there Edo. Thank you for the your interest in me and
my photography! I was born in 1981 Rangoon, Burma now
known as "Yangon, Myanmar." My family traditionally
held professions in Medicine (Physicians). My highest
level of education was a baccalaureate in Applied Physics
& Pre-pharmacy (Microbiology). I now call Sacramento
and Vacaville my home.
-Tell me: how did
you start doing photography? What got you interested
in it?
May 19, 2007 marked the commencement
of my professional career in photography. It was also
the date I arrived in Los Angeles chasing my dreams
of being a photographer. When I was at uni, my elective
courses in Optics scintillated the artist within me.
I consider myself "an exiledacademic seeking refuge
in the arts."
-Did you take any courses
or did you go to a school to learn photography?
I
am known as an auto-didactic photographer. My comprehension
of the behavior of light and the mechanics of the camera
lent itself flawlessly upon my endeavors in photography.
I did not know I have "it" within me all this
time. Throughout my life, I was conditioned toward the
path of academic par excellence.
-What
are the common elements of your photography style? How
would you describe your shooting style?
My
shooting style could be described as "metallic
painterly mish-mash photo illustrations." I love
neutral tones.
-What are your favorite
subjects to photograph?
I am passionate and
truly enjoy capturing the elusive beauty of the male
form.
-How do you compare shooting in
the studio to on location – any preference?
On-location.
All of my shoots are outdoors in both natural available
light and utilizing my strobes in conjunction to the
sun.
-How do you feel about digitally
enhancing photos and to what extent do you utilize it?
I
have no problems retouching. It depends. At times, I
only do tonal adjustments at the RAW stage when I shoot
tethered. Other times, I'd take an additional step into
Photoshop and give my visual aesthetics to it.
-You
are a very successful photographer, do you have any
advice to photographers starting out in the fashion
industry?
I don't consider myself "successful"
yet. I am still facing the challenges and struggles
of an up-and-coming business. The advice I would give
is this, "Treat your clients as if they're your
life blood. Take good care of them. Always give your
best beyond the client's expectation. Know your value
and worth! Just because a client wave money in front
of you, it does not mean you have to jump through hoops.
Treat EVERYONE with respect, integrity, and dignity.
ALWAYS *show* appreciation and gratitude towards the
professionals irrespective of their contribution to
the project or an assignment. Karma knows kindness."
-Please
share with me some of your recent and upcoming projects...
I
have another cover coming out in Jan 2010. Here is also
a news item concerning my pro bono project with the
Sacramento Society of Prevention and Cruelty of Animals
(SPCA): http://altpick.com/news/3885.
-Tell
me about your professional plans: apart from still photography,
what else would you like to pursue or are you already
pursuing?
Pet portraiture. I love pets (dogs).
I've got two of my own.
-Thanks again
Ron for taking your time to answer my questions, it
was a gift to me and my readers!
Thank you
Edo. I hope I have earnt confidence and respect from
your readers with my accolades and accomplishments I've
achieved in under two years as a self-taught photographer.
I took a huge risk with my life. I left my comfort zone
of academia to chase after my dreams. I CAN NOT FAIL!
FULL STOP.
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/ronaldntan
Blog:
http://blog.ronaldntan.com/
Facebook:
Ronald N. Tan | Photographer
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