31 May Interview: Chin Leong Teo
ChinLeongTeo
Photographer
I was trained as a Mechnical Engineer and work as an aviation consultant. I picked up photography purely by chance about 12 years ago. I won a small photo competition soon thereafter, which motivated me to continue competing. I supposed I always have a good…
NIPA Featured Artist
It is my biggest hobby. It gives me motivation to travel, work out and climb mountains for that perfect shot. And it is…
A conversation with Chin Leong Teo.
I was trained as a Mechnical Engineer and work as an aviation consultant. I picked up photography purely by chance about 12 years ago. I won a small photo competition soon thereafter, which motivated me to continue competing. I supposed I always have a good…
The Interview
This NIPA feature brings together the artist’s reflections, selected works, and visual material in a long-form interview format.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how your journey into photography began?
I was trained as a Mechnical Engineer and work as an aviation consultant. I picked up photography purely by chance about 12 years ago. I won a small photo competition soon thereafter, which motivated me to continue competing. I supposed I always have a good eye for composition and colours.
What truly moves and inspires you as an artist?
To continuously appreciate and create awe-inspiring photos, whatever genre they might be.
How would you describe your photographic style, and how has it evolved over time?
I started with travel photography, then moved to nature, landscape and macro. Most recently I enjoy flying drones and taking aerial shots. (The Mavic 4 Pro is an awesome drone!)
Who or what has had the biggest influence on your artistic vision?
No one in particular influences me on my artistic vision. I move between different genres as I like and continuously self innovate as I move along.
What is your relationship with your camera and equipment?
My prized possessions are my Sony A1 and my Mavic 4 Pro. I take care of them well.
What's the story behind your winning photograph?
I have 4 photos winning Honourable Mention honours at NIPA Awards. They are a mix of portrait, drone and macro insect shots. They are a varied spread and a reflection of my wide genre inclinations.
What was the most important decision you made when creating this image?
The image I am most happy with is a shot of a pair of mating damselflies in the rain. This was taken Fukuoka, Japan during the summer. The wind and rains were blowing this way and that and it was spectacular to see nature at work.
How did you use light, composition, or emotion to bring your vision to life?
I dont have much time for photography due to my busy work schedule. Therefore, I try to be very selective on the time I spend on photography, choosing only the time with the best light. It is not always easy to find good light though!
What do you hope people feel or think when they see this photo?
My 4 Honourable Mention photos are all of different genres. I hope they give people different emotions and joy.
What does photography mean to you on a personal level?
It is my biggest hobby. It gives me motivation to travel, work out and climb mountains for that perfect shot. And it is potentially a source of income for my retirement years. So photography means a lot to me on many fronts.
What message or idea do you want your work to communicate to the world?
I would like to show people what a beautiful world God has created.
What was your first reaction when you found out you won a NIPA award?
I was pleased.
What are your upcoming projects or dreams for the future?
I target to win at least 1 top award in the most prestigious photo competitions every year. Not always easy to keep that up though, when I am a mere amateur competing against global talents who have more time and resouces to find that perfect shot.
What are your thoughts on NIPA, and is there any suggestion or idea you'd like to share to help us make it even better in the future?
To differentiate itself from other photo competitions, NIPA should be more generous with medals or trophies (even for Honourable Mentions). Increasing prize money or hosting an award ceremony will raise prestige and profile. Find sponsors to reduce participation fees. Participants must feel that a photo contest is worth it in terms of prize money, prestige and medals and trophies, relative to the participation fees.
It is my biggest hobby. It gives me motivation to travel, work out and climb mountains for that perfect shot. And it is…
Images from the Photographer
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