The unabashed Matthew Lam takes it off... well, not quite!

I had the pleasure of meeting a super nice guy, a model that I initially met a few months ago when shooting for my FIFTYFIVE charity book project. Last night, we decided to do another take, but with the explicit desire for him to get completely undressed in the shoot. Well, of course I can't show those shots to you, but I can show you these. He actually lost a bit of weight from the first time I met him, but he cut his hair short. I thought he looked really good. The short hair works; some people are not so lucky. He's got a strong enough jaw line that he can carry it off. Mind you, he's no Dolf Lundgren! (Is he still around?)

What is great about working with Matthew is that from the first time we worked together, I knew that he wasn't the shy type, although he pretended to be such in shooting FIFTYFIVE. I could tell very quickly that he loved the camera. Getting undressed wasn't all that hard for him, but he just needed a bit of coaxing. So this time around, there was an even great comfort zone.

Thanks to Wil Wu for the makeup, and Patryk Chaou for the styling. (Note: the more styled images are being reserved currently, so people will have to wait.)

When a photograph is 'right' to the eye...

When I find a photograph I really like, the image will speak to me. What it says is nothing about how I photographed the work, or what I did to make that image look right. It transcends description of how the light falls so ever gently onto a person's face, or of how the posing was so good and that the model great. When a photograph is 'right', there are no words to describe the process or behavior of elements that make up for what it is. All too often we have to justify why an image is good. The only reason we need to say so it to prove or validate ourselves (or others). And we need to qualify our own needs for who we are. This photograph of Ray is just that, a photograph that works for what it is. I accept it for what it is and it satisfies a part of my intellectual, emotional and spiritual psyche. I hope you see some of that I share.

Kwunho & the Mona Lisa Look

This photograph I took of Kwunho has always for some reason, generated a lot of interesting conversations. I have used it in my university teaching to demonstrate the power or mystery of a photograph. There has been much said about the eyes being the key to the Soul, and perhaps this is true to a certain degree, but it doesn't offer a full picture, only fragmented one. It is because time has been captured only during that instant. The glance, the gaze, may have only been fleeting, and it just happened that that was the moment the shutter went off. Wah-la! I believe this was the case with Kwunho. It is an instant in time, captured appropriately at the right moment. On recollection, he doesn't quite remember giving me that look, and neither do I remember seeing it. As such, does it truly deserve any praise? or was it purely, by chance? I think it cannot be deduced to such simple explanation. It is a combination of both chance, and organized thought to prepare for the moment. I have a simple request. Take a look at this image of Kwunho. Stare at it for as long as you like, and then move (yourself, your body) to the left or right. Now take a look and see if Kwunho is STILL looking at you. I bet you he is. Leonardo daVinci's, Mona Lisa has, apparently, the same effect. Oooooo.

Rob Trinh - Sexy & Gorgeous!

This shot was taken in my second photography session when he was here in Hong Kong last year. Posing nude for him was not the least bit uneasy, but you can see why he's not shy. His body is big and beautiful. And you just have to love it now don't you? Please don't ask me for the full frontal shots. They are safely tucked away for my eyes only! So what does Rob do? He's an actor, model and performer, who resides in Vancouver, Canada. Rob Trinh Website

Cool Headed Hayden

Here are a few photographs taken of Hayden for his composite card. Styled by Patryk Chaou. Makeup by Wil Wu.

Jeffrey and Blue Magazine

Here is an image that first got published in Dreamboys, a special edition of Blue magazine. It was very exciting at the time, because Blue was considered one of the pre-eminent magazines featuring the male physique in a highly artistic manner, giving rise to many photographers that focused on this genre. I remember the day I received a fax announcing that one of photographs was accepted for publication. So to Jeffrey, thank you for making my day.

David - Beauty in the Eyes of Pain

Over the next while, I will start to re-introduce various photographs taken many years ago, from the time I first started shooting the Asian male genre. If you were followers of my work before, then these images will not be new to you, but for newcomers, I hope that these images are refreshing. I think my way of shooting is somewhat traditional in thinking, whereby photography is about catching the essence or spirit of the subject at hand. Incidentally, my old website will be archived and this will be the new format, in the form of a blog.

So without further adieu, below is a photograph that I took of David, which to me, is one of my favorite portraits, taken just before the release of my first photography book, The Asian Male - 1.AM. Powerful and intense, with a gaze shows both pain and passion.