Photography has always been a big part of our lives, especially in this day and age where new imaging technology assists the skill set of even the most amateurish photographer. It is heartening to know that some photographers keep it real and prefer it the traditional way by sticking to using the film format. Chuck Reyes is one of them, and we managed to sit him down for a chat. Chuck has previously shot some of the covers for Juice Magazine, as well as having his work featured in the Exposure exhibition held at Orchard Central. Read the full interview below.

Tell us a bit about yourself, your background and where you’re from.

I’m from the Philippines, born and raised there, I went to school in international school, thus making my philipino language kinda shitty as we all speak English there. Thereafter I moved to the states and went to college there. I intended to do literature, but I started taking some photo classes. I then moved back to the Philippines for some family stuff. I wasn’t really doing anything there, so I thought I might as well start shooting again, and I also managed to get some photography jobs. First started off shooting some events, met a lot of people, and got more freelance work. It then occurred to me that this was what I wanted to do, and so I got down to getting a degree in photography. And in so doing, I decided to come to Lasalle.

What actually got you started in photography?

My grandfather was a photographer, an awesome artist too. He gave me inspiration. My dad also had an old camera lying around. So I took that and started shooting. I really love shooting black and white, and doing darkroom stuff. I learnt photography by processing films, printing, etc. however it’s hard to do as it’s hard to find good equipment and studios for that.

What inspires you to shoot, and what kind of photography is your favourite?

Well I know what I don’t like! I hate cliché photography like landscapes and macro shots, thus I try to stay away from that. I try to shoot as much people as possible, cos I think that if you shoot people, you’re not wasting any film, it’s the most powerful photo you can snap.

So in terms of people, would that be like street photography?

I’d say more portraits. I have a hard time shooting people without their permission as I can get really shy. But once I have a photograph setup, and when I can have some control or influence over a person, I believe they can give me something, and I can give them something as well.

Would you have a favourite setup or format?

35mm, and I don’t shoot digital as well. I don’t own a digital camera. I hate technology, as it always changes, I’ll have to constantly upgrade. So I’ll get old stuff as I know it’ll never get replaced.

With the digital advancements, do u think everyone now can be an above average photographer with the digital format? If so, how then should the pros / real passionate photographers differentiate themselves?

I have some friends who believe that once you shoot with film you’ll never want to go back to digital as it will look so much better. However, I find that it doesn’t matter what you shoot. As long as you have the eye for it, you can make beautiful photographs whether you shoot digital or film. In my case, I just prefer film, just a personal preference. So I don’t think it matters, as long as you have your look and identity, not copying another, and not making photographs that have already been made. The eye for detail is much more important.

Moving forward, is there anything new that we can expect from Chuck Reyes? Or maybe an extension of your current works?

Haha the Juice cover for February’s issue! The one with the Misshapes on it. Another than that, more personal projects, I wanna show more of my personal work. It’s hard thou, as finance is always an issue. I think the photography scene in Singapore is not yet developed in terms of the Fine Art aspect. Much of it now is represented by the kind that has the “National Geographic” feel, mountains, clouds, etc. I think we’re lacking a really sophisticated Fine Art photography scene here, those images that is so much more than just a pretty picture.

Other than the shoots you’ve done for Juice, have you held any photography exhibition prior to Exposure?

Well I had one held within the Lasalle campus, this was because a French photographer was visiting, and my work was about Singapore. I shot the back of old men’s heads for one of my projects.

Did you shoot and explored a lot back in the Philippines?

In the Philipines it wasn’t so much conceptual stuff, but rather more diaristic content, it was more personal. A lot of it was just point and shoot using a 35mm film camera.

Would you think you might have a different angle of approach to your shooting if you compare the shots done in Singapore and the Philippines?

Yea definitely, in the Philippines, the access to film and cameras are really scarce, so I had to make do with what I had. In Singapore however, I feel my work is getting a lot more sophisticated, and a lot of it is due to better equipment, and that my eye for photography has changed as well. I use a lot of sunlight now versus before, and I love shooting in the city, so its been quite a big change from my shooting patterns back in the Philippines.

When you look at Scott Schuman, would you think of him more as a blogger or as a photographer?

I like his pictures, hmm.. I wouldn’t think he’s a blogger, as his pictures can be used for other mediums aside from the blog. He’s a photographer to me, as it’s also his work.

If not for photography, what would you think you’d have been doing?

Well if I didn’t take up that very first photo class back in the states, or managed to get my dad’s camera, I’d probably end up trying my hand at writing. I wanted to do journalism at first, thereafter I moved onto creative writing, but I hated most of the stuff I wrote. So I guess that was a blessing in disguise!