Luke Pownall

One of the coolest things about photography for me has been the people I've met. Last year I contacted a photographer in Bangkok about finding film there and wound up spending a few days getting shown around the city and going to camera markets (and bars) with him and his girlfriend. In Cambodia I met a Japanese dude at my hotel who didn't speak a word of english but we managed to have a conversation using a pen and paper after I'd tried to ask him about his Leica M3, which then resulted in us showing each other our photos and him giving me some of his prints.

Sam and his Yashica electro 35 - Photo by Luke Pownall

Recently since I've begun studying photography, I've met a bunch of new people with different styles and ideas that get me psyched on trying new things, and I'm forever coming across new blogs and conversing with people that are motivating me more and more to continue doing what I do. So I've decided to start shooting photographers I meet and interviewing them, selfishly to better understand what drives them, and also myself to take pictures.

Sam Wong happened to email me a while back after seeing me around town and recognising me thanks to good old tumblr, and I've been digging his work so much since then I figured picking his brain for a while would be a nice place to start with interviewing the people I meet. He shoots street up close and with guts, and maintains the same sense of humour when covering live music and photojournalism. Bear with me here, I ain't a writer and don't claim to be, but I know that Sam is one of those dudes that without a doubt is going places, and well worth keeping an eye on.

Luke: So, Can you give me a little bio on yourself? What got you started with photography to begin with?

Sam: My name is Kid Kong, known as the "Kid From Hong Kong." I grew up with being talented at so many different things, but not one thing "studying". I grew up as a bboy started at the age of 15, since then from high school all i wanted to do was to break and become a full time bboy. Until in year 12, my teacher gave me a flim camera told me to go out and photograph something thats most related to my life. Of course I go photograph dancers, my crew Kings Only. Since than I fell in love and decided to make it as a lifetime passion and occupation.

So that's where the name Kid Kong came from haha. So you went from shooting dancing to two very different things - live music and street. What draws you to shooting two completely different subjects and why do you feel the need to separate them between two blogs?

For a while I was thinking about becoming a dance photographer. However, when I am out with my crew travelling and representing at battles and all that, I felt like I should be part of it rather than stand there and watch most of the time. While busking with my crew on regular saturdays as a performer for sometime 4 hours non-stop, you see a lot of weird but interesting people and experiences (pretty ladies to drunk hobos.) So it kinda drove me to be open to these characters and recapture the moment I've missed out during the years that I was not introduced to photography. Shooting music was a complete incident, once when I was at a pub with a lot of friends drinking, everyone dismissed and after leaving, I met another music photographer Bryan, he invited me to his place, we had a bottle of vodka and then he took me to shoot my first gig. Then I found my path in documenting hip hop artists that come to melbourne. I have two blogs, so that when I approach firms to get media passes I show the music blog, while my street blog I tend to use it as a diary kinda thing.

You recently hung out with Eric Kim while he was in Melbourne. How did that come about, and did spending time with someone who teaches introductory street workshops change how you approach and compose your shots? How do you feel about workshops on street photography altogether?

That guy is a gun, like he flashes people on the street like he actually knows them. I think his workshop was good, however because there were so many people he couldn't get too deep. BUT hanging out with Eric, I think he completely helped me evolve my style in like a short time and taught me how to overcome the fear of approaching absolute strangers. But street photography workshops definitely work well if the teacher actually goes out and shoots with you, 'cause all the lighting stuff we can read it on the net these days right? At the end of the day is experiences that will actually make you grow and see from a different perspective.

Die Antwoord - Photo by Sam Wong

You use a couple of different cameras, switching between film and digital a lot. What's currently in your camera bag and what do you find yourself using the most?

I love to play around with different format cause different cameras are for different use, like Michael Coyne said in one of his talks. I have a 5d markII, AE 1, Yashica electro 35 and recent best buy fuji x 100. Since i got the fuji x 100, i hardly touch my 5d anymore. Cause mostly people feel uncomfortable with big camera when I photograph them, the x100 allows me to be sneaky, like I am working on a documentary on drunk people with it at the moment.

Drunk people - Is that your current project and do you have anything else on your plate at the moment? What would your ideal photography project be?

Yeah thats my project, but taking a month break kinda a bit sick of being abused and the smell of vomits on friday and saturday nights. Umm i always have too many ideas in my head, but I would like to work on more short term projects rather than long term, for example something like news events. My ideal project would be actually go document and live in a third world country to photograph people's life yet still remain doing my street photography. Well basically I hope it could take me around the world, so i can be an interesting grandpa one day!

An Indescribable Smile - Photo by Sam Wong

Speaking of third world countries, this photo stood out to me when going through your street folio. It's just such a poignant and honest image. Where was it taken and how did the photo come about?

This was taken in Vietnam Saigon, in Nam i was told homeless and disabled people are asked to sell these vouchers that you can win "cars and houses" on the street and as a return they have a place to stay. However, apparently those vouchers are just corporate bull shit. When i was passing by i saw this poor lady giving me the most indiscernible expression, I was unsure she was happy or sad. I took the shot and gave her some money then moved on.

All the good gear - Photo by Luke Pownall

Here's an interesting question I saw you post on Facebook for discussion recently - "if you document this era today using all these old school range finders are you documenting the truth? Obviously the street and people look 10 times rougher and raw. Would that just be like retouching in a commercial job?" How do you personally feel about this now? Do you still prefer analog for street, and why?

Well, this will always remain as a question for me, as I believe I am part of this era. So may be in 40 to 50 years time I assume I will have a better answer. For me I really prefer analog for street, like it trains you to be more decisive, and even though i don't know too much bout them, I really admire people's skills as a photographer back in the day, like Cartier Bresson, who never cropped the photo and shot his whole life in black and white without too much editing. Today, its too easy for everyone to just point and shoot then instagram or photoshop. I feel like judgement on getting the right moment or exposure on camera has been overlooked a lot.

You're currently studying BA Photography at RMIT. How are you finding it and at this stage do you feel that studying is necessary to get somewhere with photography?

I love my course from day 1 thats it. I mean theres a lot of time you don't actually learn too much and are forced to do things that drives you further away what you want to achieve in photography. But they are mostly just facts and foundations that everyone should kinda learn. I remember Sean Park an artist told me once "You go to uni to sharpen your sword, so once you leave the place you use it well." I wouldn't say you must study to become a good photographer, but what i find help me most, is hearing the legendary and inspiring names of different people's favourite photographers, than you go read and study the shit out of them. Also reading a lot of books definitely helps, so i would say i've learnt to do my own researches and structure myself better via uni which i feel works in my own favour.

Cheers man, thanks for doing this. Any last words, shout outs, photographers to check out or links to cool sites to waste some time on?