Bobby Chang is an artist and analogue photographer from Hong Kong. ‘Analogue’ refers literally to his use of exclusively disposable cameras. Previously a cameraman capturing the movement of multiple frames, Chang, now a photographer, is kind of an essentialist. He prefers to photograph in black and white since colors, to Bobby, are limited whereas the values of black and white endlessly bring out the undistracted ‘essence’ of the photograph. Yet, ‘essential’ is not the word that comes to mind when looking at the watery bodies, humble plant/architecture blending, and dreamy cloudscapes in his photographs. So let’s just allow the humility of the word ‘analogue’ resonate with his work a little deeper – as a descriptor but also as an embodiment of his visceral depictions of visual limitlessness within the non-digital. – Cynthia Or
1. Why do you take photos? I take pictures because I like to keep certain memories alive. I think beauty deserves to be kept alive forever and that’s what I want to do. I also have many images in my head and I like to see them come alive.
2. Do you carry your camera with you everywhere you go? Yes. I often shoot with disposable cameras and they are very easy to carry around. I always have one on me because you never know when you will find something you want to take a picture of.
3. What celebrity would you like to shoot most? I’m not interested in celebrities, but from famous people I would like to photograph Rainer Werner Fassbinder. He is a big inspiration to me. He seemed to be a very interesting person.
4. What animal would you like to be, if not a human? A cat. Because they are tough, very relaxed, very agile, ancient, and very wise.
5. What is your favorite smell? I like the smell of rain. I have written a poem about the rain, it’s in my book that will be released soon.
6. Would you like to live forever? I don’t know. If I could be always young, and everyone I love could be young and alive forever with me, and the world would not become even more horrible and destroyed then yes. Of course, I believe everything is a circle and there is nothing definite about life and death.
7. What do you think is the best photo you have ever taken to date? I like many photos I have taken. Right now my favorite is one of my girlfriend, Emma, biting on a flower. It’s actually a series of 3 pictures of Emma and this flower in her mouth. To me this picture is very alive, because it was a bit spontaneous during a very fun shoot and it’s beautiful!
8. What’s your favorite pastime? Eating! I love eating that’s why I’m fat. I also like taking pictures of course, traveling to places, watching horror movies and 70s slasher or experimental stuff. Painting with ink. These.
9. Do you like having your photo taken? Yes, why not. If I like the photographer. I’m not embarrassed. If the photographer is good and the pictures are not too staged and trying to present me in a way that I’m not, then I’m interested in taking part in a project. Of course, I’m not a model.
10. Who are your favorite photographers, currently? I always love ROKOVOY- Emma and Amanda, and we often work together. I like other photographers too. I like street photographers, documentary photographer, but my favourite ones change all the time so I can’t name specific ones.I am very interested in photographs taken by machines also, like in aerial photography etc.
Shoot the Breeze: Bobby Chang
Bobby Chang is an artist and analogue photographer from Hong Kong. ‘Analogue’ refers literally to his use of exclusively disposable cameras. Previously a cameraman capturing the movement of multiple frames, Chang, now a photographer, is kind of an essentialist. He prefers to photograph in black and white since colors, to Bobby, are limited whereas the values of black and white endlessly bring out the undistracted ‘essence’ of the photograph. Yet, ‘essential’ is not the word that comes to mind when looking at the watery bodies, humble plant/architecture blending, and dreamy cloudscapes in his photographs. So let’s just allow the humility of the word ‘analogue’ resonate with his work a little deeper – as a descriptor but also as an embodiment of his visceral depictions of visual limitlessness within the non-digital. – Cynthia Or
1. Why do you take photos?
I take pictures because I like to keep certain memories alive. I think beauty deserves to be kept alive forever and that’s what I want to do. I also have many images in my head and I like to see them come alive.
2. Do you carry your camera with you everywhere you go?
Yes. I often shoot with disposable cameras and they are very easy to carry around. I always have one on me because you never know when you will find something you want to take a picture of.
3. What celebrity would you like to shoot most?
I’m not interested in celebrities, but from famous people I would like to photograph Rainer Werner Fassbinder. He is a big inspiration to me. He seemed to be a very interesting person.
4. What animal would you like to be, if not a human?
A cat. Because they are tough, very relaxed, very agile, ancient, and very wise.
5. What is your favorite smell?
I like the smell of rain. I have written a poem about the rain, it’s in my book that will be released soon.
6. Would you like to live forever?
I don’t know. If I could be always young, and everyone I love could be young and alive forever with me, and the world would not become even more horrible and destroyed then yes. Of course, I believe everything is a circle and there is nothing definite about life and death.
7. What do you think is the best photo you have ever taken to date?
I like many photos I have taken. Right now my favorite is one of my girlfriend, Emma, biting on a flower. It’s actually a series of 3 pictures of Emma and this flower in her mouth. To me this picture is very alive, because it was a bit spontaneous during a very fun shoot and it’s beautiful!
8. What’s your favorite pastime?
Eating! I love eating that’s why I’m fat. I also like taking pictures of course, traveling to places, watching horror movies and 70s slasher or experimental stuff. Painting with ink. These.
9. Do you like having your photo taken?
Yes, why not. If I like the photographer. I’m not embarrassed. If the photographer is good and the pictures are not too staged and trying to present me in a way that I’m not, then I’m interested in taking part in a project. Of course, I’m not a model.
10. Who are your favorite photographers, currently?
I always love ROKOVOY- Emma and Amanda, and we often work together. I like other photographers too. I like street photographers, documentary photographer, but my favourite ones change all the time so I can’t name specific ones.I am very interested in photographs taken by machines also, like in aerial photography etc.