This week’s Member Moment features work by Kenny Ong, who captures beautifully textured macro and landscape shots. Scroll down to see his pictures and to read the interview!
PL: What got you interested in photography?
KO: The movie "Spy Game"; a movie definitely not for kids, but I watched it when I was a kid, and it hypnotized me with its action thriller portrayal of photojournalism in a conflict zone. That's when I started telling my parents, "When I grow up, I want to be a professional photographer!" I'm all grown up now, have had photojournalist-adjacent jobs, and am happy to just be an amateur.
PL: What type of camera do you shoot with?
PL: When taking pictures, what are some objects or elements or feelings within a scene that inspire you to take a photo?
KO: I like to photograph fine details, textures, atmosphere, and contrast in scale and character. I feel like the floor/ground often has things I want to photograph, so that's why I'm looking down all the time. It's not just my neurodivergence.
I love macro, and in general photos that feel like I can just dig into them with my gaze and find numerous little details or side stories to appreciate. I love when landscapes and scenes have an atmosphere to them, based in feelings like melancholy or quietude, or based in literary genres like noir, gothic, or cyberpunk.
I also look to capture contrast in scale and character because contrast is conflict and conflict is story: small person vs big world, going up vs going down, etc.
PL: Of the pictures you submitted, can you share an interesting story about one?
KO: I have hung a large print of the waterfall photo on the door to my bathroom. I find that it sets the right mood, and I love when form follows function.
PL: What do you enjoy most about digital/film photography and what is challenging about it?
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