Posts tagged "inquirer"

CHUCK REYES Points and Shoots

by Vicky Herrera

Who, why, what and how this young lad started learning photography
THE MINUTE you check out Chuck Reyes’ photo blog, you would immediately add his site to your list.

This 24- year-old first started talking pictures in his senior year of high school. “I think one day I just decided to do it. Nobody in my family was really interested in photography, but I wanted some kind of creative outlet so I started using an old camera we had in the house,” he said.

In his first year of college, he took a black-and-white photo of his class and started making prints in the darkroom. “I was hooked from there,” he said.

Eventually, he started taking party photos in 2006, as well as portraits and fashion shoots for some local magazines. After moving to Singapore in 2008, Chuck continued to master his craft and has successfully cranked out an impressive portfolio with a huge international appeal.

From fashion shoots with fly-in models to spending some quality time with influential musical artists, to shooting cultural taste-makers for Singapore’s youth-bible, Juice Magazine, Chuck is certainly on his way to becoming a top photographer. Now you can bookmark that.

So how’s the scene in Singapore?


The scene in Singapore’s great, everybody’s really pushing it in the creative industries, so it really makes you want do great stuff. The art photography seen is growing steadily, but the magazine and editorial work is so great, there’s so much amazing work being put out.

In the fashion world, a lot of models pass by Singapore to get really creative tears for their book before they move on to New York or Europe. That means we get some top-tier models stopping by for two to three months at a time, who then move on to shoot for the huge magazines. And lots of artists and musicians doing an Asian tour stop by Singapore so there’s an opportunity to shoot them, too.

Who have you shot recently?

Aside from working with amazing models, I’ve been lucky enough to shoot musicians like Datarock, the Handsome Furs, the Misshapes, Gildas from Kitsune, Emmy the Great and recently, Little Boots. I also just shot Nigo, the founder of A Bathing Ape, for the cover of Juice Magazine’s upcoming December issue.

Who are your best subjects?

I just love shooting people, any kind of people. I’ve been shooting a lot of models lately so I miss shooting real people, though I’m hoping to do some personal, non-fashion projects soon. Lately I’ve also shot some random still life and non-people stuff, but even those feel like a kind of self-portraiture more than anything.

What’s the most unforgettable photo you took?

I don’t think I’ll ever forget shooting Datarock for Juice Magazine. It was one of my first jobs for them, and I got to shoot them in their hotel room. I asked if I could get them to play their instruments and then all of a sudden they were busting out the song “Give It Up” from Red. It was like a mini-concert complete with mini guitars and keyboards and mini amps. It was amazing! I actually asked myself, “Is this really happening?” I probably had a huge grin on my face the whole time.

How would you describe your shooting style?

My shooting style is pretty relaxed. I rarely shoot in the studio and I don’t use much lighting, just sunlight or the flash on my camera, so I’m moving around a lot. I think I talk a lot, but that’s probably out of nervousness than anything.

If you could shoot a legend, living or dead, who would it be?

Probably Egon Schiele. I think he has an amazing face, and he has just enough internal craziness to make it interesting. It wouldn’t be a portrait session though, I’d put him in Raf Simons suits and do a fashion story. Then I’d shoot my own stuff on the side. Two birds with one stone!

What websites do you like to check out?

I like to check out Fashiongonerogue.com to see what editorials are coming out all over the world. Aphotoeditor.com for work/business related stuff. Clubsnap.com is a great Singaporean website for deals on second hand camera gear, and a bunch of independent blogs.

What’s more important: Vision VS Tools?

You need vision or else the tools would be useless. “Homo-nymetically” you need tools in order to rise above negative criticism, know who your true friends are, and to be an example of who NOT to imitate. Okay, that was a bad joke!

What is your current obsession?

I’m obsessed with finding good deals on photography books. I’m building up a pretty good collection I think. The yearly National Library book sale is amazing. I got Hedi Slimane’s Stage for like two bucks.

Going to photography school: Yes or no?

Photography school: No. Art school: Yes. Interning/Assisting a Photographer: Yes. Photography Workshops: No.

What’s the best advice you’ve received when it comes to taking pictures?

“If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” It’s a Robert Capa quote, but it’s also great advice.

Secret Weapon?

My glasses.

Next dream?

To do a really meaningful, really well executed personal project. Or find the time for it.

Published: December 4, 2010 in Inquirer’s 2bu

Chuck Reyes points and shoots - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

chuck reyes photography vicky herrera writing inquirer
Dec 09

De La Salle-CSB student makes it to New York runway - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

By Vicky Herrera

A LOT can happen in a year. It’s a realization Pinay supermodel Chat Almarvez is well aware of.

A Google search on this stunning muse will come up with a list of notable achievements. She is the winner of the 2009 Supermodel of the World Philippines competition, which thrust her into the international finals held in January this year in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

She describes the experience as a happy but nerve-wracking one because she knew she was representing the country. She did well, in fact, bagging the first runner-up award. After the competition, she signed a contract with Ford models worth $150,000, and immediately began working as a model in New York.

Chat, the person

Chat in person is a bit shy and soft-spoken. She shows no signs of a giant ego.

As the 17-year-old speaks about her experiences, her eyes light up, showing her eagerness to learn and succeed in the world. She also smiles constantly.

Chat describes her childhood growing up in Laguna as simple. She was an outdoorsy girl who loved to bike, swim and dance. She was once a majorette. Yes, she knows how to twirl a baton!

She was a majorette for five years until she began getting conscious about her height. At 5’9, she stood out in the crowd.

Chat went to Laguna State Polytechnic University for high school. She wanted to be a teacher or a businesswoman. In college, she took up business administration, major in export, at La Salle College of Saint Benilde for a year.

She then started dreaming of becoming a model, and her parents gave her their support. Fashion director Kata Figueroa discovered Chat during the town santacruzan. She asked Chat if she would like to attend a go-see, at which she was introduced to Joey Espino, executive producer of Runway Productions and Masters School for Models. Espino ended up mentoring the young up-and-comer.

Her very first runway experience was at the Philippine Fashion Week shows in May 2009.

Sacrifices

Chat shares that by preparing her mind she learned to tone down her fears. She always prays to God for guidance, and keeps her mind clear by staying happy and enjoying the process. She also keeps in mind what her parents have taught her: “Do your best. There is no pause, and no replay. Dapat ibigay mo ang lahat.”

She stays disciplined in New York by watching her diet and by exercising. There is a lot of commitment involved in living the supermodel life.

And a lot of sacrifices, too. Traveling away from home can get pretty lonely. But eventually Chat got used to it. She says she has made close friends overseas—co-Calcarrie’s model and Ford model Charo Ronquillo in particular. She has also forged friendships with the other finalists from the Supermodel contest, particularly Isabelle from Sweden.

Supermodel

In such a short time, Chat has already achieved what most models could only dream of. She has walked the runways of New York Fashion Week for Rachel Comey, Cynthia Steffe, Lacoste, Peter Som, Diane Von Furstenberg and Sophie Theallet.

Chat describes the experience as an adventure. She laughs at how her dress once got caught in her heel but she had to keep on walking as if nothing had happened. She has also appeared in a fashion editorial in V Magazine.

Chat would love to do major work for Vogue, work in Paris and Milan, and get booked for more major campaigns.

Published on August 7, 2010 for Inquirer 2bU

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vicky herrera writing inquirer chat almarvez models
Dec 27

Shirts For The Gents

by Vicky Herrera (Published November 18, 2011 in Inquirer 2bu)

Twenty-seven-year-old Abdul Salam is among the first of a new breed of menswear designers in the Philippines. When he’s not going to karaoke bars, hanging out with his girlfriend or checking local fabric markets, Salam is in work mode, 100 percent focused on his menswear label Sir, which specializes in custom-made button-down shirts.

His move into the design world started when he was working at True, a boutique store in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco.  “My friends there definitely showed me the ropes,” he says.

For six  months, he worked as a store clerk, which included mundane tasks, even cleaning the toilet and folding T-shirts. Then, he moved to handling the visual display of the store. Eventually, through hard work, he was offered the manager position, which gave him first-hand knowledge of the industry.

Aside from being an assistant buyer at trade shows and assisting in designing for the label, he also managed a staff. It was a real taste of the managerial and leadership aspect of running a business. “It was the best three years of my life,” says Salam.

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abdul salam button down shirts philippines fashion designer inquirer vicky herrera writing
Nov 18