This past weekend we managed to snag Chuck L. Nguyen, founder of the GMNeye project, for an exclusive interview for HairStylesDesign. This amazing up and coming fashion photographer shows time and time again in all his photos that he's definitely going straight to the top. His crisp and clean approach to shooting really brings out his personality and passion. Read on to find out more about this talented and stunning photographer.
Where do you draw inspiration for your work?
I draw my inspiration mostly from movies, novels, (In which case I try to depict what the author is describing) from watching human expressions and natural behaviour, but mostly, in an artistic and photographic point of view, from Christian Dior's Artistic director Tyen.
To me, Tyen is not only a multifaceted artist, but also a visionary that withstands the test of time today. Each one of his photos is thoroughly thought out and meticulously executed. Those are two things I have tried to mimic in my own work and passion and I think it shows in the visuals I produce, yet there is always room for improvement and I have confidence that things will be get better with time.
You are a huge up and coming photographer in the industry. How did you get to where you are today?
My GMNeye project, as of now is not quite a profession yet, since I've been working on honing/sharpening my skills, building a good portfolio and broadening the network of people I can work with. So to be honest, right now I can only say that I wonder where I will be tomorrow... while thriving to bring out the best with my eyes and imagination.
What is your favourite set that you have worked on?
That would have to be the first time I had a session with serious female models! No one really knew what kind of pictures I would produce, even if I had sketched out and doodled my ideas for them. But in the eyes of the beauty team I seemed to be somewhat of a special case. In the end everyone was very happy with the results, especially me. It was great to have an opportunity to prove myself because just getting some people to give me a chance was a hassle. Luckily for me, the stylist I work with managed to convince quite a few ladies to participate.
What is the most difficult part about your future profession?
Organizing and finding time to put into the photos. I have a full time day job. So sometimes it can be challenging to make my schedule fit with the makeup artists, hair stylists and models. It can also be
tiresome on certain days to get out of work and jump right into a photoshoot. I always end up replacing the exhaustion with passion, though. Producing images is something I love to do so I guess it helps me find
solutions and make all the pieces in the puzzle fit.
The only easy part to this profession is finding ideas. Imagining possible concepts and jotting them down.
If you could photograph anyone's hair/style in the world, who would it be?
I cannot isolate a single individual for this… this is exactly how numerous ideas constantly start cooking in my mind.
But as of now, I would have to say Jean Dujardin for his ease of pulling off slick and classy. That would be the man I would want to shoot.
Choosing a woman, that would be Natalie Portman. She has had numerous hairstyles over the years and since I don't really keep up with her tabloid life, getting to photograph her could bring me a nice surprise.
(I like surprises!)
I know I might be pushing the question, but I would have loved to take pictures of James Dean and Amy Winehouse. Those two were really original entities. They are simply unique people that nobody will ever be able to copy… I simply am in awe to see how they remain literal trademarks of their time.
Do you have a favourite stylist (hair or clothing) to work with? If yes, who and why?
I collaborate with Christine Gaspard of LDB Styles and it is a sheer pleasure not only to plan out my vision, but also making it happen on set! She is creative and outgoing and puts everyone at ease and makes them feel comfortable. But the most important thing: she always believes in my projects.
How would you describe your photography?
As mentioned earlier, people sometimes have difficulties imagining what kind of pictures I take, and that makes me realize that style is different from what we now see. To boil it down I am mostly a low key photographer, meaning my photos tend to have more shadows and dark areas in them.
To me, the photos I take all have an idea behind them. They convey a mood, a tone, and sometimes a story. In other words, dramatic. I enjoy doing this because I like the audience to have a guideline to where the photo
takes them, but yet have the freedom to imagine what it really depicts. All my photos are very crisp. I believe it's my way of keeping high fidelity alive in a world being stormed by the "Instagram craze".
Another thing I incorporate into my work is motion and emotion. Just like how Richard Avedon did in the late 1940's. He was innovative for finding ways to translate human demeanour into a performance, and graft movements into still images gracefully.
Both Tyen and Avedon are artists I look up to. I try to draw inspiration from them. They are both masters of their own art, and the key word here really is art. They have a trademark, a signature style, and that is something I've realized might be becoming rare nowadays... I keep on working hard to make sure I maintain a style that sets itself apart, but that viewers will enjoy.
You are a very versatile photographer, what is a style where you feel comfortable and what new boundaries are you pushing?
I have been holding and playing with cameras for around 12 years now, and I've done mostly journalistic, documentary and candid photography. Capturing reality. I decided to change all of that not too long ago and give the controlled environment of studios a try... and let my imagination run wild. My stylist always says I am very animated being when it comes to photography, so that would be the boundary that I am currently pushing.
Last but not least: Where can people find you?
At the moment, there is some work that is regularly posted on the GMNeye Facebook page: facebook.com/gmneye.photo If ever anyone likes my work, they are more than welcome to click on the "Like" button. I am currently in the works of having my website up very soon also, gmneye.com (which is functional, but no content has been activated yet.)
Via: Spotlight Photographer - Chuck L. Nguyen