Man and his Creation: This breathtaking masterpiece is one of the many distinguished brainchild of Paul the Photographer.
“Create more and capture less” is the personal mantra of acclaimed bridal photographer Paul Kong of Gallerie CK and Zest Photographers. It was repeatedly accentuated by Paul, and reverberated throughout the enormous lecture hall during the Wedding and Portrait Photography Seminar which was held at UTAR Perak campus on 30 November 2012. His mollifying tone, convivial personality, and renowned shrewdness for the aesthetics of photography have endeared the engineer-turned-photographer to the applauding crowd of photography aficionados at the coveted talk organised by UTAR Centre for Extension Education (CEE).
“The most common photography blunder is to try to capture every cherished moments during ceremonious proceedings,” he espoused and continued, “The most heartfelt moments are enacted, not captured. The trend in photography has surreptitiously evolved from impromptu to premeditated photo taking. Therefore, it is essential that you first envision the album theme as it will obliquely influence the cover design. It is also important to have a perceptive eye on clients’ loves and aversions as their predilections are still the call of the day.”
Unveiling his life story, Paul took a plunge into photography after discovering his true calling, and the person instrumental in charting his illustrious career is his doting father. “He has been my greatest source of inspiration,” evoked an introspective Paul. What initially begun as “labour of love” has metamorphosed into a lucrative, full-fledged career for this photographer whose astute eye for details is well-documented.
As expected, his talk was imbued with a startling display of illustrations which revolved around matrimony and auspicious get-togethers. A spellbinding ambience pervaded the hall when the attuned audience was further enticed by a video compilation of Paul’s masterpieces. American rock act Lifehouse’s sensational number, “All That I’m Asking For”, was played as background music. His penchant for “black-and-white” photography and minimalist effects clearly encapsulated his enviable tenets for photography: Arty, immaculate and solemn. Coalescing gray scale and coloured hues is a definite no-no for him.
As parting advice, Paul promulgated, “Photography is synonymous to versatility. Given the right techniques, you can do it!”
The Art of Eternity: This far-fetched masterpiece clearly underscores Paul’s uncanny ability to immortalise the most defining moments.
Learning from the best: Photography enthusiasts hover around Paul (centre) after the talk to seek for more invaluable advice.
