Study Buddy (Explorer): Hong Kong photographer on why taking pictures is only ‘half of the job’
- Leung Yat-ting is a rising star in the city’s fashion photography scene and has taken photos for Elle, Vogue, Puma and stars such as Eason Chan
- Each week, this page presents an interesting story that we have adjusted to be more accessible for all English learners
Hong Kong photographer Leung Yat-ting has worked with several fashion magazines and celebrities. Photo: HandoutContent provided by British Council
[1] When Hongkonger Leung Yat-ting was a young girl, she spent hours setting up shoots with her beloved doll, Blythe, snapping photos with a digital camera her family had given her. “I’d dress up the doll and put together a small shooting set,” says Leung. “So I suppose that was my first exposure to fashion photography.”
[2] Now aged 30, Leung – who works under the name Leungmo – has her creative fingerprints all over the city, with some of her best work gracing the pages of fashion magazines Vogue HK, Grazia and Elle Men. Her vast range of styles is best seen on her studio’s Instagram account (@tooboredstudio) and her personal account, @Leungmo.
[3] The body of work is clear proof of why she is one of the city’s most in-demand photographers. Big names in the music business – Eason Chan Yik-shun, Terence Lam Ka-him, Kenny Kwan Chi-bun, Mirror, Joyce Cheng Yan-yee – have worked with Leung on album covers and concert posters, while brands including Canon, Nikon, Puma and Adidas have also put their trust in her creative hands.
[4] “I’m fortunate that clients give me creative flexibility and a great deal of trust,” she says. “Upon gaining more experience in this field, I realised that photography only makes up half of the job; the other half is about communication with clients and crew, and understanding their needs.”
[5] Travel is one way Leung, who has a sharp eye for the quirky, keeps her mind open. She recalls a 2016 trip to Cambodia, where she had an unforgettable encounter with a monk. “He took me to a meditation hall and I remember seeing a tiny printer and computer in the corner that didn’t fit the environment.
[6] “He printed some Buddhist scriptures in English for me and I took portraits for him and we chatted for a while. I still remember his last words to me: ‘See you tonight on Facebook!’ which completely changed my conventional assumptions.”
[7] While Leung sees inspiration everywhere, nature is her biggest source. “The intricate patterns on trees, flowers and leaves never cease to astound me … Nearly every natural object on Earth possesses a pattern of design,” she says.
[8] She enjoys great support from her family, she says, in particular from her father, who gave Leung her first professional DSLR camera as a gift for her 18th birthday. “My family’s encouragement and support, especially my dad’s, has fuelled my enthusiasm for photography,” says Leung, who in 2022 hosted an exhibition, titled “All Good”, featuring photos of people in the city wearing protective gear during the Covid-19 pandemic.
[9] And her advice for budding photographers? Follow your passion no matter what people might say. “Everyone has a unique way of seeing the world and that is what life is about – sharing love and creativity.”
Source: South China Morning Post, March 15
Questions
1. What did Leung enjoy doing when she was young according to paragraph 1?
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2. What do Vogue HK, Grazia and Elle Men have in common according to paragraph 2?
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3. Find a word or phrase in paragraph 3 that means “very popular”.
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4. Who does “their” in paragraph 4 refer to?
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5. Decide whether the following statements in paragraphs 5 and 6 are True, False or the Information is Not Given. (4 marks)
(i) Leung does not enjoy travelling.
(ii) She met an elderly monk during one of her travels.
(iii) She was probably surprised to see a tiny printer and computer in the mediation hall.
(iv) The monk refused to let Leung take his photo.
6. What does the “conventional assumption” in paragraph 6 most likely refer to?
A. Most monks are shy and do not like speaking to strangers.
B. Buddhist scriptures cannot be translated into English.
C. Monks do not use social media at all.
D. all of the above
7. Why does Leung find nature fascinating according to paragraph 7?
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8. What is the theme of the “All Good” exhibition mentioned in paragraph 8?
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9. According to paragraph 9, what does Leung encourage those who are new to photography to do?
A. to join a photography club
B. to keep practising
C. to challenge themselves
D. to pursue their dreams
Answers
1. setting up shoots with her Blythe doll and taking photos of it
2. They are all fashion magazines.
3. in-demand
4. Leung’s clients and the crew involved in the photo shoots (accept all similar answers)
5. (i) F; (ii) NG; (iii) T; (iv) T
6. C
7. because nearly every natural object on Earth possesses a pattern of design
8. people in the city wearing protective gear during the Covid-19 pandemic
9. D