Double Exposure
In the Name of Art Everyone is a photographer these days, or so we think, but the true talents are the ones putting their innovative spins to visual culture as we know it
Photographers putting their own innovative spins to visual culture as we know it
offline. All of them happened because of the great networks that were built and also the trust of my followers on this journey. I get messages of how a photo or video has benefitted them and, with people reaching out to me like that, I ought to share my gratitude. I feel the next generation of photographers can benefit from my experiences.”
Such content has clearly resonated with his audience of photography enthusiasts and aspiring photographers as in mid-may this year, he reached 500,000 followers on Instagram,
and gained the same number by early June, with over 1.1 million followers at press time. His following on Tiktok (he hopped on the platform last year during Singapore’s circuit breaker period to curb the spread of Covid-19) currently stands at 1.7 million.
Perhaps this need to share his knowledge and experience has something to do with the fact that he is a self-taught photographer. When he first started out, he had to learn everything on his own, from the gear required to crafting his vision of photography, as such content weren’t readily available. “I started shooting city skylines and architecture, but then realised that I wanted to document the things in between. That’s when I moved to street photography.”
Besides looking at beauty in everyday life, Lee has developed his own signature in the tonality of the images, which is “a bit more dark, a bit more moody, in a cinematic way”. He takes inspiration from the work of Magnum photographer Alex Webb, who is well known for the complex mise en scène in his vibrant streetscapes. “The way he composes his images and how he can make something very chaotic into something very orderly mannered—i always look up to that, and I want to portray the same in my pictures.”
On what he hopes his followers can take away from his sharing on social media: “You don’t need fancy equipment,” says Lee, who shoots with an iphone 12 Pro Max for all his tutorials. “What matters is the heart and the eye to really look at things that people don’t usually see. I think that’s what makes you stand out— and this applies to all genres of photography.”
Meanwhile, Lee continues to build up his portfolio in photography beyond social media, and is keen to explore other areas of work such as fashion or food photography. He stays relevant by keeping up with the trends and making sure to translate his work in a modern way, while keeping it as raw as possible. And regardless of what comes his way, he is willing to adapt.