9 questions with Fujifilm X-Photographer, William Chua

This is the 9th of a series of interviews with the Fujifilm X-Photographers of Singapore. Fujifilm X-Photographers are all professionals working in partnership with the brand and users as ambassadors who bring a breadth of knowledge and vision to the brand across multiple photography genres.

A professional photographer covering an immense width of photography genres, William Chua is a Photographer based in Singapore. His photography and videography experience covers the genres of weddings, portraits, landscapes, travel, and most notably wildlife.

A member of the Masters Photography Association (MPA London) since 2007, his works have also garnered awards from MPA, IPA, WPJA, AGWPJA, ISPWP, Photography Masters Cup, the Black and White Spider Awards and notably, a Gold Winner at the prestigious PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris Juried Awards in 2014. His images have been showcased in many exhibitions and published in Asian Geographic magazine and National Geographic magazine (UK).

One of the beliefs William has held steadfast is in giving back to the community, and he has put this in reality through his photography workshops that cater to the novice enthusiast or even the know-it-all professional. One can view all his most updated itineraries at www.williamchua.com/blog/.

I had the opportunity for a conversation with William, a dear friend whom I have known when the FUJIFILM X-mount was just introduced to the photography world and here are 9 questions that seek to provide a deeper understanding of this gentleman and his vision.

The Interview

What does ‘photography’ mean to you?

A word will be ‘documentation’. We currently live in a world of constant flux and changes, and the pace by which changes take place has only quickened. Photography in this sense helps to document visually what we see and capture that moment in time, which otherwise would be lost forever.

HOW WOULD YOU describe your photography style?

Natural will be the word.

The accessibility of photography tools and software has really grown exponentially, to the point where there are images that can be so post-processed that they can blur the fine line between reality and fantasy. There is of course nothing wrong with this but my personal take is that I wish to capture every moment as it is, the truest representation of the moment itself.

This is what I strive to do in my wildlife shots, to capture nature as it is, raw and potent.

Which is your favorite FUJIFILM CAMERA and why?

It really has to be the FUJIFILM GFX100. I have been with FUJIFILM since the X-Pro1 era and have seen how the brand has grown and it is extremely heartwarming to see FUJIFILM evolve from being a small player in the industry back in 2013 to now a medium format camera maker, and not just any medium format camera maker but the one which has managed to create a unique camera with IBIS at 102 megapixels and unsurpassed imaging quality among the cameras I have used.

Share one quirk or characteristic about you that others don’t know

It may seem ironic for someone who is constantly on the move that I do not even get to see my own home for the larger part of the year but I really love to be able to simply sleep in peaceful slumber on my own bed.

How do you improve yourself as a photographer? OR Who/What has inspired your vision?

By dreaming more. There are some who say Photography is an art and I do agree to this view to some extent. It is important to have an open mind towards all aspects of art.

IN YOUR CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL, IF YOU ARE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE ONLY ONE SHOT THAT HAS STILL MANAGED TO PIQUE YOUR INTEREST IN TALKING ABOUT IT, which is it?

GFX50S and GF110mm f2

I have been to Kenya numerous times in the last 10 years and have actually lost count of the images I have shot there but this image of the Leopard on the tree is extremely memorable for me in more ways than one.

Firstly, this image was shot on my first time using a medium format camera, the GFX50S in Kenya, in fact, this was my first shot when I reached Masai Mara that year.

And this became an award-winning image, and in the exact way I would have been proud to have documented this moment of wildlife in its most honest and raw form. I can still recall how everyone was so amazed at the details of the huge print which was made from this image.

What is the toughest part of being a professional photographer?

There are still some who think that all we do is just to press the shutter button and question our worth and working to debunk these misunderstandings to me is one of the toughest part of being a professional photographer.

Which aspect of photography brings you the most joy?

When my vision becomes a reality, there will be some moments or scene every photographer aspire to capture and for me, it is always a joy when I can check off one of these moments from my bucket list.

If GIVEN NO LIMITATIONS, what IS THE ONE THING THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO NEXT ?

To be able to capture images of the elusive Snow Leopard, so little is known about this beautiful animal and I really hope to be able to document the Snow Leopard in its native environment, so that future generations will be able to see the beauty and majesty of this animal. 

And that’s wrap for the interview.

If you are interested in collaborating with William, he can be reached via [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/williamchuaphotography/