The Flowery Years

-花様年華-

Photography Yung Hua Chen, Styling Ballball Chiu, Model Peng Chang,
Makeup Jonathan Wu, Hair Isiah @ driven.by. Short interview to Yung Hua is below.

Flower photos are one of your signatures.

I’m very interested in the art of flower arrangement. I find it soothing and peaceful during the process of flower arrangement, which is something that I enjoyed. It’s different in shooting flowers than shooting portraits of a character - the former is something intimate and personal, it belongs to a conversation with my inner self, which is also a practice and meditation of my inner peace.

我很喜歡花藝，喜歡插花的過程中獲得的寧靜和療癒感。不同於拍攝人物，花卉的拍攝是屬於較為個人的空間，是屬於內在的自我對話，也是某種靜下心來的修煉。

When did you start photography? Is it related to your family/education background?

My father is a visual artist and poet. What he’s been doing was something that I longed for as a kid, he’s someone that I admire and look up to. Although he didn’t teach me anything related to photography, his aesthetic had a strong influence on my work and the way I see things in life. In my memory - it was the time before I went to kindergarten, my dad used to bring me on the streets of Taipei to take pictures. I find it special to see him taking photographs of the texture on the walls, weird creatures such as Cicada Pupa and plants with dry branches and fallen leaves. To me as a young kid it was a really special experience.

父親是一位影像藝術家，也是一位詩人，他在做的事對於年小的我是個憧憬，雖然他沒有教過我如何拍攝，但對於如何觀看生活周遭，他的審美對我耳濡目染。印象中，在我讀幼稚園之前，我父親常常會帶著我去台北的大街小巷街拍，那時候覺得很特別的是，他會拍一些牆面斑駁的紋路、拍攝蟬蛹和一些枯萎的植物，對當時的我來說，那是種特別的體驗。

What do you love about taking pictures?

I really love how an image could capture and keep the details happening in a certain time. A lot of the times what we see through our eyes was only something happened in a second, a focus point that attracted us, or something that we specifically chose to see. Yet with the help of a camera capturing an image, you would be able to discover the details you have never noticed, or the backstory behind. At the same time, imagery reminds us of moments that have been forgotten. 
Portrait photography is something that I’m really fond of. I like to observe the emotional status of the character - different up and downs transitioning along with different music being played in the background. Photography is very much similar to watching a stage theatre through the camera lens - I can provide a paragraph of synopsis or plot for the subject to interpret, with a certain level of direction from time to time, so as to complete the photoshoot in a story-telling means.

我喜歡影像能保留住時間點上的細節，很多時候眼睛看見的只是衝衝一瞥，只是看到最吸引你的、或者你想去看見的；但如果多了照片的保存，便能看見更多事物的細節和關係。同時，照片的保存也能讓記憶一些已遺忘的時刻。
人像攝影一直都很令我著迷，我喜歡觀察人物的狀態和情緒，隨著不同音樂，能看見不同情緒的起伏和轉折；拍攝中，好比透過鏡頭在看一齣舞台劇，我能給予一段文字或者劇本讓人物去詮釋，偶爾加入指導，使拍攝內容有著敘事般的起承轉合。

Are there things you feel difficult and challenging about the photography and fashion world?

It’s very similar to the process of growing up. We have to keep up with ourselves, move forward along the changing of times. Of course we should insist in our own styles, be ourselves. Yet keeping up to date is something important, and also a good way to obtain new inspiration, so as to break through the boundary of oneself.

我覺得就像人的成長一樣，需要時時刻刻更新自己，順著時勢前進，當然可以保持自己的風格、做自己，但同時，與時俱進是一件很重要的事，也是突破自己或者獲得新的靈感的方式。

In Taipei, how does the fashion community work?

When it comes to the connection of people. It really depends on ones’ personality. Some people are being really cautious and careful, some people are very happy to share with everyone their resources and experiences. Overall everyone is very friendly and kind - I can see a lot of unity and people joining forces becoming a trend in the fashion industry.

其實也是看人，有些人比較謹慎，對於自己是相較保護的；有些人卻很願意分享自己的經驗和資源，但整體上大家人都滿好，時尚產業也有越來越團結的趨勢。

After Covid, where do you want to travel for shooting and why?

Japan. The cultural background of Japan is something that I’m  passionate about. It’s also close to my home geographically. I do actually miss my friends in Japan.

日本，日本文化一直是我很著迷的，距離也沒有很遠，也滿想念在日本的朋友。