Jay Yeung Ho Sum is the winner of the People’s Choice Individual Photo for the “Macau 2020 – A Time for Introspection” Macau CLOSER Photography Competition. CLOSER met up with him today to congratulate him on his winning photo and to learn a bit more about him.
Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
My name is Jay, Yeung Ho Sum, I’m a social worker. I have been working with teens and children and training volunteers. Photography is a hobby I picked up from work. I used to take snapshots for our activities. Then I gained interest in it and started taking pictures for our clients and basketball teams. Since I’m a social worker, I have different thoughts and angles on the story and topics for photography.
What appeals to you most about photography?
I think of photography as a mixture of mechanical operation and expression of emotions. To me, capturing a fleeting moment is a challenge, which matches my mercurial characteristics. It is a good way to express my feelings. The most attractive factor of photography is that I can document people’s stories. I think it is also a way to serve as I get their feedback and see their enjoyment from photos, which is related to my work. That’s why I enjoy taking photos.
How long have you been taking photos for? And how long have you lived in Macau?
I have been taking photos for almost 10 years. But I never studied photography professionally. I've just figured things out myself. I was born in Hong Kong, but I moved to Macau when I was little. I've spent most of my time here and have deep feelings for Macau.
Can you tell us a bit about your hobby as a photographer? What type of photos do you most enjoy taking?
I take photos of sports mostly, especially basketball. Because I like playing basketball but I’m not professional enough to compete with others. That’s why I want to develop my interest in a different way. Basketball was not a popular topic for photography in Macau when I started and it is amazing for athletes to be captured on the court. So I started taking photos for various teams voluntarily. I met many friends and got to practise my skills through the journey. Now, I’m a rather well known photographer for basketball games here. Other than that, I do wedding photos too. I also like to participate in photography competitions of social issues’ topics.
People are a must-have in my photos. I don't have much interest in scenery or lifeless objects. I like human interactions, their emotions and movements.
Can you tell us something about your winning photo? Where and when did you take it and what was it about that particular scene that grabbed your attention?
My winning photo was taken around April in San Mei On building. I had seen this building in other people’s photography many times but it was my first time to go there. It looks very much like the public hosing in Hong Kong I used to live in back in the day. It is difficult to see that kind of close and caring relationship between neighbors in Macau. There is this old fashion neighborhood feelings within that I have strong affections for in that building. Because of Covid-19, people stayed at home and some were chilling by the doorstep. It reminded me of how many people were forced out of work and it touches me a lot. People were shy about the camera when I was taking pictures there. Suddenly, a man came out for some cool breeze and the distinct lighting of cold and warmth were amazing. So I pressed the shutter immediately.
What do you think of Macau as a city to take photos in? What areas of the city are most interesting to you?
The most special thing about Macau is that everywhere has been photographed. Unlike Hong Kong where a lot of beautiful scenes are still undiscovered, the uniqueness of taking photos in Macau is to capture different feelings for the same familiar spots. There is this old and tiny city feeling in Macau, but at the same time, there is this prosperous side of casinos and hotels. So it’s easier to show that life-related and disparity of the rich and the poor aspect in photography here.
I lived in the Barca area when I was little. It is a very “Macau” place to me. The residential area is between famous streets and there are many old buildings, which is very similar to Mercado, the place I work. There’s no such close relationship of neighbours in those new buildings. That’s why Barca, Mercado and the basketball court are my favourite places to shoot.
How has the virus situation affected your activity as a photographer?
There’s not much difference. People stayed in Macau because of the virus so there are more opportunities for me to take wedding photos. Since people are not going out and are spending more time here, it is easier to discover the uncommon and inspiring sides of this small city.
What is it that you like most about doing photography?
I like the fleeting moments that I can capture. Not the changing scenery, but the emotions and expressions people have during their interactions. Those spontaneous feelings from the heart and unexpected moments are the truest treasures to me, and the most meaningful and most important part of my photography.
Do you have any tips on how to be a good photographer?
I admire how a lot of photographers, especially the younger ones, are really devoted to search for good topics for photos. There are a lot of good works on social media and it is easy to feel defeated when learning from them. I think photography is a format of expression and art appreciation. So, never compare yourself with others, but learn from their greatness. And learn how to appreciate beauty from them. I also suggest thinking about how to better use our photography skills when we have it. Like delivering messages or to showing the needs of the weak through our cameras, and improve our society through it.
