CAMERA CART RENTAL INTERVIEW: LESTER LEDESMA

World Class

Singapore-based photographer-writer Lester Ledesma's on top of his game - doing the rounds around the world - trekking off to different parts of the globe, camera in hand. A vacation-filled life that we folks here at the mother land could only dream of! But before he was able to put the flag up at the top, a quality mark around his name, he did pass through a lot of hostile terrain. "A few old-timers actually didn't want me to get into the industry," shares Lester. "Others would simply not accept me as a professional and kept regarding me as just another amateur wannabe." And the industry was not merciful either. "Everyday you'll find yourself going head to head with outstanding photographers from Asia and the West. You fail to deliver the imagery, there will be dozens waiting to take your place." Lester could have just thrown the white towel but his love for adventure and photography made him push further. He dusted off the dire straits, walked more steps, and just carried on. "I stuck to what I was doing, trying to make great photography no matter what job I did."

You seem to be very busy. What have you been up to lately?

Well, just this weekend, I did a photography exhibit in conjunction with the Philippine independence day celebrations here in Singapore. Next weekend I'm flying off to do a shoot in Koh Samui, Thailand. Next month I'm doing an exhibition of my India photographs. This is for a project that I am doing with the India Tourism Board. Apart from that I'm also buy manning my post as the Singapore photo-editor of Ink Publishing, which basically this puts me in charge of quality control for a handful of international magazines.

So you are busy! How did things all started for you?

Back in 1995, I bought a camera during a vacation in the U.S. I loved taking shots of my trip back then that I burned my travel budget on film! Since then I haven't let the camera out of my hands.

How did you turn into a two-in-one: writer-slash-professional photographer?

In 1998, I got an assignment to do a story on cockfighting for Mabuhay Magazine. It was a writing gig, but I made great effort to shoot the story as well. I got myself access to a cockpit and shot it like crazy. In the end the editors liked my photography so much they used my pics, one of them as a double page lead photo. From then on it kinda snowballed and I started getting assignments on a regular basis.

What was the most challenging experience you've ever had when you were starting taking them photos?

Getting accepted as a notable photographer by the old guard. When I first started contributing to magazines, a few old-timers actually didn't want me to get into the industry. One guy even sent me a "friendly message" to stick to writing instead. Others wo uld simply not accept me as a professional and kept regarding me as just another amateur wannabe.
Ouch!
Well maybe I was. Nevertheless, I stuck to what I was doing, trying to make great photography no matter what job I did. I also kept my respect for the old-timers. Besides, it was their work that I studied. In the end, I suppose good work speaks fo r itself, and I got in. This experience has helped me a lot now that I am also a photo editor. Because of it, I try to look at the work of the new guys, and g ive them a break in the magazine industry whenever I feel th ey can do a job.

In behalf of everyone, thank you! Okay, can you name three of your favorite assignments and tell us why?

There's so many I'm afraid three won't be enough! There was this month-long backpacking tour that I did for SMART back in '05, which took me around the Philippines taking pictures with a cameraphone. They pretty much gave me the money and left me on my own for 4 weeks. That was one of the happiest months of my life. Then there was this two-week-long trip to Burma that I did for Fah Thai Magazine. This is probably the most ph otogenic country I've ever been to. Last month's India assignment was also memorable. I did Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir. The places that are so exotic I literally had visual nosebleeds everyday. Then there's the two months I spent documenting the lives of Elvis impersonators in Singapore. This was a personal project , but I later exhibited the photos at the Singapore Internati onal Photography Festival. And then there's also that time when I followed an ancient Khmer royal road from the Cambodian border all the way to Northeast Thailand by motorbike. This region is so not touristy that it was an adventure in all aspects.

And your fave click-away places?

India in Bhangra, Battura, Biryani and Bollywo od. Myanmar. I love this place. It's just so sad that they're presently under that ruthless regime. And in Italy. The lifestyle, the people, the food, and the history.

They all sound great! Can you describe the photography industry in Singapore?

Very competitive. Just about everyone who wants to go regional must stay here or in Hong Kong. Everyday you'll find yourself going head to head with outstanding photographers from Asia and the West. All this competition leads to a breakneck pace.

You fail to deliver the imagery, there will be dozens waiting to take your place.

So would you encourage Filipino photographers to try their luck abroad?

Yes. You'll never know how good you are unless you leave familiar territory and start competing on an international stage. Doing so just ups your level as a photographer, a businessman and a person, to greater heights. And that's because you simply need to be that good to survive. That means paying the rent and putting food on the table.

Any advantages and disadvantages of being a writer-photographer?

Being a writer-photographer lets me see a story from two angles. The visual and the literary. This often results in a deeper understanding of what's going on, and in the end this leads to more evocative imagery. On the financial side, it is much cheaper to send me on assignment than to send two guys out. And the writer-photographer gets paid twice.

Would you encourage photographers with writing talent to shoot and write? Or should they focus on one field?

Be the best you can be. Shoot, write, juggle, dance, do cartwheels. Learn all you can! It makes you a better person.

We want to be better persons! So what system are you shooting with?

I shoot with Canon equipment. I've grown up as a photographer with this system, and I understand it by heart. I also like some of the Sony cameras - the DSC-R1 and the Alpha 900. They're very well-designed workhorses.

When you're off to shoot a travel feature, what lenses and other
photography equipment do you bring with you?

A 19-35mm, 28-135mm, 75-300mm zooms, plus a 50mm. Flash units, radio trigger, tripod. and a backup body.

Aside from your camera, what's your favorite photo accessory?

My radio trigger on a portable flash. It helps me put the light right where I want it, with minimal fuss.

Let's say we gave you all the money in the world, what photography equipment would you add to your

roster?

I'd buy Cartier-Bresson's Leica. That's like finding the Holy Grail. Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha! What's the most challenging thing about travel photography?

Getting beyond the postcard shot. To do that you'll need to understand the place, the people, the culture.

And what do you love about travel photography?

The travel, the adventure. Meeting new people, seeing things you've never seen before, doing things you've never done before.

Any advice for those who want to become a travel photographers?

You'll need to love traveling as much as you love photography. You'll need to be curious about the world around you. You'll need to be open to other views, customs and beliefs. You'll need to have that knack for getting that "sense of place" - what makes a place special, unique and interesting. It's never just about taking good photographs on location. It's about being able to give somebody a travel experience just by showing him your photograph.

We're packing our bags right now! Any advice for those who want to be professional photographers?

Love what you do. You don't become a pro because of the money. It's very competitive out there, especially these days with people using digital photography and the internet to learn faster. Know how to handle money. Make wise investments. Market yourself well. Find your vision early on. This is how people will remember your work. Vision to the photographer is what voice is to the singer. CC

Click on to this link for more about Lester Ledesma:
http://www.skylightimages.info/

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