I often recommend taking pause after a photo idea, and thinking “how can I make this even better?” Edmund owns this mantra, as each week his creativity, and investment in his ideas, absolutely blows me away. To date, Edmund has submitted 237 photos into the project!
-Yosef
___
Name: Edmund Cheung
Current All-Time Streak: 62
Joined 52Frames: March 2020
Your “walk-around” gear right now:
iPhone 15 ProMax, Sony A7iii
The place you call home:
Los Angeles, CA. USA.
___
Your life in 30 words or less
“Father, Man & Companion…
Kind, Caring, & Compassionate…
Physician, Photographer & Dreamer…
Creator of my own Reality…
I am human and part of humanity…”
Can you share 2 images, one from your past, and one more recent, that show your evolution as a photographer?
What has been your favorite style of shooting lately?
I have always tried to tell a story with my images and always tried to “shoot what it feels.” So lately I have been experimenting heavily with multiple image composite photography. I would really like my images to be “different” or “creative.” I have an Art History (along with medical) background. I would eventually like my photographs to blend into the category of art. Although many of my images may not fully developed or could be considered “weird,” I enjoy this creative process and imbuing a personal interpretation into my images … After all why shoot the ordinary?
Globally, we capture 5.3 billion photos daily, or 61,400 per second. The average American takes 20 photos per day. There are approximately 14.3 trillion photos in existence. Smartphones account for 94% of all photos taken in 2024.
What was the first photo you ever submitted to 52Frames?
How did you find out about 52Frames?
Article about photo creativity on web search.
What submission are you most proud of and why?
Besides it being recognized as a 52 frames pick, this close up detail of my Rosie’s nose won the Division and came in second place overall at the Orange County Fair Photo Competition. However besides being recognized (I feel very honored), this photograph represents everything I love about photography.
1. It pushed me out of my normal landscape photography to embrace a different technique.
2. The limitations of the theme (details) stirred up my creativity to pre-visualize the shot.
3. Technically I executed the shot with instinctual creative adjustments. EG. shot in the shade, had Rosie calm down, used a 20mm wide with close focal distance, etc.
4. Creative juices were flowing with the edit to convert to black and white to minimize distractions.
5. It is a photo of ROSIE (one of my favorite subjects).
One tip you’d like to share?
Do NOT worry about shooting the best or perfect photo! Embrace your imperfections and the photo themes each week to push yourself to become a better photographer and to see the world in a different way. Use this analogy for your life!
There is a parable story of a ceramic professor who divided his class in half. On the first day, he told half the class to produce as many pieces of ceramics that they could (over few hundred plus). This half would be graded purely on quantity and not quality. Then he told the other half of the class that they would be graded on creating the most profound beautify piece of a single ceramics piece by the end of the class. This half was graded on pure “Quality” of the piece. Guess who created the best pieces?
quantity-leads-to-quality-the-origin-of-a-parable
Why is 52Frames meaningful to you?
Appreciate 52 Frames pushing me to be a better photographer and person. These weekly photo theme challenges make me thing and see the world in different light. The weekly photo habit unleashes a creative side of me that balance my more rigid analytical side and allows me to dream. I use the limitations to stimulate my creativity every week. Going to leave everyone with this amazing TED Talk that exemplifies this concept = Embrace the Shake.
phil_hansen_embrace_the_shake
To view Edmund’s profile on 52Frames, click here:
Wow, your words ring so true Edmund. Really enjoyed reading this and seeing your photos. I think we are on the same journey, I’m trying to melt my photos into my art too and embrace imprefection… not an easy task but you’re right about quantity trimming quality. Many thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the kind words!
Edmund – a twin soul. Your thought process is so similar to mine – as a fellow physician, dreamer, photographer. Yes. A slightly different order, as much of my photography is dreaming of ways to improve……
I will follow you.
Thanks and happy shooting! Will follow back. Can no wait to see what you create.
Thank you Edmund. I have just listened to the Ted Talk, and saved it to listen to when I get stuck, I have defiantly found that the more limitations I have on something, the more creative I become. I was given some great advice when I first started photography, “Embrace the Weird”, and it has stuck with me. Love the creativity of your images. Thanks again for sharing.
Thank you for the kind words. Keep creating!