My favourite types of projects are the ones where you get to collaborate. Especially with other artistic minded people. This can take many forms. From working with pure artists to create interesting conceptual portraits or other works. Or with fashion designers where I get to put my own style and ideas into the photography of their designs. All the way to collaborating with architectural designers. Both interior and exterior to showcase their spaces in slightly different ways. Exterior designers, need large grand shots to show how their design sits in the landscape it is fit for. Interior designers need more intimate shots. Highlighting details and colour combinations to showcase their creations.
I have no particular favourite type of designer to work with. They are all fun and expressive in their own right. I have drifted over the years to interior architecture. Perhaps because I live in a hot tropical country. So spending my days in the comfortable air conditioning of new buildings is ideal. I also greatly enjoy seeing how interior designers play with and match colours. Colours to patterns, Patterns to textures. and Textures to the environment they exist in. It becomes a lovely challenge to create both my own interpretaion of the space. As well as try to figure out what the original designer had in mind to be the focus. This photographic discipline has a sort of Zen element to it. After all the meetings and logistics work is done. The photographer is left alone in the space to create and showcase.
In this series of photos I was working with the award winning Cheng Chung Designs. The firm had designed the interior of a massive new property in HoiAn. Commissioned to photograph the key design elements. Not only one or two. But the key design elements for the whole property. Not an easy task as there are a lot of beautiful spaces at the property. The style is minimalist but with some nice detailed flourishes. A style I find very pleasant to photograph.
Starting in the central hallway leading from the lobby area. The frosted glass panels and circular style lights on brass piping gave the area a modern feel. All while diffusing the harsh light falling in from the beachfront.
The main suite rooms were similarly designed. With muted background colours. But slightly more vibrant furniture to bring some life into the spaces.
Interesting brass or brushed steel light fixtures and lamps placed around the hotel. Made for nice breaks in the more subdued wall colours and textures.
One of my favourite areas to photograph was the top floor restaurant kitchen. The use of green cabinets and marbled counter tops with brass light fixtures made for some striking images.
In the end I was very happy with the images. The client was as well. I am looking forward to seeing more of their designs in Vietnam in the future.
