Interview with Vincent Roy Chau | Engineer by Day & Photographer by Night.

Hi, my name is Roy! I am a mechanical engineer and a street photographer at the same time. I have been taking photos for over 20 years. I first came into contact with a camera when my dad bought me a film SLR camera while I was in elementary school. At first, I didn't fully understand how to operate the camera. Each time I shot, I had to carefully remember the settings like the aperture and the shutter speed, and then wait a week to see the developed results. As film photography involves costs for development and requires time, this experience trained me to be more deliberate and thoughtful with every shot I took back in those days.

I did not have any formal training in art school or photography school but I did learn all the basics from my father. I also joined the photography club when I was in secondary school. Thanks to the internet, I am able to continue learning every day through many online courses.

I remember my first roll of film was all about the rotating fan at home! Yes, a fan! I was trying to figure out the relationship between aperture and shutter speed. I used a roll of film to shoot the rotating fan with different shutter speeds to see the effect.

I usually use the Sony RX100VII for snapping in the street. I love this camera for its small size and versatility.

I am working on a few photography projects at the moment, hopefully, there will be something to deliver next year!

The genuine smiles from the people I photographed, after I showed them the photos, are the biggest rewards for me to continue my photography journey.

I am very much inspired by “The Last Resort” by Mr. Martin Parr. I love how his series captured the essence of the British seaside in the 80s.

Intimate, satirical, and humorous.

Thank you! I am so honoured to receive two Gold Awards this year. As I have mentioned, I am working on some other projects and this award certainly motivated me on my photography journey.

This project showcased a celebration event for the handover of Hong Kong. It is astonishing to see so many people all wearing and waving the same colour.

It certainly gave me confidence in the pathway of my photography journey. I am hoping to produce more impactful images in the coming years.

Henri Cartier Bresson for his insights about the decisive moment, Martin Parr for his thought-provoking images, and Bruce Gilden for his close-up images.

If in doubt, just shoot. You never know what may happen before you click the shutter button.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Put on your shoes and bring your camera, go out the door. If you stay at home, you will never take good photos.

Keep learning, don't dwell in the past. Push yourself to produce and deliver, even if the results are sometimes less than ideal.

Never stop learning. We live in the information age, which can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, the internet is my best teacher, helping me stay up-to-date.

Thank you for having me in this interview!