Ivan Chen | Street Photographer Based In Taiwan
“In photography, it’s very easy to fall in love with a certain type of shooting style, and eventually, you would tend to shoot photos that way all the time”
Venturing through the vibrant neighbourhoods and uncovering hidden gems, Ivan Chen is a Taiwanese photographer who immerses himself in the rich tapestry of the city. With his unique approach and unwavering passion, he crafts breathtaking images that authentically capture the very essence of this dynamic and captivating metropolis. Ivan's work showcases the beauty, energy, and intricacies that make this city truly remarkable, leaving viewers in awe of its charm and allure.
© Ivan Chen
JLH: Hi Ivan! I’m so excited to speak to someone who lives in Taiwan. Can you tell us a little about who you are and how you got started with photography?
IC: Hi Jovis! A little about me, I am from Taiwan but spent a lot of time in Canada. My family and I moved to Vancouver, Canada in 1997. During my high school and college period I was really into cars. And the reason I picked up the camera was because I wanted to shoot car photos like the ones in the magazines. Also, because I lived in Vancouver, it has amazing cityscapes and landscapes too.
JLH: How did you develop an interest in urban and street photography?
IC: I actually didn’t start street photography until 2019. Before that, I didn’t know or understand street photography. I was very lucky to be invited to attend the Xpro 3 launch party in Singapore at the end of 2019. And I met Fujifilm X-photographers, Ivan Joshua Loh, Rommel Bundalian, Mindy Tan, Derrick Ong, and Ron Lee. I was very fortunate to be shooting alongside with them, also had lunch and dinner with them, so I really learned a lot. It was the experience of a lifetime. Each of those photographers has a different shooting style, and they are like your personal tutor for each different subject. So I’m really blessed, just forever grateful.
© Ivan Chen
© Ivan Chen
JLH: What do you find most challenging about capturing the essence of a city or street in your photographs?
IC: I think the most challenging part is probably not being fast enough for a moment. Because in street photography, everything could happen so quickly, and once you missed it then it’s gone. I think with street photography, you would never get a second shot of the same scene, maybe similar, but not the exact same one as the first one that you wanted to capture.
JLH: Can you share a memorable or unique experience you've had while photographing in an urban environment?
IC: The most memorable shooting experience was when I first encountered street photography, I was really lucky to be shooting along with some master-class photographers, they taught me many things, and that’s how I fell in love with street photography.
© Ivan Chen
JLH: How do you handle the ethical considerations that come with photographing people in public spaces?
IC: My style of shooting street is more about light and shadow, lines and geometry, so I usually shoot from a distance and try to be quick without people noticing. But recently, I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and try something different, so if I see a shot that I really want, I would ask the people if I could photograph them.
JLH: Are there any specific elements or subjects that you always try to include in your urban and street photographs – for instance, there are often solitary figures in your photographs?
IC: I’d say I’m a big fan of cyclists, people with umbrella, cats, reflections, and vending machines. So if I could see those subjects appear, I usually try to photograph them.
JLH: Which photographers have influenced your approach to urban and street photography?
IC: There are actually quite a few photographers that I really admire, Henri Cartier Bresson, Elliot Erwitt, and Alan Schaller. But the photographer who influenced me directly and got me into street photography is Fujifilm X-Photographer, Derrick Ong. He is my mentor, he taught me everything about street photography.
© Ivan Chen
© Ivan Chen
© Ivan Chen
© Ivan Chen
JLH: Why did you decide to shoot in black and white versus colour versus for urban scenes?
IC: I started to shoot in black and white because of Derrick Ong, he is a big fan of black and white photography. He taught me to always look for light and shadow, and the best way to see these two elements is through black and white.
© Ivan Chen
JLH: How has your perspective on urban environments and street life evolved or changed since you started photographing them?
IC: In the beginning, my street photography was always in black and white, mostly lights and shadow scenes. But recently, when I looked at those photos that I took, I asked myself, “Have I created my own style of photography or have I just taken the similar photos over and over?” In photography, it’s very easy to fall in love with a certain type of shooting style, and eventually, you would tend to shoot photos that way all the time.
Not that I don’t like light and shadow, black and white photography anymore, I still shoot that way all the time. But for a while, I felt my photos were boring, and I decided I wanted to change, I wanted to approach things from a different perspective.
JLH: What do you hope viewers take away from your urban and street photography?
IC: Taiwan is a really small country that could get forgotten on the map easily. I hope through my photography, not necessarily just street photos, but also landscape or cityscape, etc. Maybe when people see my photos, they would want to visit Taiwan.
© IVan Chen
JLH: How do you find inspiration when photographing familiar places or locations you've shot before?
IC: I like to watch a lot of photographers’ videos online and learn from them. And from time to time I would like to try different approaches and style when visiting the same locations. For example, I would focus just on light and shadow in black/white geometry style, and next time maybe in colour, and more documentary, journalism style, etc.
JLH: Can you share any tips or advice for aspiring urban and street photographers who are just starting out?
IC: Ha ha I’d say, shoot black and white, and always look for lights and shadows.
© Ivan Chen
JLH: Can you tell us about some of your recent award nominations and work?
IC: I had some nominations from the 14-17th Black and White Spider awards. 2020 Epson Panorama photo wards Bronze. 2 Honorable mentions from 2022 PX3 and some features on the Fujifilm X-lens gallery.
JLH: Can you share any future projects or ideas you'd like to explore within the realm of urban and street photography?
IC: There’s actually an ongoing theme I am working on at the moment; it’s called “The Photographers”. I love photographing people with their cameras; I want to document their moment when they are documenting someone else’s moment.
I also wanted to do a rain series. I am a big fan of rain; a lot of elements only occur when it’s wet, such as umbrellas, raincoats, splashes, reflections on the ground, puddles, etc.
© Ivan Chen
JLH: What is it like shooting on the streets of Taiwan?
IC: Ha ha well, I think shooting street in Taiwan is quite challenging, because our streets are messy and tight, so often a lot of unwanted elements could shown in the frame.
JLH: Can you tell us more about the street photography community in Taiwan?
IC: I think in the past few years the street photography communities have grown bigger over here. Being influenced by western cultures, I think more people are shooting street now.
© Ivan Chen
JLH: Who in the UPC group stands out to you?
IC: I don’t know a lot of members of the UPC yet, but most of their photos are really good. The one person’s work that I really like is Aaron J O’Loughlin. I think maybe because we have something in common in our photos, so when I first saw them, I really liked them.
JLH: What has been your experience with UPC?
IC: It’s been great, people here are super nice, and I really feel at home. Hopefully, I will get to meet with you all in the future.