Featured Artist: Eugene and Yen

Eugene and Yen blogger, Eugene Cheung, describes himself as a photography, style and personal post addict, posting photo shoots in and around Sydney. Eugene’s working includes portraiture, food photography and candids and he does a fine job at all three. What he doesn’t tell you is that he’s only fifteen. This week, Mood of Monk took a few minutes to chat with him about trying to carve his place as an artist, at such a young age. Check out some of his work down below…

What was it that made you want to start a blog?

At the time, I was only around twelve turning thirteen and it was the “in” thing to do. I started to blog my day. It was just a daily blog which had no meaning: I obsessed over my crushes and wrote absolute rubbish about them – if I look back on it now I just laugh.  But when I look back on how many people never really developed their blogs and found their own style, I see that the long hours and over 800 posts invested were worth it.

You are probably part of the first generation for which that is a natural medium, do you think that there’s anything special about how you approach the online world?

All blogs out there inspire me! Style, Fashion, Food, Photography, Travel they all make me want to continue with mine. Every so often I think about giving up, but then I’ve come so far, so I have to keep going.

Are there certain things you’re hoping to express?

There is usually a theme linked in – it expresses my mood for the week, day or just what I want to think. I’m also a firm believer in not being a conformist so I try to express that fact with a range of different themes to suit my personality.

Obviously you’re still studying, but where do you see things going over the next few years?

I see myself not taking photography as a profession but as a side hobby: something that I can do as a stress relief for all the study (or lack of) I’ll do in University. It all comes down to interest really, if I still want to do it I’ll do it, even if it means I have to make time for it. If you really love something it’s worthwhile to keep going.

Can you tell us, just briefly, about the way you shoot? What is it technically that makes your work your very own?

I used to shoot in so much landscape. Over the past six months I’ve learnt that shooting in portrait is much better because it focuses in more onto the subject and doesn’t create unnecessary interest from the background. My work, I  think, is distinct in terms of composition. I’ve been experimenting a lot with weather, poses, and people but I think the main thing which comes out of it is the distinct stare of my models into the camera. I’m really into a powerful gaze so I try to capture that most of the time.  I’m still working on it though! Nothing is perfect yet…