Advertising Photography

True Money

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A recent composite billboard shoot for Champagne agency. The different image elements were shot between setups of a TVC shoot on Diamond Island in Phnom Penh. My assistant Manuth But and I set up a large white backdrop on a parking space on Diamond Island close to the TVC set. We shot the car, tuk tuk and cyclist against the backdrop using the natural sunlight and reflectors as fill. We moved the backdrop around to follow the suns direction to try to match the light on each of the vehicles for the composite. We shot the main talents using studio strobes against a blank wall in the shade. The blurry background buildings were shot on a separate day.

Art direction Aurelien Soula from Champagne and Bunsak But compositor and retoucher.

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Toyota Fortuner & Pianist

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This commercial Fortuner car shoot a few months back was shot somewhere out at one of the many new (ish) concrete jungle extensions of Phnom Penh. No idea where I was! Perhaps towards the airport somewhere to the right. Phnom Penh is spreading by the day it seems, construction, dust, grime, garbage, nowhere to walk, no trees, heavy traffic. I'm happy to reside up north near the river even if it is tourist central.

Though Dream Studio was on a quiet side street and once inside a really good space large enough to shoot a car, but no huge overhead soft box and was painted black. The studio had been used to film the Fortuner TVC. But we took it outside to be shot on a flattened construction area cleared for a future condo project. Outdoors created many unwanted reflections but it was the better option.

Good to be working with art director/designer Mr Zacky from MSA. I used a polariser to rid reflections in different parts of the car over several shots at the same angle with camera on a tripod. Zacky will have used several layered shots in post. And lots of retouch, I don't envy him. As the pianist and piano was somewhat smaller, the black studio worked well and I got around it with some large white sheets, reflectors and four studio strobes.

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Tiger Street Football ads

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Another commercial photography ad shoot we did at Slek Rith Films studio in Phnom Penh. Print ads for the Tiger Street Football event held in Siem Reap and around the country last month.

For this I used the rim lighting technique similar to my Dreamyland series. But instead of a beauty dish I used a small/medium soft box for the front fill. We shot several angles of each player for the composite.

Featuring French Khmer football star and fashion model Thierry Chantha Bin who plays for Phnom Penh Crown and the national Cambodian football team. Designer Bunsak But did the post production work on the players. As he did for my Dreamyland work.

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Manulife 2016 Calendar shoot

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A tough commercial photo shoot last month, only two days to shoot a whole calendar at several locations in rainy season, some with small children. Many of the required backdrops were green spaces and Phnom Penh is limited when it comes to parks. Indoor locations included Phnom Penh Pochentong airport's new departure terminal at its busiest time of the day, shooting around passengers scurrying about was pretty hectic.

These images are currently being used for billboards, print ads and for the up coming Manulife 2016 calendar. Again art director Phirith Uch from River Orchid was great to work with, he also did the layout design, along with much help and organisation from Miss. Both and the River Orchid team. The talents included the famous Cambodian comedian Chab Chien and family who did an excellent job. Plus other loyal Manulife customers and staff. Working with non actors and small children can be challenging, not to mention the changing weather. But we managed to get it all done in time with surprisingly good results. More pics to come from the shoot as they are released into the public realm.