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TGKW's photostream
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www.tommygakenwan.com
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"Ga-Ken Wan follows his own fascinations and doesn't flinch from the challenges...photographs which capture something of the modern urban experience."
- The Scotsman
"His eye has a way of alchemizing every social encounter into something at once synaptic and fresh, yet cool and composed... the hipper, headier, film-version of our lives."
- Lock Up Your Daughters
"Such an incredible eye, backed up by a sublime technical mastery" - Martin Firrell
My name's Tommy (26, Glasgow), I'm a photographer. I have a collection of my best work here, which is a good starting point if you've just stumbled across this page.
I work internationally, mostly photographing theatre, opera and film sets, and I'm the resident judge on The Big Shot (Channel 5, Singapore). What you have here in my Flickr, however, is my real work: it's the photographic document of my life: candid, honest, personal and incoherent, my work life, my everyday life, my private life. It's all here.
I love photography, not cameras. I love my teeth to be clean, but my toothbrush is just a toothbrush.
In photography, I am more interested in reality than fiction; observation than direction. I'm not interested in the studio, but in the world: that's where life is.
I have a very poor imagination: I just report what I see and feel in pictures and words. I haven't much interest in staged shots of any kind, except as opportunities to experiment; to improve my technique and intuition for those shots that do interest me: those photographs which have captured the essence of a moment as it really was at that time. This is what photography does that painting, drawing and language cannot.
The films of Wong Kar-Wai have had the biggest influence on my photography and visual taste. I must also give a nod to the paintings of Edward Hopper, and to film noir.
Eric Hands' photography changed the way I look at the world. It made me realise, in the fullest sense of the word, that there are great photographs and discoveries everywhere: it's in the way we see and notice things.
Any comments which are disparaging or insulting to the people in my photo's will be removed.
All my images are for sale as prints or are available to be licensed, and I'm available for commissions all over the world. For more information, contact me at tommy@tommygakenwan.com
Since everyone asks, I use a Nikon D700, Nikon 14mm f/2.8, Nikon 35mm f/2, Nikon 50mm f/1.4, Nikon 85mm f/1.8, Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 and Adobe Lightroom. Unless I know you and we're friends, please don't message me asking for advice about which lens or camera to buy: that's what Ken Rockwell is for.
If you have questions about my postprocessing techniques, which are neither complicated nor time consuming, please read what I have written here.
Some things I've done:
Photos of TGKW (20)
TGKW's favorite photos from other Flickr members (703)
Contacts (947)
Groups (43)
- Glasgow In Pictures 75 photos, 17 members
- Singapore Plus65 - Photos from Singapura, The Lion City! 63,828 photos, 2,539 members
- Singapore Images 83,789 photos, 3,764 members
- Glasgow Skeptics 8 photos, 9 members
- Oxfam Bookshop Glasgow Postcard Competition 172 photos, 32 members
- Instruction #1 392 photos, 1,636 members
- Indie Kids 109,981 photos, 7,192 members
- Noesis 10,078 photos, 523 members
- i&n 631 photos, 114 members
- Tiny Plays About Britain 107 photos, 59 members
- Brutal DOF / 暴力景深 814 photos, 187 members
- Alasdair Gray 65 photos, 18 members
- Nob - Men Style 1,299 photos, 353 members
- Ayrshire 16,628 photos, 512 members
- Not A Crime 548 photos, 1,925 members
- CinemAsia 1,527 photos, 235 members
- Dazed and Confused - New Photographer Search 418,955 photos, 21,638 members
- Young Photographers UK 15,294 photos, 889 members
- Cinematic Romantics 1,154 photos, 259 members
- Street or Studio 2,173 photos, 2,459 members
- handbag camera 1,000 photos, 64 members
- Bladerunner 6,820 photos, 935 members
- Glasgow-alt 3,749 photos, 197 members
- Oor Ain Folk: The People Of Scotland 7,727 photos, 274 members
- Cinema and Photography 56,314 photos, 3,642 members
- HCSP (Hardcore Street Photography) 2,750 photos, 45,230 members
- photo[Slap] 11,402 photos, 935 members
- The Best Young Photographers on Flickr 1,877 photos, 179 members
- electriCity (formerly Low Light Lowlife) 386 photos, 318 members
- Filmic Scenes (create ONE title OR synopsis) 2,996 photos, 431 members
- FELT LIFE 265,755 photos, 7,632 members
- The Cinematic Urge 12,750 photos, 881 members
- The West End 3,689 photos, 390 members
- The World Through My Eyes - Street Photography **OPEN** 2,853,117 photos, 85,735 members
- Scotland 299,010 photos, 12,450 members
- The Cinematographer 58,164 photos, 4,284 members
- Travel Photojournalism 29,449 photos, 6,405 members
- Portraits That Tell a Story (READ RULES BEFORE POSTING!) 95,888 photos, 7,938 members
- Glasgow Photo 2,560 photos, 2,660 members
- wong kar wai 5,903 photos, 985 members
- Hong Kong 香港 180,491 photos, 9,796 members
- WKW/ Christopher Doyle 1,805 photos, 289 members
- Members' Room 16,187 photos, 320 members
Testimonials (21)
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IAMTHEWOLF says:
"If you think you're at the top of your game as a photographer, then you've not seen Tommy Ga Ken Wan.
Most photographers can leave you impressed with their work. Few can change the way you see your own.
Inspiring work, always."30th November, 2011
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michaelnyc says:
"Beautiful, inspiring, creative, original work! Thank you for sharing your gift!"
27th April, 2011
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radiant.baby says:
"Tommy, I haven't look at your stream for some time. And you have really developed a great art. I mean really, really good stuff. Congrats.
hugs,
~~trey"16th April, 2011
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BrutalisTeXile says:
"I've actually had the time to properly look at your work and its lovely, you have managed to capture the essence of lots of characters I love. I would love to work with you on a shoot sometime. As you know I dont really do people and you do people so well. Hopefully interesting times ahead."
8th July, 2010
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Genergrohl says:
"your works are so amazing... vivid deep reality.."
3rd August, 2009
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Austin Russie says:
"Truly inspiring. Just viewing his stream over time has influenced me more than any other photographer on Flickr. One of my favorite photographers, hands down. Absolute best scenery and colors in every photo released. Keep at it man, definitely one of my biggest influences."
27th July, 2009
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Conor Baird says:
"i like how tommys photos capture day to day life but in a more special way!"
10th May, 2009
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.ar(t)kadas says:
"one of the best fotografer i saw here on flickr."
31st March, 2009
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TROOFIRE says:
"Tommy's pictures combine the best of two cultures. Totally unique vision and technical excellence. I wish I could walk a few feet behind him and see his world as he sees it. I'm so impressed by his work."
18th January, 2009
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іgor says:
"i like his great night photos with beautiful bokehs and interesting mood"
11th October, 2008
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Markus Bollingmo says:
"This boy and his photos make me dream..."
10th July, 2008
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a la corey says:
"Tommy is one of the most brilliant photographers I have seen. Not just on Flickr but ever. As a photojournalist I try very hard to capture moments that Tommy seems to do so effortlessly. I am always amazed at his work, the soul of each picture. The cinematic feel and emotions they invoke are awe inspiring. I hope to one day attain at least a smidgen of talent that he posseses."
8th July, 2008
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johnwalford says:
"Tommy Ga-Ken Wan is the master of mood creation, and understands the power of light and color, as well as framing, and composition, as good as the best. He simply knows how to create it, and seems to have in his circle of friends excellent and fitting models for the world he evokes. When I see Tommy's work, I think, "film stills" loaded with pungent atmosphere, strong, like a shot of Scotch! - Well, but then what would you expect, from someone based in Glasgow!?"
27th May, 2008
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mogh says:
"Tommy took photos of a music video shoot I directed in Glasgow. His pictures were amazing and helped inform the final look of the film. His photos have a real sense of timelessness to them. He is truly talented in the real sense of the word."
9th April, 2008
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noll32 says:
"Tommy is an inspirational figure, fills with so much talents. His photos are brilliant but rather hard to describe in words, since they could mean so many things. I'm glad that he share a part of his life with us on flickr."
22nd March, 2008
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Eric Hands says:
"Tommy has been kind enough to mention my influence in his profile. Yet from the first glimpse I ever saw of his work I was immediately seduced by his originality and talent - and strongly feel that 'we ain't seen nothin' yet'. I like your self-description, Tommy, but I feel that you are playing with us - there is a flame burning inside this guy that most of us can only dream of. Here's to the future !"
18th March, 2008
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Peter Denton says:
"TGKW - Tommy - is one of those rare photographers who, at a remarkably young age, has developed his own unique style - and has stamped it on all his images, which largely concentrate on people and the human condition. His work ranges from elegant portraits to candid street shots - often exhilarating, always interesting. Take a look and see!"
18th February, 2008
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G.Gunn says:
"I am impressed by him, I am inspired by him, and I envy him. Wan's photographic vision is unparalleled and every one of his photographs manage to captivate the viewer. His masterful use of light, shadow, and colour turns an otherwise ordinary moment into a fantastical visual piece in the likes of a film.
Magnum photos, you better consider having some of those old geezers retire soon; there's a new kid on the block."1st February, 2008
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x-over ♂ & ♂ & ☺ says:
"Toomy's photostream is a great photo-journey.
really great stuff :)
enjoy"11th January, 2008
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teenage jesus says:
"Flickr is a website where people exceed in pompous statements and also a place where you can find a large number of talented amateurs with a figurative sensitivity but who lack even the fundamentals of the photographic technique.
Today, after stumbling upon Tommy Ga-Ken Wan's photostream, I can honesty write I have found a photographer , who possesses both sensitivity and technique. At the same time he has an eye to take very lively portraits - whether staged or candid - and to get the best from the light. A beatiful photostream."19th November, 2007
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Zach_ManchesterUK says:
"Far, far too many photographs to fave! I am completely stunned, flabbergasted, envious and delighted by the range of photos in this stream. I love the cinematic feel and relaxed portraits. I am thankful that he is generous enough to give information on how he set up certain shots. I always am thankful when people do that, being a beginner myself."
13th November, 2007
- Name:
- Tommy Ga-Ken Wan 溫嘉勤
- Joined:
- July 2007
- Hometown:
- Glasgow
- Currently:
- Glasgow, Scotland
- I am:
- Male
- Occupation:
- Photographer
- Website:
- www.tommygakenwan.com
- Email:
- tommy [at] tommygakenwan.com