We spoke to David Chang better known on Instagram as @swggrbck and he shared with us the story behind two of his favorite photos.
“In 2018 I took my first trip to Japan. I had a handful of photo spots researched which I wanted to shoot. One of my top picks was from the "L$D" music video by A$AP Rocky. I think the entire music video was filmed in Tokyo actually. The whole concept for the music video was basically Rocky and his love interest tripping on acid and walking through the streets of Tokyo. For anyone who has visited Tokyo, they know how surreal the vibe is. The director really captured the essence of the song with insane visuals to match. “L$D” is my favorite music video of all time.
As I walked through Shinjuku I found a lot of the scenes from Rocky's video. I knew I was getting close. After some trial and error, I finally stumbled upon this nightclub entrance that opened up to the narrow hallway I was looking for. It was a complete moment of disbelief that I actually found the spot. I asked my girlfriend to pose for a few photos. But before we could get any good shots security promptly stopped us and asked us to leave. I was pretty bummed out that we couldn't get a proper shot. I figured I would be back in Japan soon.
I did visit Tokyo again the following year and we tried our luck again. As fate would have it there was no security this time around. We got one of my favorite shots of all time. After an entire year of waiting but it was worth it.”
“A$$$APPPPP”
"This was one of the first photos taken after I bought my Fujfilm X-T2. I did about 100 hours of research before committing to the Fuji camera system. I was so excited to take my new camera for its first shoot. One thing I was particularly impressed by was the Fuji color science. For me as a photographer, color is probably the most important thing I look for in a camera set up. Yes, technology and specs are vital aspects but not all colors are created the same.
I met up with a few of my friends downtown and we did a casual photo walk through the city. I spotted this aqua neon sign near the corner of a building. I had my friend throw on these Spitfire shades, (that were particularly reflective) and pose next to the sign. I remember taking the shot, looking at the preview, and being completely blown away by the colors. I knew in that moment that I made the right decision going with Fuji and it's been my go-to camera ever since.”
“Fuji gang or don't bang.”
David Chang is a Chicago based visual artist. He is currently freelancing with a focus on international travel and portrait photography. With four years of professional experience, he has created a notable body of work and has partnered on campaigns with brands such as Reebok, Adidas and PacSun.