Let's Talk Photography: Fade Longboy's Fascination with Beautyabcfamily.com secret life

Let's Talk Photography: Fade Longboy's Fascination with Beauty

You are known as 'Fade Longboy.' Is it your real name?

No, my real name is Joseph Longboy. ‘Fade’ came in during my filmmaking days where I always use this “fade” transition in almost all of my video works. Longboy on the other hand is my real surname, and I’ve got no choice for that! (laughs)

Your parents don't have any choice, too! Haha. Tell us about them.

Both of them have a highly confidential kind of work, a la Mr. and Mrs. Smith. My Dad is an ex-military, ex-policeman, and ex-bodyguard of certain VIP’s before. Now, both my Mom and Dad are retirees.

How did they raise you?

It's like an old school Filipino family way of raising a child, medyodisciplinarian, ganyan. I am a Mama’s boy and it's funny but until now they still treat me like a baby and are very strict with me. But they are also supportive in all of my decisions, like what course I’ll take or job I'll choose.

Describe little Fade.

I preferred to be alone than playing with other kids, not because I’m shy, it’s just that I liked playing alone. I enjoyed Bloody Roar, Legend of Dragoon, Gran Turismo and Rival Schools!

Young Fade was an introvert, then!

But not that much, I also loved playing langit-lupa and touching ball with my friends! :)

Alright, how about in school, what type of kid were you?

I was a geek, a class president, honor student but was also the subject of the classic class bullies! (laughs)

What did you originally dreamed of when you were younger?

I dreamt of being an astronaut, a race car driver, and a Pilot. Eventually, my dreams changed as I grew older. Influence changed everything.

Cool, I also dreamed of flying in space! Haha! So how did you start loving photography?

Camera was introduced to me when I was just around four-six years old. My family used to own a Kodak Instamatic camera which I loved to play with. I took photos of my grandparents' friends.

Then in 2011, while doing a video shoot for my schoolmate’s project, I took stills because the artist was so beautiful. I was happy with the output and started to study photography.

Who inspired you to pursue photography?

I saw Brendan Goco's works and got curious to know how he managed to take his beautiful photographs. I studied by myself and discovered my own style. My friends Dan Enrico Magallanes and Katherine Greta Mendiola, whom I treat as my brother and sister, give me inspiration, too.

I want to hear about your first photo shoot experience?

It was very memorable, with Claudine Jay Dagandan. We went to parks and wildlife with her four bags full of clothes! Nothing beats that photo-shoot, it was just so magical!

How about the photo shoot you had with the pretty girl, hm, the one named Carey?!

Yes, her name is Carey Lim. It was actually 4pm when we started the photo shoot and I was out of time for the right amount of sunlight but the turnout of the photographs with Carey were so beautiful. It was when I created the “Siesta Series.”

I've seen a lot of your 'Siesta Series.' They are wonderful.

Thank you, Joanne.

Now tell me an odd thing about you as a photographer.

Well, I don't own a camera! (laughs) I just borrow from my friends, Joel Ferrer and Louie See.

Wow, that is ironic! But at present, what do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Achievement, hm, maybe having 700+ followers at DigitalRev.com which is a worldwide photography social networking site. Then being featured in a magazine, just recently, though I consider it as a bonus. (smiles)

And you have also studied abroad right?

Yes, I did, in the US.

Say one crazy thing you won't forget about your stay there.

One time, I was late for my class in a Film School and the lecturer called my name for attendance. My dearest friend, Dan Magallanes, announced in front of my foreign classmates that I was late because I was still taking a poop! It's something I won't forget, he embarrassed me, crazily! (laughs)

In one sentence, what else do you dream of achieving?

To be a good son.

Next, what is your philosophy in life?

"Fuck Standards!"

Last, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A pro photographer living in Japan or Europe.

Now, please share some tips.

If you’re a budding photographer or a photographer for years now and you feel like you are not improving, slow down for a moment and ask yourself: 'What is it that you want to capture?' Then learn to love it.

I guess you really love taking pictures of women?

True, I am taking various photographs of women because I am fascinated with the concept of beauty. I want to emancipate the different kinds of beauty women have. Once you find your subject, love it, then focus.

What do you mean?

Don’t fool yourself by being a versatile photographer and taking photographs of trees today then hamsters tomorrow. There’s really nothing wrong with that but what I’m saying is you’re starting to lose your objective.

Sometimes, it’s better to have a personal reason for doing something. It’s more than exercising your skills as a photographer but also exploring your passion and taking it to greater heights without limitations.