Artist Statement

(as it appears in the book)

The book that you now hold in your hands is something that I have wanted to do for the past few years. Since first photographing my male friends for personal interest and posting them on my website, I realized that I was starting to compile an impressive collection of images. Increasingly, I felt it was time to take it to the next level and to get published, as my website alone was not doing the photography justice. So this is my first photo-book, done in a very personal way with a selection of images that I feel represent the scope and breadth of Asian men that I have met during a period of five years from 2000 to 2004.

From a photographic standpoint, I was first ignited by the stunning work by Herb Ritts. I recall visiting an exhibition in Toronto and being captivated by one of his photographs. It is a black and white image of a young man doing a flip in a tuck position. His back is facing the camera and his wet hair dangles downward. It is the perfect photograph: clean, simple, and unadorned – a moment of potential action frozen in time. Perhaps this example is what I adhere to intellectually and intuitively and where the design statement ‘less is more’ is deemed most appropriate.

The human body is probably of one of life’s most beautiful and perfect creations, but to capture the body on film is a challenge. Light, form and texture all play an integral part of the photography. And although one may possess a beautiful physique, the person may not be ready to be photographed. A beautiful, professional model once asked me, Norm, tell me what you want. And I responded, What do you want to give? Show me who you are inside. He then replied, I can’t show people who I am inside. I’m afraid.

I believe that when I photograph someone, I am searching for what is already there, whether it be joy, sorrow, longing or elation. It would not matter if my models were nude or clothed. A photograph that captures the true Spirit or essence of a person, and not simply the façade, is what I try to extract from the individual. To many of the Chinese elders, they believe that when someone photographs you, you lose a bit of your soul. Some people are so wise.

In the end, I hope that my photography touches a part of you, as these images have given me great pleasure and joy in its very creation.

Norm Yip
November 2004