Below is the link to the making of “De Angeles Crest – Part 1: EVE” with the exquisite, Gabriella Toth. It was a fun shoot; everyone was exhausted though after maybe four and a half hours of hiking in the Canyon. We were also running with time but we ended up doing pretty well. Gabi was fantastic too; in all the pictures I found that 98% of them has perfect hair! It was simply, stunning. Clement and I was looking through the pics the other day, and its seems we got enchanted by that hair of yours Gabi! LOL. That will surely safe us a lot of time from retouching the hair one by one.. Well it was a memorable shoot and everyone seems happy of the result. In this next few days before the year end, we will resume shooting Part II: LILITH and hopefully a mock-up done of the book before January 3rd.

Location: Eaton Canyon
Photographer: Eric Chang
Model: Gabriella Toth
Wardrobe: Batiks by the legendary Iwan Tirta
Producer/Location Manager: Clement Durand
Photo Assistant: Andrea Pun
Film Documentary: Denis Ogorodov, Luis Saniger
Photo Documentary: Filippo Nesci

Well, had a blast last night on Christmas Eve. Spent my time with my best friends and American family here in L.A. with the clock ticking on its countdown til’ its Christmas.
It was really fun and plus the food was delicious. Especially that shredded pork, Miriam’s lasagna and the vegetarian mushroom cake or somethin’. And the night was heavyly lit by 4 fabulous musicians-singers—-tut tut tut tut I love Aria’s tunes last night. And also the Blue-Eyed Soul King… he was wonderful with his “Heartbreaker” song! Had the pleasure to hear the superstars celebrities singing for hours! Also with Neil, Antoine and Mac playing on the acoustic guitar. It was well-done delicious meal

Well, Merry Christmas!!! Now awaiting for New Year!!

My most recent photoworks, a tribute to the late Alexander McQueen. He is such a great guy.. His works are always awe-inspiring, dramatic; such a sensitive creative genius. I always expect the unexpected from him…. I miss him so much. But foreover, his fashion legacy will always live on.. Here is a tribute for you, McQueen….

Words of thanks and dedication to my beloved friend and teacher, Ken Merfeld and also the great Alexander McQueen himself. Thank you both for everything, for being such a true inspirator.

Court Alexander taken in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Ratio Format

Well, below is music video:

It’s still a rough first cut though. Need to do grading later. Hope you guys like em!

Cheers, till’ next time.

~ “Autumn Comes”, by Eric Chang ~

Four Seasons Biltmore, Santa Barbara, Summer-Fall 2010

2010 International Photography Awards Announces Winners of the Competition

Eric Chang was Awarded:

Honorable Mention in Advertising – Other category for “Gossip Girl”
Honorable Mention in Advertising – Beauty category for “Dirty Desires”
Honorable Mention in Advertising – Fashion category for “Dirty Desires”
Honorable Mention in Advertising – Beauty category for “Trikanti Nusantara”
Honorable Mention in Advertising – Fashion category for “Trikanti Nusantara”
Honorable Mention in Advertising – Beauty category for “Amphissan Festival”
Honorable Mention in Advertising – Fashion category for “Amphissan Festival”
Honorable Mention in Advertising – Beauty category for “Aria Crescendo”
Honorable Mention in Advertising – Fashion category for “Aria Crescendo”
2nd place in People – Wedding category for the winning entry “Suteki da Ne”

About Winner:
Eric Chang, 20 years of age; studies in the prestigious Art Center College of Design (Film Major) – grew his passion from sketching, painting to sculpting gypsum since he was a kid. He then followed his calling as an artist when he was only started high school. Within just 2 months having started photography, Eric has already been called to develop portfolios of personal portraits of famous Indonesian figures – from musicians, to movie stars, scientist, doctor and fashion gurus. Eric was invited to host a solo photo exhibition by the Intercontinental Hotel in 2008. In 2009, he has been sponsored to publish 2 of his photo books called “Native Temptations” and “The Shattered Love”; from which his “Native Temptations” book is now on the way to its 3rd edition.

About IPA:
The 2010 International Photography Awards received nearly 15,000 submissions from 103 countries across the globe. IPA is a sister-effort of the Lucie Foundation, where the top three winners are announced at the annual Lucie Awards gala ceremony. The Foundation’s mission is to honor master photographers, to discover new and emerging talent and to promote the appreciation of photography. Since 2003, IPA has had the privilege and opportunity to acknowledge and recognize contemporary photographers’ accomplishments in this specialized and highly visible competition. Visit www.photoawards.com for more details.

Contact:
Eric Chang
eric@eric-chang.net
www.eric-chang.net

IPA Contact
Sarah Cho
Competition Director IPA | Lucie Awards
sarah@photoawards.com
310-659-0122

I never thought I would lose this great man so soon. I was on my car when I got the message from my mom’s assistant telling me about the great loss. I parked and turned off my car. I don’t know what to do. I was there staring on my steering wheel as memories flashes back..

It was about 3 years ago, which seems to me it felt just like a while ago that we were on this trip to Jogja together with mom coming along. It was one of those culture trips he took me to. We were actually there to attend the commemoration of the local Sultan. But, then for a week later, we stayed and he showed me and taught me the culture that was fading away right now, and how much he wants to prolong and keep it alive for the whole world to see. In short, it was beautiful. It was a beautiful trip.

Then it flashes… I remembered it was my last dinner with him, just before I moved to the States, we both talked about the world, the country and the love for the culture. I could also remember his usual sarcastic jokes, his favorite wine that was a little parting gift I had for him, and a little amount of seafood he still bravely eat despite of his series of sicknesses. It was however, a very short one. It’s ashame really I didn’t spend much time with him. Now I wished I could rewind that time, bend time and space to go back and spend time on that last dinner. Our conversation never really ends that night. I haven’t packed and my dad is obviously in a panic for the departure that next day. So I had to leave early with my dad, leaving just him and my mom that night. As I went out the hotel lobby and plunge in my car, I said to my driver, “its so ironic I have to leave early. I wish I could’ve stayed.” My driver remained silent.

It flashes again to another conversation that night. He talked how lucky I am to be living in the beautiful city of Pasadena. And then..on the new year. He talks about all these beautiful flowers parading the whole city. He told me to take some pictures and send it to him.. He talked how he used to see the festival and would have stayed in the Hilton for a week or two and just breathe in.. and right there we made a promise, that one day when I graduated, he will go to Pasadena, come to my graduation ceremony and take me to experience what he called as ‘paradise’.

It’s never finish our little story-telling. It’s weird to say that I didn’t spend time with him so much, but now I missed him. As for the least, I could say it is time. It’s God’s plan. He has done everything what God asked him to do and now he returns to Father’s side. But I believe that one day we will all meet him again. I want to personally thank him for teaching me on this short little time. But I realized now it was worth everything. Something really precious that I could never experience again. I will keep them on my records as one of those special moments and memories. May you rest in peace, great Indonesian!

Portrait of Iwan Tirta, Living Legendary Batik Designer, 1935-2010

Renowned batik designer Iwan Tirta died at 8:35 a.m. at Abdi Waluyo Hospital in Menteng, Central Jakarta. He was 75 years old.

In recent years Iwan had suffered from diabetes and a series of strokes, according to his assistant, Trisna. He was hospitalized for the last two weeks.

A Yale-educated lawyer, Iwan pursued his love of traditional batik in the 1970s and 1980s, becoming the country’s leading authority on the traditional Javanese fabric. He designed for visiting dignitaries, including for US president Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, in the mid-1980s, and for the leaders at the 1994 APEC Summit.

In recent years, he also was a consultant for upmarket Indonesian restaurants.

His batik designs come straight from the heart of Javanese tradition, but in other respects Indonesia’s most feted fashion maestro, 75-year-old Iwan Tirta, is a modernist — responsible for getting batik into the pages of Vogue and onto international catwalks. A Yale graduate destined for legal practice, Tirta switched career paths in the 1960s after his interest in batik was awakened during a research project. Since that time, he has built up an exclusive fashion and homeware label, and contributed to the preservation and advancement of batik-production techniques. Here are some of his inspirations.

Javanese royalty
Pakubuwono X, who died in 1938, was the susuhunan, or sultan, of Surakarta (the central Javanese city more commonly known as Solo). He was well read in everything and very forward-looking. His court even combined batik and Art Deco designs.

Painters
I love Raden Saleh, the great 19th century painter, and Srihadi from Bandung, who captured the spirit of Indonesia while being very modern at the same time.

Music
Mozart, Beethoven and Bach are my favorites as a piano player. I find modern music atonal, but a composer like Beethoven is soothing and melodious.

Designers
I love Halston who, without cutting a piece of material, could make a dress, and I love Yves Saint Laurent, who had a certain flair and was also an intellectual.

Literature
I’m a big fan of the Indonesian novelist Pramoedya Ananta Toer because of his outspokenness and his descriptions of the social conditions that existed when the Dutch colonists arrived in Indonesia.

Those are the words or to be more precise; the lyrics to my friend, Gabriella Rothbart’s new single “Why Why” which was written by my friend Aria for boyfriend Joaquin Pheonix. It’s a very good song, u should all listen to it! Visit her myspace and listen to the song! Link: http://www.myspace.com/gabriellarothbart

Anyways…yeah, I got the chance to take these wonderful pictures of this super-beautiful 13 year-old singer earlier today. And we also did a short test for our up-coming music video shoot.

Okay, you heard me. Yes, I’m making a music video. I repeat, I am making a MUSIC VIDEO..soon.. Why Why?? well, because I like the song and she’s a super talented singer! *love her voice.

Gabriella Rothbart, Singer
Make-up: Melody
Location: Beverly Hills

Note: Friends, this doesn’t mean I’m going to start taking offers to make your music videos again… I’m still making my films. To all my crews back there, don’t be shocked. This one’s an exception!