Natcha Wongchanglaw won the Fujifilm Students of Storytelling competition for Unfamiliar NYC, her project exploring how New York City is much more than a crowded city with tall buildings and one big park. “I want to share the different aspects of the city with people who don’t realize how diverse the cityscape really is,” she says.
 
Fujifilm created the contest to identify the next generation of U.S. storytellers, and to provide them with Fujifilm X Series or GFX System gear to bring their vision to life. 

Rangefinder: What interests you as a storyteller? Which stories are you drawn to? 

Natcha Wongchanglaw: I find that I tend to be most interested in stories that I can personally relate to. Particularly, I am intrigued by the differences between people, cultures and locations. Sometimes I am drawn to stories that will help me satisfy a particular curiosity or better understand something that I may have previously found difficult to understand. Telling a story allows me to gain insight into different aspects of an individual’s life and share what I have learned.  

Rf: What stories do you want to share through your work? 

NW: Generally, I prefer to share stories that are meaningful to me. They often have some element of me either having experienced or wanting to experience something. In this way, even when I am telling another person’s story, there is always at least some of myself in it as well. Life is never about absolutes. Stories are always viewed through one lens or another. Our own experiences impact how we view the stories of others. Because viewers of the story will each have their own perspectives, I hope that they will be able to relate to the story in their own personal way, and that this, in turn, will benefit them in their own lives. 

Rf: Describe the evolution of your style and approach. How has it changed over time?

NW: When I first started shooting, I focused on travel photography, as one of my passions is exploring the world and capturing the moments and places I visited. It was later in my life that I decided that I want to pursue the hobby that I loved in a more serious manner. Initially, my focus was more on portrait photography. Portraits required an evolution in my style in that the focus was no longer on the scenery, but rather the subject, who became the most important aspect. It made me start thinking more in terms of how can I ensure that the subject is interesting and not just focus on aesthetics—a key in my new role as wedding photographer on a cruise ship. This was my first introduction to the importance of storytelling. Later, as a Master’s student in the School of Visual Arts in New York, I was exposed to many different styles, and during this time, I would say that some of my biggest influencers and inspirations included Alec Soth, Simon Roberts, Susan Rosenberg Jones and Jennifer McClure, among others. 

Rf: What are the key things you have learned or done that have helped you advance your career since you began shooting? 

NW: I have learned that it is not so difficult to shoot something randomly, but to shoot something meaningful is different and to create storytelling is not as easy. Trying to channel my creativity into a concept is the most challenging for me. I have learned that I don’t need to do a big thing; I can start with something small and personal to me. If I am able to answer why this story is important to me and why I want to do it, that’s the project to do. I would say that passion and interest is a “key thing.”  

Rf: What is the most helpful piece of advice you’ve received and followed? Who gave it to you? 

NW: When I was first debating if I should leave my well-paying office job in order to attempt a photography career, my friend, Teddy, just said, “Go for it. Don’t wait. Try it and don’t be afraid. You will regret it if you don’t.” Everyone else was going through the “pros and cons” exercise. If I had done that, it is likely I would have never taken this path. Teddy’s contagious confidence and adventurous mentality is a big reason I am on this path. If you love something, take a chance and go for it. 

Rf: As you explore New York City with fresh eyes through your current work, has this informed how you will approach photography in the future?

NW: I always liked documenting places I visited. My project is a bit of a return to my roots in that the initial intent was to photograph locations of interest just as I had done with my travel photography. However, working on this project, I discovered that the storytelling aspect was missing because a key ingredient was missing: the human element. The tricky thing here is that in actuality, the place itself is the main focus, so there needs to be the right balance of ensuring that the photos capture the human element, while still maintaining the place as the main focus. I think the most important takeaway for me from this project is that every project is different and there is no formulaic solution that works for all projects. The styles and themes may need to be adjusted to ensure the project is most effective. 

Rf: How have your studies affected your approach to photography and storytelling? 

NW: Many of my biggest influencers were introduced to me during my studies. The advice and constructive criticism of my projects by teachers and professional reviewers have helped me greatly. My understanding of storytelling has matured. I have learned to take a more nuanced approach to delivering the story in the most powerful way. 

Rf: Can you tell us about your submission to Fujifilm’s Students of Storytelling program? How did you come up with the project? 

NW: The project I submitted to Fujifilm’s Students of Storytelling is called Unfamiliar NYC. People often have certain preconceptions about many things, myself included. I want people to challenge those preconceptions. I remember my image of NYC from even before my first visit—a densely populated cluster of tall buildings surrounding a large green park called Central Park. Even on my first visit, I only visited the iconic spots, the “essential checklist.” When I finally had the opportunity to study in NYC, between the work I did for my projects and my natural urge to explore I ended up seeing some places that completely surprised me. Is this really in NYC? It pushed me to want to find out more. What else have I been missing? Is there really this whole other side to NYC that most people may be unfamiliar with? My personal projects, oftentimes, are a way for me to satisfy my own curiosities, and this is how the Unfamiliar NYC project was born. 

Rf: What works have you produced with your new Fujifilm systems? 

NW: I am currently continuing to work on my Unfamiliar NYC project with X-T4. I am excited and finding it to be great so far. 

Rf: Where do you see your work going from here? 

NW: I would very much like to be able to continue working on personal projects. My hope and dream is to have my work published and exhibited internationally. I will keep working and producing, learning and evolving in the process. 

Rf: Which brand, media outlet or agency is your ideal client, and why? 

NW: Obviously, my underlying love for travel and exploration would push me more towards magazines such as National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, and Condé Nast Traveler. Of course, it would also be an honor to work on a project for The New York Times or TIME. The exposure and reach of these publications is incredible and I would love for my work to reach that large of an audience. An agency like Magnum would also be amazing to work for. Working on various types of projects could be more interesting than staying focused on a single theme. The expertise there is legendary and I feel like I could learn so much by joining them. My hope is that one day my work will be recognized by an organization such as Aperture or ICP, and either published or displayed in an exhibition run by them. It again comes down to exposure. As a storyteller, I want to make sure my stories reach as many people as possible. 

Visit the official Fujifilm Students of Storytelling site for more information about the complete program. Follow @nanaka9 to stay up to date with Natcha Wongchanglaw.