Meet Chawin Piriyagagul | Photographer and Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chawin Piriyagagul and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chawin, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
Personally, I believe that the end goal is the representation of the point where we are satisfied. I tend to focus on people’s emotions, and they could feel related in some ways to those moments I captured. Therefore, I reckon that my satisfaction would not be just to feel good about who I am now or what I want to be in the future, but to give them emotional impacts and to immerse them in the capture and the various backgrounds altogether. And by the end of my career, I would probably want to be recognized as the artist who is full of sentimental understanding and a master at visualizing stories that are worth remembering.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my journey in this career when my dad introduced me to the world of movies. They somehow connected me and my dad together, and that’s how I can tell I love watching movies. I started to explore more of my interests during my coming-of-age era through my major in photography. During my university life, I explored more about photography and cinematography, including composition, lighting, and storytelling. After graduating and working in the travel industry for a while, I decided to focus on the cinematography path and applied for a master of fine art, majoring in cinematography. Currently, I work as a photographer and cinematographer in the Bay Area.

As you can see, life has brought me here and there. I can tell that what differentiates me and develops me the most must come from the places I have been and the experiences I have gained. Being apart from my hometown is one of the biggest challenges I have gone through. Having to face the loneliness and disappointments was so tough; on the other hand, it gave me inspiration to create even better and more sentimental works. I am eager to visualize what surrounds me from my perspective and tend to fully pay attention to my work. I believe that capturing all photos and editing them are no longer just my interests and hobbies; they are my life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
San Francisco is considered to be my second home and one of the most romantic places, with its buildings, nature, and weather. Therefore, if I have to take my loved ones around, I would start the journey with Alamo Square, the unique shapes of residences along with the downtown, this place perfectly illustrates what San Francisco looks like.

When mentioning San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge must be one of the most iconic places that represents here. Personally, I think you can tell you’re here in San Francisco by just showing a single photo of the Golden Gate Bridge. Therefore, it’s worth taking the loved ones there, especially if it’s their first time in SF.

Last but not least, I would like my trip to be fulfilled not just in the visitors’ hearts, but also in their belly! Therefore, I would probably take them to Pier 39 to chill out, grab some food and drinks, and enjoy the moments. I believe these places will definitely maximize the moments we shared, and we will probably remember these places when we get older.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First of all, I would not be who I am today without my parents. I remember getting their support financially and emotionally since day one. They always encourage me and believe in me, even when I do not believe in myself. I owe them a lot for that, and thanking you might not be enough.

Secondly, I want to give credit to all the movies I’ve watched, especially those from David Fincher,
an American film director, and Denis Villeneuve, a Canadian film director. Since the first time I watched their movies, they have inspired me in the way they develop their styles and storytelling. I feel that their hard work really hits me differently, and it definitely influences my photography and cinematography styles.

Lastly, I would like to thank all my supporters, my friends, my colleagues, and my loved ones who are always there for me whenever I need them and always give me motivation to craft my works. Without them loving my work, things would definitely get tougher. I want to thank you for all the likes, comments, and recognitions. They mean a lot.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t.erk_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chawinterk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Darkweakness/

Image Credits
Chawin Piriyagagul