Elite Model's Look Asia Pacific Finals

I have the priviledge to be rope into the documentation of 30 gorgeous models in a competition in shanghai.

What I need to do is to photograph their headshot, and to document what they do everyday in a very political correct way.

Of coz, I wont forgo a chance like this to do what I think is real photojournalism shots...although I have long given that up. (there is no truth in photojournalism)



anyway, today, which is the 4th day that I was with the gals, I felt really really sad for them.

Being models...can be a really shitty job.

Especially when you are not famous yet.(they join competition like these to increase their exposure in the media)

After 3 days of really intense rehearsals for the final show at Jin Shan Beach, yesterday was like a rest and relax day for them...but not really.

ok, 2 hours of shopping at the Yu Yuan was kind of fun for the gals, besides having their managers to ensure they stay in group, safeguarding the gals from any possible danger, ensuring that they move fast enough so they can make it to the next venue...it was fun.

rest and relax? hardly. its more like rush and rush.

they rush for their lunch, and then rush for a few very very standard group shots to be taken so that they can prove they did go to these places, and then...they rushed to wait.

Yes, rushed to wait.

Timing was somehow miscommunicated, they waited at a clinic for more than 1 hour for a supposedly relaxing facial treatment.

Turn out to be another Publich relation gig for the clinic, only some gals get to do the facial treatment...that last only for 15 minutes...so that they can be in time for the next show back in the hotel.

I am a sloppy guy, but I take 20 mins to bathe.

they have 1 hour to train from scratch, for the show in the hotel. I am so happy for them that their screw ups are not obvious to an untrained eyes. Phew.

Then there is this dinner reception to let the "VIPS" mingle with the models up close and personal.

What I see is 30 sheeps mingling in a sea of wolves.

the youngest sheep is only 13 years old by the way.

today, it is the ultimate.

we set off at 9am...the bus brought us to many many places that you can never imagine what the hell they have anything to do with modelling and fashion.

Ok, university maybe...the super duper big campus that have a super duper big fashion design faculty.

But...what about agriculture park?? what about wheat farms? what about tea houses located in a god foresaken place that is still under construction??

Throughout the whole day, we got off and on the bus for like more than 10 times, take a group photo to prove that they came, and then up the bus to the next meaningless location.

Sure, they have TV crews,photojournalists from the TV station and big newspaper there to "witness" the models playing with the wheat...but I dunno how is that gonna help the young gals become good models. (I would like to repeat that I gave up on photojournalistic truth again)

Ah! I forgot...these gals are free mascots.

FREE...unless these TV stations and newspaper are not going to tweak the news more advantageous to their own agenda.

they are pretty, they are young, they catch your attention to unattractive tea houese that are still under constructions, they catch attention to wheat farms, and of coz whatever that they are nearby. That's what models are for.

"Why are we here going to such places that has nothing to do with anybody?" a model asked me.

I really dunno much about the modelling world...I really hope thats what Cindy Crawford went through before she get her first Vogue cover.

But today...I really really felt sorry for these gals.

anyway, i told her "it's getting better from now on"