0035PL2SK. A Polaroid for Holly in New York
(POLAROID, 4x5 inch, colour, 1989)
This postcard was written on November 25, 1989, while Holly was in New York. At the time, I often used 4×5 Polaroids as postcards since they were readily available in the studio. The photograph featured in this one was an assignment for Peter Wong—something I would have completely forgotten had it not been mentioned in the postcard. It was likely shot for a magazine, telling the story of two people chasing each other across Asia over seven years.
For assignments like this, I typically read the story or its outline first, then interpreted it freely. Having built a strong rapport with the art directors, they sought me out knowing roughly what to expect from my work. Of course, the nature of each project dictated the level of creative freedom I had.
As 1989 drew to a close, before leaving for New York to reunite with Holly, I had to complete two demanding assignments: the San Miguel Beer annual report and a Giordano advertising campaign. Unlike the earlier editorial assignment, these projects left less room for creative improvisation—even though I was hired for my distinctive style.
給在紐約楚喬的寶麗來
這張明信片寫於1989年11月25日，當時楚喬正在紐約。我常常使用4x5寶麗來作明信片，因為這些物料，在影室俯拾即是。照片是為Peter Wong拍攝的，要不是在明信片中提到，我已完全忘記了，那該是為一份雜誌而拍，故事是說兩個人在亞洲先後追逐七年。這類工作，通常我都是先讀了故事，或者大綱，然後自由發揮。因為與美術指導已有很好的默契，他們找我，大概知悉我會提供甚麼樣的東西。當然，不同的工作個案是有不同的自由度。1989年底，我動身前往紐約與楚喬會合之前的光景，起程之前還要完成兩項複雜的工作個案：生力啤酒年報，以及佐丹奴的廣告系列。這些個案就不如前面所說，那麼揮灑自如了。