JAY TABLANTE - A COSPLAY PHOTOGRAPHER THAT SNAPS IT WHILE IT'S HOT

Whilst speaking to my pal, Ron Gejon, last week, a name popped up, about another cosplay photographer who helped Ron cap, crack, and tack, those great-great snaps. Jay Tablante was this very helpful chaps name. And taking pictures is his game. Here, when you have the time, please check out this conversation I had with Jay only the other day, whilst capping, cracking, and tacking with the best of them.





1) What are your own origins, Jay? Plus what path did you take in life before you got to where you are today?   I never imagined being a photographer. In fact, I had dreams (of grandeur perhaps?) of being a software developer and making that next killer app.

I had inclinations for more visual stuff as far back as high school, since becoming the art director of our high school magazine since junior year. I got into web design and development to supplement income asides from the parental allowances in college. Photography came from two fronts: my cousin who stayed with us during her college had a fondness of taking up photography seminars during summer, and I liked reading the manuals and stuff she would leave lying around. 

Next, was one IT client of mine (during sophomore year in college), who was into landscape and travel photography, gave me that nudge to use some of the money I earned from him to buy myself a camera. I then sought out for an apprenticeship which lasted me two (2) years. An internship in Microsoft, and an art director job in an ad agency later, made me take that leap of faith to take pictures for a living.

2) In your own words how would you describe your style of photography?   Anything goes I guess. I never want to peg myself in a particular style, but rather dependent on the purpose of the images. So you could have me doing that hyper-realism effect for most of the cosplay shoots. Then shift into a totally natural light setting for fashion and glamour. Shooting commercially taught me the hard way that adaptation was the only way to survive. The more techniques you could shoot with, the bigger the bottom line. Fixed styles could get stale over the years, and the only thing constant is change.

3) What have you learnt about yourself via this endeavour? And were their any unforeseen obstacles you had to contend with along the way?   Never settle. There will always be some younger photographer willing to take your lunch. Ha!

4) If your attitude towards taking pictures was a song, what song would it be and why?   Errr... "Haight St." by Anderlin.

5) What was the best convention you were a part of?   New York Comic Con '11. Some of my prints were signed by the artists and writers from Marvel / DC.

6) Same question as above, buy worst convention you were a part of?   Singapore Comic Con '11. Not because of the convention per se. But because I went down with a flu that same weekend.

7) If you could get a celebrity – either living or dead – to promote your snaps, what person would you get, and why would you want to choose this particular person?   Steve Jobs. Well, because he is Steve Jobs.

8) During your time in this field, what piece of advice would you want to impart on a fellow photographer?   Never lose the child's imagination in you.

9) If you have a personal motto, what would it be?   Ops! I think I answered this question already. It's the same as the answer I gave above. 'Never lose the child's imagination in you'.

And so say all of us, Jay. And so say all of us. So when you've got the chance, dear reader, you know what you have to do. Check out my pal's website, www.jaytablante.com, today. Plus don't forget to follow him on twitter and facebook too. Go on. Snap-Snap.