SINGAPORE — Shaun Tan has gone from capturing live concerts to possibly being the next big photographer in the region.

Two weeks ago, the 23-year-old out-shot, outplayed and outdid the rest of the South-east Asian contestants to be crowned the winner of the second season of photography reality show, Photo Face-Off.

“I tried not to think about winning because I would have driven myself crazy. Instead I focused on getting past each challenge without being eliminated — that way, I wouldn’t be distracted,” explained the undergraduate at Nanyang Technology University’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

But when it came down to the nail-biting finale in Cebu, he found himself unmoored attempting underwater photography for the first time. “I couldn’t just focus on composing and shooting, as I had to direct my model without the ability to deliver instructions verbally, and remember to breathe only through the mouthpiece. It was all a blur.”

Luckily, for him, his winning shots came out clear as day to the judges.

Q: How much of Cebu did you manage to see while you were there?

A: I didn’t see as much of Cebu as I’d have liked to, but the priority was always to stay in the competition, not to go on a holiday. But I did indulge in quite a bit of the local food, and I really enjoyed their local fare like Lechon (Philippine pork belly dish). No, I didn’t try Balut.

Q: What made you decide to join Photo Face-Off? We hear it has something to do with the prize to Japan.

A: Japan’s just such a dynamic country to go to. Of course, there are beautiful places and people to photograph there — it’s just a wonderful country to travel to, and since there was an opportunity to win a trip there, then why not?

Q: Do you take a lot of photos when you travel?

A: I do my Canon 5D Mark III along when I travel but I tend to focus less on capturing every single thing and just try to enjoy the holiday. I am currently working on a photo series called Sever, which I’ve been shooting on 35mm film. It focuses on the isolation one feels when in a foreign country, and as such it’s all been shot overseas.

Q: Do you have a favourite place for photography in Singapore?

A: Apart from the photo pit of a concert? Not really. But I received some invaluable advice from Lenne Chai, a fashion photographer who’s just a year older than me and making waves with her fashion photography. She told me that being able to take a good portrait, whatever the location and equipment set-up, is the mark of a good photographer.

Q: Any easy photo tips you can share for everyone to take better travel photos?

A: Don’t rush to publish every photo that you take and think is great. It’s an issue in this day and age, where everything is instant: Take a photo and Instagram it or upload it on Facebook. Deny yourself that immediate gratification. Learn to take some time to sit on your photos. Photography is an inherently emotional and creative endeavour, and everyone, at some point or another, will fall in love with the photos they think are their “best work”. But even waiting a few days and looking at your work with a fresh eye will open your eyes to things you might not have noticed before.SERENE LIM

The encore telecast of Photo Face-Off season 2 begins on Nov 22, every Sunday, 11pm on History Channel (StarHub Ch 401).