Capturing the moment

WHEN a man is passionate, nothing can stop him from being the best he can be.
That is what Heng Mok Zung has every time he picks up his camera and shoots his subjects.
Fondly known as Zung Ninja Photographer or Zung, he has taken photos of various celebrities including US president Donald Trump, former president Bill Clinton, the Dalai Lama, Malaysian actress Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh, Italian classical crossover tenor Andrea Bocelli, and business magnate Sir Richard Branson.
But his current career path started from a rocking beginning.
Having come from a poor family in Sekinchan, Zung, 39, decided to work part-time to earn funds to study overseas in 2000.
"I wanted to study for a masters degree in engineering," he said, which led him to take up several freelancing jobs as a photographer at events.
With a camera and a kapcai (small motorcycle), he would travel from one place to another just to take pictures of parties and events at clubs.
"While I could only make RM50 per event then, I see other peeps spending RM500 per night to have fun.
"I questioned why is it so unfair, when others can have fun, spend money and go overseas, my parents cannot afford to send me overseas to study?," he lamented.
With limited funding, Zung was forced to forego his dreams of studying.
Instead, he decided to focus on what he loves – taking pictures, and decided to work as an assistant in a commercial photo studio as well as take up freelancing photography jobs over the weekend.
"I would take photos in the studio, and take pictures at wedding events on weekends.
"At that point of time, some would say that (taking wedding photographs) is a lousy job, and only lousy photographers take these pictures, and it did not generate a lot of money," he said.
"However, I believe I can do it well and do it my way – capturing the moments, stories, and the soul of the wedding couple and those around them," he said.
Persevering in what he does, he became good in taking wedding photographs and of people, which led him to establish his own studio, The Photoz.
"For 15 years, The Photoz has shot over 1,000 weddings, in 60 countries in seven continents, bringing my photographers and myself to interesting places and cultures," he said.
As his photographs were outstanding, he was recommended to various people for high-end functions, and also ended up being approached by motivational speaker Anthony Robbins to be his official photographer.
Through hard work and dedication, Zung has won many awards, including the Canon Photographer of the Year Award by the Wedding and Portrait Photographers Malaysia (WPPM) in 2010 and being selected as one of the August Man's Men of the Year 2015.
He was also given a chance to be a speaker at TEDxKL Talk in 2013.
"It was a privilege to be among celebrities, scientists and leaders to speak to the people ... and some were touched by my story," he said.
Zung believes that one should not only earn with skills, but also learn to give back to the community whenever possible.
He would give talks to schools, especially in East Malaysia, about his passion for photography.
"I would also try and talk to orphanages and schools overseas after I am done with my assignments," he said, adding that he has given talks in schools in India, Poland, Bhutan, Lebanon, Taiwan and Thailand.
And during one of his talks, he missed out on taking the photos of one of the individuals he admires – the 44th US president Barack Obama.
"When he visited Malaysia in 2015, I was called to take his picture ... but I had an engagement to give a talk to a group of school children in Kuching. But I decided to go on with the talk – to inspire these children instead," he said, adding that he had no regrets.
One of the challenging parts in his career was when he had to travel to six different locations for six separate assignments in six weeks in 2010.
"It was a stressful and tiring journey, and it was not a vacation," he recalled.
Dubbing the journey as "Around the world in 6-6-6", Zung travelled to countries such as Singapore, London and Chile with very little rest to get the proper shots for his clients.
Another challenging assignment was when Zung travelled to Antarctica, where he was commissioned to document a group of travellers to the South Pole in 2012.
"It was horrible as I got seasick travelling in the boat for three days ... but I managed to get the shots needed," he added.
But Zung said that his job of taking photographs was not just about rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous or even visiting places.
"What I benefit most from my experience is not just meeting famous people, presidents or winning awards ... but it is about seeing things in a different light.
"Going to places and understanding the culture helps give you an insight of how you view the world," he added.
When asked what who he aspire to take photographs of, he answered, "Definitely Obama!"
"If I have a chance, I would like to take pictures of him, and with him as well," he said.