KLANG: For years, CM Leung was a name synonymous with wedding photography that masterfully captured some of life’s happiest moments.
“I used to be an internationally recognised wedding photographer, travelling around the world capturing weddings,” reminisced the Hong Kong-based photographer when met here recently.
But a chance encounter with a different kind of subject changed the course of his career.
Leung said he came to realise that countless lives remained largely unseen, especially those of stray and rescued dogs.
The photographer also said that every time he spotted an injured or elderly dog, his heart broke.
That was when he realised he could train his lens on evoking emotion, raising awareness and changing perceptions about street dogs.
So now, instead of the “perfect” story, Leung seeks the “unseen” story and focuses his lens on stray dogs that are unnoticed and neglected in spite of being part of urban and rural landscapes.
“I want to use my camera to give these animals visibility and hopefully, a second chance.
“The photos will be used for adoption campaigns, social media awareness, exhibitions and possibly even a book in the future.
“For me, every image should serve a purpose,” said the 49-year-old who was born and raised in Hong Kong.
He has since visited and photographed street, as well as rescued dogs, in Nepal and several other countries including Malaysia.
In a recent trip here, Leung not only captured the sad plight of street dogs but also visited several animal shelters and captured touching images of the animals.
In Malaysia, one of the shelters he visited belonged to canine welfare society Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB), where he snapped photos of its elderly and disabled dogs.
MDDB coordinator Brenda Chia said one of the dogs that “posed” for photos was a disabled 13-year old canine named Prince that was miraculously adopted not long after Leung put up the pictures.
“Prince waited for 13 years and finally found a permanent home after Leung came into his life,” said Chia.
On his style of highlighting the stories of his canine subjects, Leung said he combines storytelling with strong visual aesthetics so that the images are not just beautiful, but also meaningful.
“I want people to feel something real.
“Maybe empathy, maybe connection, maybe even discomfort, but most importantly, awareness.
“Because once you see them, you can’t pretend they don’t exist anymore,’’ said Leung, who added that he will continue with his mission for destitute and rescued canines as long as there are stories to tell and lives to save.
