Muntinlupa City, NCR, Philippines —23-year-old photographer Czar Kristoff doesn’t have any board tricks up his tartan sleeves, but to the pack of skaters around his hometown of San Pedro, Laguna, he has become the visual diarist, documenting their days as perpetual frames packed with equal amounts of action and ennui. Czar, surname undisclosed, doesn’t even do strict portraits nor fashion images, but the veritably talented photographer Charles Buenconsejo took him under his studio umbrella. It is an optimistic estimate of this apprentice’s frequently introverted work mostly hidden in the shadows. Hazy spotlight on to Czar Kristoff.
YOUNG STAR: You didn’t grow up here but in the remote town of Libmanan in Camarines Sur.
CZAR KRISTOFF: My mother has been staying here for more than 10 years. Right after high school, I moved in. I took an associate course, in the hotel and restaurant field, and I trained in some hotels’ back-of-the-house.
And how did doing photography start?
Three years ago, someone in the family gave me this camera. I’d been unemployed for years. I just stayed in the house for days, months, doing nothing. When I was in grade school, I saw our teacher, who was actually my aunt, taking photos, and she allowed me to use her camera. I remember seeing things around me in rectangles.
What were you going for before you picked up a camera?
I just wanted to have a job. When I was in high school, I dabbled in painting, but most of them were safe. I didn’t believe in my work. That’s why I shifted to another medium.
You were able to continuously practice photography because you’re photographing the skate scene.
My skate photography is documentary, but sometimes my work is staged. Skateboarding is also considered performance art. The ways they use the tricks are very interesting. They are very varied.
How does fashion link up to this?
I’ve always been fascinated with fashion photography. I really like the work of Hedi Slimane. That’s a mood that I aspire for. I usually shoot directly in black in white. It’s really more of a self-expression.
What kind of self are you expressing?
A shy person. Look at this one (he shows a print): it’s a long exposure, like you’re losing yourself.
And your influences?
Mostly old photographers—Edward Weston, Man Ray. Francesca Woodman. There’s also Pierre Debusschere, Arto Saari, Ed Templeton, Diane Arbus, Salvador Dali, Mark Steinmetz, William Gedney, Morrissey, Bruna Kazinoti, Ian Curtis, Sally Mann, Laurence Ellis…
What are the plans from here?
I want to release a zine and see how it goes. 98B also asked me if I want to sell through their venues. I think Charles is planning a group show. I want to put out stylistically new stuff there.
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