Glen Tungol: The Art of Fashion Photography

SPONTANEITY. This is how the photography and art of Glen Tungol, one of the Top Fashion Photographers in the Philippines, can be labeled.

Capturing the fleeting moment, the candid but ecstatic emotional outburst or the pre-conceived idea realized by actual elements within the pictorial field, anyway or anyhow, the sharp eye of Tungol aided by the frame of his camera immortalizes what is grandiose and avant-garde. But at the bottom of it all, what makes Glen Tungol really unique among all other Top Photographers in the country is that he is a Kapampangan.

Tungol, who hails from San Fernando, Pampanga, began in his art of photography way back in 2006.He was a freelance graphic designer for about 16 years in Singapore, making corporate presentations and company ads -- a skill that is very apparent in his photographic works.

Perhaps, it was the influence of his fellow designer who owns a professional camera at that time that led Tungol to invest his own and started shooting. His first subjects -- bees and butterflies. And it didn't stop there. Tungol discovered the power of the camera as not just a tool to release stress and boredom but a way of expressing his style and emotion.

Soon, he attended several seminars and photography workshops and in this way, he was able to mingle with people with connections to top celebrity agencies. It was so immediate that he managed to tap the Philippine's top talents and celebrities and collaborate with the best in the field.

During those days, he also discovered the works of Xander Angeles who owns the Edge of Light studio and started analyzing and evaluating the works of this fellow ace photographer who also has Kapampangan blood. In no time, Tungol met with Angeles to collaborate with projects. Since then, the inspirational photographer became a co-worker. Tungol is now part of the team that comprises the Edge of Light.

Tungol's style in photography is a creative process that involves visualization of his concept through studies -- combing elements of strong shadows and contrast, heavy lines that depicts emotions, shapes and textures as well as the playful interaction with the model or person being shot. His photos are so versatile that you can see in his portfolio different color grading systems, from desaturated pale skins of a Caucasian model to the vibrant gowns and dress with a kinky hair of an Asian woman.

Photography for Tungol is an unending process of rediscovery in order to make it look visually enticing -- thus calling it as not just art but high art. Working in the best studio such as the Edge of Light studio, which has clients that demand superiority and quality, the craft and skill are just a slice, and not the entire, pizza. The real factor that determines the output of a certain shoot is the creativity and splendid ideas coming from different research and studies in the world of visual perception.

“It is actually never ending,” said Tungol, who is also a practicing architect and cg artist.

When asked about his idea on Kapampangan cultural heritage and the prevailing cultural renaissance happening in the region, Tungol is so eager to contribute his skill and talent on any Kapampangan advocacies.

“There are so many ways and I get very excited every time I hear about Kapampangan creative artists collaborating to promote our culture and heritage: the food, the architectural design, fashion and the people. I am presently collaborating with a prominent Kapampangan fashion designer using 100 percent Kapampangan resources, mainly to promote the rich culture and heritage of the Kapampangans,” he said.

Tungol is currently busy collaborating with Kapampangan photographers under the organization Pampanga Photographers Network (PPN) in order to consolidate talents in Pampanga for cultural advocacies. The PPN now has 700 members who are all Kapampangans. This season, the group of Tungol is the one handling the committee for the photography competition of the Sinukwan Festival.