Phillip Wong Photography

Xaymaca: Land of Wood and Water

Jamaica Production

Xaymaca: Verve Fashion Magazine

The Editorial Voice

       Over the years, I have believed that in a Free World, with a Free Press, we must have thoughts, opinions, and they have to be grounded in the values of our audiences.
This does not mean pandering to them, telling them what to think, or feel, but offering them perspectives and views they hadn’t considered.
In 1962, David Lean released “Lawrence of Arabia.” Lean said that he wanted to take his audiences to places, and times, that they had never encountered. He showed them a young Arab monarchy, a land of sand and endless dunes. A land influenced by European wars in the 1930s,
Films, music, television, magazines, media all sought to do that, “take audiences to places and times, they never encountered.”  Today we have the technical ability to do that, but not the storytelling ability to make it matter to audiences.
I have shot fashion with the intent of “making it matter.”  But many other people and situations – all with the intent of introducing a “discovery,” to my audiences.
A new way of seeing. Fresh eyes. Nuanced opinion. Not just “feeling,” but “thought” and “consideration.”
Xaymaca is that: Why the name? The first Taino people exploring the seas between South and North America found the island of Jamaica, and called it Xaymaca.  It’s history of Spain, Britain, independence, defines the culture and values of the country.
I still want to pursue fashion as editorial.

Final Words about

“Editorial.”

       I have always recognized that editorial production, film production, publishing, events, are just as organizational and collaborative as building a company, a brand, a manufacturing plant, or a family. We identify what our story is, what are the angles, who are the participants, but also, how will it be budgeted or funded?

        Creative endeavors are more flexible because they offer “creativity.” It is a democratic contribution to the work that drives forward – not chaos, but directed agreement.I use editorials to give companies and brands, opportunities they wouldn’t get without a much higher budget: to explore, discover, find what they like about themselves, and the markets that they want to pursue.

       Years ago, I discovered the freedom of shooting with European press. They were willing to TRUST my ideas and visions, and were willing to trust the people I worked with, the agencies, models, and behind-the-scenes artisans. American publications operated like dictatorships, telling me what to do, how to do it, and constraining everything around us, because “they knew everything.”  Unwilling to discuss, only to order. And always using money to get their way.

       These works, are my visions.  Try me.