Jeffrey Chan’s mesmerising fusion of travel photography and fashion portraits offer viewers a glimpse into different cultures and spectacular landscapes. His latest adventure took him from the busy streets of Cairo, to the untamed beaches of Dias, Cape Town and Seychelles, weaving narratives of adventure, beauty, and human connection through his lens.

In this blog, we learn more about Jeffrey’s creative process, and his ability to balance aesthetic appeal making his work a source of inspiration for aspiring photographers.

Interview with Jeffrey Chan

Please tell us a little more about yourself…

How was it growing up in Canada?

Growing up in Toronto was great. My parents immigrated from Hong Kong and seeked out a new home that wasn’t as congested or crowded. I’ve always felt lucky and thankful for being born, and to have grown up in such a safe, clean and comfortable environment, with wide open spaces, and plenty of opportunity to be whatever I wanted to be.

Where did your love for travel and geography originate, and how did your childhood influence your journey into photography?

As a child, I used to study the atlas during school recess, dreaming of all of the places I could explore one day. We often visited Hong Kong when I was a kid, so I had the opportunity to explore locations that are very different from home. It also opened my eyes to how simple it is to see the world – hop on a plane and in a few hours, you’re somewhere completely new, with different foods, cultures and landscapes.

My mother nurtured this fascination by giving me a National Geographic subscription, while my father’s collection of cameras also sparked my curiosity about photography. I still have our family’s 35mm Fujica Flash, which holds many childhood memories. I often rode my bicycle to the store to buy Polaroid film and loved capturing moments through a lens. Recently, I replaced my dad’s Pentax PC-555, a camera I broke on a school trip and always felt guilty about. My brother even reminded me that I was the only one who ever used our dad’s cameras – photography was always my passion.

During my travels after university, this passion deepened. In Japan, I borrowed my dad’s Sony digital camera and spent weekends exploring and recording memories. Later, I bought a tiny Pentax Optio S, which fit in an Altoids tin, allowing me to capture spontaneous moments before cellphone cameras were common. In 2006, I got my first DSLR, a Nikon D70s, which gave me full creative control over my photography. These experiences shaped the way I see and document the world today.

Desert dunes photograph by Jeffrey Chan

The start of an African adventure

What inspired you to embark on the Cairo to Cape Town adventure? Could you please share a list of your shooting locations during this trip?

In 2008, I set about my first trip to Africa, a two week overland trip around Namibia and Botswana where an aerial photograph of the red dunes near Sossusvlei influenced my decision to further explore overland travelling.

I read about a jaw dropping 10 month Africa circumnavigation overland trip but eventually decided that was too intense. But by late 2017, booked two back-to-back overland trips that started in Cairo and ended in Victoria Falls, with a break at Nairobi. Shortly after, I rented a small hatchback and spent two weeks driving around Namibia, then flew down to Cape Town for my final two weeks. Interestingly, I had spent a month in Cape Town just a year earlier.

The overland journey started in Egypt and continued into Sudan where we often bush camped off the side of the road. From there we traveled into Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Around New Year’s, I flew to Zanzibar for 10 days, then on to Seychelles for a week. Returning to Nairobi, I continued overland to Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe. There was also a one-day transit across Mozambique.

Portrait photograph by Jeffrey Chan
Wildlife photograph by Jeffrey Chan
Street photograph by Jeffrey Chan

“The Serengeti definitely lived up to the hype”

What were some of the most memorable moments or highlights from your 5 month overland trip from Cairo to Cape Town, both as a traveller and a photographer?

There are definitely too many memorable moments! But off the top of my head, the two weeks solo road tripping across Namibia definitely has a special place in my heart. I was able to accomplish and see things I wasn’t able to do on the first trip like hot air ballooning or visiting the ghost town of Luderitz. I also got to see how places had changed over a 10 year period with little rainfall or precipitation.

The photoshoot in Seychelles with Tessa was definitely a high point. The trip to Zanzibar was memorable because of the people I met and hung out with. Travelling with a group on the overland truck for weeks or months can be taxing so I truly savoured the moments travelling on my own, to Cape Town, Namibia, Zanzibar and Seychelles. Uganda was surprisingly beautiful with its lively, colourful urban centres. Sudan was pure and authentic as they lack tourism and are generally shut off from the rest of the world. Egypt was fun due to the downturn in tourism at the time. The Serengeti definitely lived up to the hype and the seaside towns of Tanzania bring back some fond memories too.

What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them to capture the perfect shot?

Over the span of five months you take a lot of photos, there were many long driving days and I took advantage of being in an open air vehicle. I spent a lot of  time kneeling on seats and hanging out the windows, panning with my 70-300mm travel zoom.

In actual fact, a lot of my best photos were taken with the truck in-motion, and whenever we stopped in town, I had my camera on hand with my 50mm prime ready to snap a portrait or capture a scene in a market. Being ready and on the lookout for the perfect shot helps a lot. Many of my fellow adventurers dealt with travellers fatigue, but I recognised that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and took every opportunity to visit a market, a village or any peek into local daily life.

Please give us an idea of what gear was in your kit for this trip?

People thought I was crazy for the amount of gear I packed, but every piece had its purpose! My main camera was the Nikon D810, a true workhorse that served me faithfully for 10 years. Although I’ve since upgraded to a Nikon Z8, the D810 was the perfect companion for this journey.

To back everything up, I also brought along my trusty old MacBook, which handled all my post-processing needs on the go. 

Fashion photograph of swimsuit model

Can you walk us through your approach to planning a swim shoot, from location selection to model scouting and daily preparations?

My swim shoots involve a lot of planning. I firstly take the time to scout for locations to find the right beach for the shoot I have in mind. I really like coves and big rocks. The direction of the sun is taken into account, as well as the tides. The weather is also an important consideration; not just the temperature, but the wind speed, especially in Cape Town! You keep your fingers crossed for sun and few clouds. I then meet with model agencies and request model packages. Choosing the right model is very important to me. I look for personality, energy, and variety. While there are plenty of pretty faces, not every model is aware of their angles or possesses a range of expressions and poses. When it comes to test shoots, I bring a variety of swimsuits and then I select a bunch according to the model’s look. I also put together a moodboard for the shoot based on the location and how the model inspires me.

You’ve mentioned that location plays a crucial role in your work. How do you choose your shoot locations, and what factors are most important to you during the scouting process?

In Cape Town, my favourite beaches are Dias and Bakoven Beach. Diaz is like a beach on the edge of the world, like a secret beach that is in plain sight when visiting Cape Point. It’s vast and unspoiled with a variety of rocks and dunes to play with. I really love the seclusion and privacy of Dias. Minimal distractions help with focus and it’s often empty except for the random baboon. So don’t bring any food with you! Bakoven has a contrasting city beach with the city in the background, and the boulders are really fun to shoot on and around. Again, I’ve shot there many times. The backdrop is so beautiful that locals in the background just blend into the images.

What was it like working on your swim shoot in the Seychelles? How did the location inspire and shape the way you approached the shoot?

Visiting the Seychelles was a dream for me since I was a teen. It was featured in the 25th anniversary video for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. The more I read about it, the more I became fascinated with it, specifically with the island of La Digue. This is THE island of boulders. Going there felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity. I flew a model in from Calgary (Canada) who’s usually based in Los Angeles. It was right after the Christmas holidays. We shot for five days and explored every corner of the island, and also took day trips to neighbouring islands, including Praslin and Mahé. Every day had a different theme. One day, we hiked to a secluded lagoon, another day I rented a Mini Moke, and on another day, we played with the giant tortoises.

Your swimsuit portraits like those with Getriin at Diaz Beach and Tessa in the Seychelles, are uniquely striking. What do you aim to capture or convey through these portraits?

Tessa in Seychelles was more about storytelling, and since it was shot over multiple days, the shoot became very organic and unfolded very naturally. For Getriin, it was a single day shoot and very much “go-go-go”. You stick to the mood board and bang out the looks. Having a model like Getriin who has amazing energy and an easy going personality, helps a lot.

How do the unique lighting conditions of different locations, such as Dias Beach or Bakoven Beach in Cape Town, influence your creative process?

Bakoven Beach is a typical west-facing beach, which I prefer. It’s perfect for late day afternoon light and sunsets. I rarely shoot at sunrise. I’m not a morning person and shooting at sunrise requires getting ready while it’s still dark and chilly. The challenge with morning shoots is that the light just gets harsher and brighter, where afternoon sunset shoots only get softer and warmer with the light.

Diaz is unique with its south-facing location. I’ve shot there in open shade, back- and direct light. Again, the vast variety allows for a lot of flexibility with lighting the model. And sometimes you compromise to get the perfect background.

Model Tessa photographed sitting under a tree
Model Getriin

What’s next for you?

After a decade of dreaming, I finally took the leap and moved to Los Angeles two years ago. Southern California offers endless opportunities, and I’m expanding into automotive photography while continuing to build my food photography portfolio. More recently, I’ve started collaborating with swimwear brands on campaigns. Back in February, I shot a campaign in Brazil on the stunning island of Fernando de Noronha, and I’m excited to plan another shoot with them next summer. This time, considering Europe as a destination, perhaps Greece or Italy. As for travel, I hope to one day embark on another overland adventure with the same company. Their four-month journey from Istanbul to Beijing along the Silk Road is a dream of mine. For now, I’m squeezing in smaller trips when I can, though it’s hard to top the incredible five months I spent in Africa!

It’s clear that Jeffrey’s passion for travel and photography is matched only by his drive to explore new creative horizons. From breathtaking landscapes to collaborating with high fashion campaigns, his journey inspires us to chase our dreams with bold determination.

Discover more of his work at jeffreytkchan.com

Travel photograph taken by Jeffrey Chan in Africa