Illuminating Stories Through Light and Shadow:
Leo Lee Captures the Essence of Student Life
Many aspire to transform a passion into a fulfilling career. For Leo Lee, a devoted photographer with a talent for storytelling through the lens, this dream is a goal he is determined to achieve. Driven by the dream of becoming a professional photographer, Leo captures striking images that deeply resonate with his audience, thanks to his keen artistic sensibility.
While studying at Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), Leo answered a call from Student Affairs Office (SAO) to take on filming and editing projects for campus events. Through these efforts, he showcased his talents in service of his peers and the university, earning widespread acclaim. These experiences proved invaluable, boosting his confidence and fueling his pursuit of a career in photography.
Leo, a self-proclaimed “movie buff,” discovered his deep passion for filmmaking through his love of watching films. After graduating high school, he pursued a film production course at a post-secondary institution but soon realized he craves more. Determined to elevate his craft, he enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Imaging Design and Digital Art programme at HKMU.
“The programme not only teaches practical filming techniques but also emphasizes artistic thinking and creativity, which is incredibly helpful for the creative process,” Leo explained.
However, he is keenly aware that no amount of inspiration can replace hands-on experience. “Ideas only come to life when put into action,” he reflected. To bridge this gap, Leo actively sought out filming opportunities. When SAO announced a new round of We Want You (WWY) Talent Recruitment Scheme to hire part-time student photographers and videographers, Leo seized the “golden opportunity.”
“Overcoming Photography’s Toughest Obstacles: Lessons in Adaptability
“The WWY Scheme also offered enhancement courses, where professional photographers taught us techniques for covering large-scale events and shared practical insights. It was incredibly rewarding,” Leo said.
His first “assignment” was capturing highlights from SAO “Peer Mentorship Scheme” training camp. “It was the peak of summer —the morning brought an unexpected downpour, forcing me to wrap my camera in plastic bags to keep shooting. By the afternoon, the blazing sun caused the equipment to overheat and shut down. My teammates and I faced two of the worst weather challenges for photographers—all in a single day.” Despite the gruelling conditions, Leo’s enthusiasm never wavered. He poured his energy into capturing every memorable moment and the participants’ lively expressions. This experience taught him how to handle unexpected setbacks and collaborate seamlessly with his teammates to find the best shooting angles.
Beyond filming the training camp highlights, Leo also edited promotional videos for SAO. “One of the projects required integrating clips of students performing at an evening event with MU students' photos and footage that perfectly matched the song’s lyrics and vibe to create an inspiring and uplifting tone. Picking the right images and hitting the spot was quite a challenge.” After considerable effort and numerous revisions, the final product was met with praise. “Using my passion and skills to serve my school and my peers, and having that work recognized, is the greatest reward for me,” he said.
Creative Color Grading Highlights the Artistic Concept
Leo reflected that his experience as a student videographer in shooting and editing was instrumental in shaping his final-year project. “My graduation project, titled The Happiness of the Right Brain, explores the differences between how people perceive the world using left-brain versus right-brain thinking, presented through split-screen visuals with artistic undertones. The left-brain visuals are rendered in black and white to symbolize logic and rationality. In contrast, the right-brain visuals burst with vibrant colours to evoke joy and creativity, capturing the essence of happiness.”
Despite his creativity, Leo modestly admitted that his work still had room for improvement, and he chose not to showcase it publicly during the graduation exhibition. Nevertheless, the project further solidified his passion for filmmaking.
“The campus life at HKMU is rich and diverse. HKMU provides numerous opportunities for students to showcase their talents and shape their future paths,” Leo said. After graduation, he hopes to join a production company or media organization as a videographer, creating more captivating films and continuing to tell compelling stories through light and shadow.
Leo Lee
