Ryan Chang is a Singaporean photographer whose talent has taken him across the world with some of the most iconic names in heavy music. Known for his striking, high-energy concert photography, Chang has carved a unique niche in the industry, capturing electrifying performances for renowned acts like While She Sleeps, Bullet for My Valentine, and Ghost. Chang’s artistry goes beyond just snapping shots; he manages to encapsulate the intensity, passion, and raw energy of live music, bringing fans closer to the action through his lens. His journey from the Singaporean music scene to the global stage serves as an inspiring testament to the power of pursuing one’s craft with dedication and fearlessness.
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On his latest tour with Megadeth, Chang immersed himself in the heavy metal icons' world, documenting their shows with a fresh perspective. Spending time with the band both on and off stage, Chang captured rare, behind-the-scenes moments as well as their larger-than-life performances. Working with Megadeth allowed him to explore new creative angles, capturing the band’s intensity from an insider’s view. We recently caught up with him and asked him to share his experiences from the tour, his reflections, and the grueling reality of photographing one of metal’s most legendary bands.
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Hi Ryan! Congratulations on wrapping up your tours with Megadeth. How have you been since the last time we spoke?
I had busy back to back years with both Ghost and Bullet For My Valentine. As expected, the post-Covid demand for live entertainment was tremendous. Bands were putting on global tours left, right, and center for most of the past couple of years. I think I was in my own bed for a collective 2 months throughout the whole of 2023. Along with a subsequent fatigue in demand for live music due to the post-Covid surge, I was expecting a year of much needed rest for 2024. Somehow Megadeth found me, and here we are in October, where I can finally have this break.
How has your experience touring with one of the Big 4 bands, Megadeth, impacted your perspective on photography or your career overall?
Dave Mustaine is a music icon and he's been doing this for a very long time. I'm not his first photographer, nor will I be his last. Sitting down with Dave and looking at past photographs of Megadeth by photograhers who have come and done it before me, including an extensive archive by Ross Halfin nonetheless, was a humbling perspective. Ultimately, I've only made a tiny contribution to a vast documentation of Megadeth's legacy. My photographs, along with others before mine, will live on forever and for that I'm very grateful and proud.
To tour with a very big band like Megadeth, were there any complications, any technical or logistical challenges you faced on this tour?
On the contrary, it's a joy to work with bands on this level. A happy crew makes a happy band as they say. The hotels are great, catering is usually decent, buses are not a mess. Bands at a higher level can obviously afford to hire more experienced crew, which means they're usually older and "have their sh*t together". There's mutual respect, we all look out for each other, as we've all worked our way here in our own right. The venues are big and there's more opportunities for different photographic perspectives. Dave and management afford me a lot of autonomy in how I would go about meeting certain objectives, at my own desired pace.
At the end of the day, there are more important things for them to micro manage in a multi-million dollar business, so they need someone who can hold their own on the content side. Dave tries his best to make sure I have all the tools needed to meet the goals we've set out. I once suggested purchasing three cameras for a multi-camera shoot. The next thing I knew, I had the band's credit card in my hands and we had the cameras delivered to the next venue. I'm very glad for this autonomy and it brings me a lot of satisfaction when I can achieve the deliverables set out by the stakeholders while doing it my way.
How does shooting for Megadeth compare to photographing other bands you've worked with?
The work is fundamentally the same. I'm on tour to document the artist, the fans, and the entire machine on the road. It's more about being flexible to work with different personalities. I was certainly nervous turning up on day one, shaking Dave's hand, and getting started with work. I wouldn't say working for any particular band would be less or more "important", but like I mentioned previously about the vast catalogue of historical documentation of the band, there was definitely some weight on my shoulders. I had no intention of being fired by Megadeth, so I threaded lightly at the start for sure.
What’s something new you’ve learned about yourself through your recent tour experiences?
All the post-Covid nonstop touring these past couple of years have definitely burnt me out slightly and I've learnt to make use of the rest opportunities whenever they present themselves. For example, I've learnt to say no and stay in my hotel room on my day offs, instead of succumbing to FOMO and having a night out with my colleagues. Conserving your social battery is essential to maintaining a high level of communication when it matters, to make the best work. Tours are long and there are ample opportunities to let my hair down with my colleagues. So I choose those moments carefully and have been learning to focus on self-care instead.
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In regards to working with an icon like Megadeth, there was certainly some imposter syndrome at the start. I asked myself how a Singaporean guy from the other side of the world ended up working for the likes of Dave Mustaine. I wouldn't go as far as to say I doubted myself, but there was definitely a lot of reminders to the self that I had indeed paid my dues and worked my way here. I learnt to seize the moment and make the best of it. It's also about being comfortable with who you are, being proud of it, and representing your people on the world stage. I don't see enough Southeast Asians working in international music and I do wish for more to take the leap.
Being away from Singapore for long periods of time must take a toll on you. How do you stay inspired and motivated without the feeling of homesickness getting to you?
It's a personal mission of mine to hunt for laksa wherever I am in the world. It's fun and it reminds me of home for sure.
