Jupiter Wong keeps the flame for film-set photography in the frame

If he didn't love movies so much, veteran photographer Jupiter Wong would have given up taking photos for films long ago.

'Our fees are very low - roughly about HK$1,000 for a shoot - considering we also have to bring our own equipment and be responsible for any maintenance and damage costs,' Wong explained. 'I am really feeling the burden right now. Honestly, if you don't like films, you wouldn't stay in the business for long. I admit my passion is fading, but considering my age and limited work experience, what else can I do?'

The 51-year-old will be at the Tuen Mun Town Plaza on Sunday to reprise his film-set photo exhibition 'Fame, Flame, Frame', which runs until September 2. There was a time when he made as much as HK$40,000 a month snapping photos on the set for directors such as Tsui Hark, Peter Chan Ho-sun, Johnnie To Kei-fung and Fruit Chan Kuo. But of all the stars he has photographed, Anita Mui Yim-fong holding a cigarette remains one of his most memorable shots and one of his personal favourites.

'I was shooting 'the making of' for Ann Hui On-wah's Eighteen Springs (in 1997). I remember Mui was really sick at the time. The crew was specifically told not to disturb her but I wanted to have a shot of her behind the scene, so I climbed up the set and captured the moment when she was preparing for her lines in a morning gown.'