Virtues & Emotions

Here are more pictures from Voices from the Heart, Living with Dementia.

This project was quite a challenge. The brief required me to capture pictures that convey the following virtues and emotions: Patience, Frustration, Strength, Optimism, Filial Piety, Love, Encouragement, Hope, Despair, Challenges and Communication.

So I spent several days in Chinatown, Botanic Gardens and a daycare centre for old folks to take the pictures. It was not easy. I had to hide behind trees and pillars to secretly take the pictures. Thank goodness for my Canon Zoom EF 70 - 300mm lens!

The Old and The Beautiful

These pictures are from the dementia resource book, Voices from the Heart, Living with Dementia.

Taking photos for the book was an eye opening and humbling experience for me. We all dread the idea of growing old and will go to great lengths to stop the signs of aging with botox, mesotherapy and collagen supplements. I guess the media is to blame for our obsession with youth and beauty. The skinny wrinkle-free (airbrushed) models and celebrities in glossy magazines certainly do not help boost our self-esteem.

If we look beyond anti-aging creams, wrinkles and liver spots are beautiful. Each line and freckle represents a moment in someone’s life. Taking his first baby steps, celebrating his 21st birthday, getting his first job, marrying his sweetheart, keys to his new home, carrying his firstborn in his arms, mourning the loss of a loved one, enjoying his retirement in Maui… all these are told in one’s face. The frown and laugh lines are our life story. So I don’t see why would anyone want to erase his life story with botox?

Photos from the Heart

Voices from the Heart, Living with Dementia, a resource book for dementia patients and their caregivers is now out in stores!

I had the privilege to photograph the cover for the book and some of the inside pages. Although they’re not my best work (I find it hard to get inspiration photographing in my backyard), I am happy to be a part of this “labour of love”. The photos, taken in Singapore, photojournalism style, celebrate old age. Be it an uncle laughing with a few missing teeth, two white-haired ladies enjoying a chat, or an Indian man catching a few winks in Chinatown, each of these photos has a story to tell.

Lonely Planet Bali

The Australian government has issued a travel advisory for Bali. The island is on high alert with the impending execution of the three JI terrorists responsible for the senseless bombings in October 2002 which killed 202 people. These “holy warriors” have promised revenge if they are executed. And I think these guys really mean business.

This picture was taken at Jimbaran beach where the second Bali bombing took place in 2005. With its golden sunsets, great surf, verdant rice terraces and hospitable people, it makes one wonder how a place so idyllic can also be so dangerous.

Lonely Planet Indonesia

This photo was shot at a kindergarten in Magelang, Central Java. The little girl’s cherubic face, wholesome smile and sparkling eyes make her a beautiful covergirl.

Lonely Planet Sri Lanka

What I like about this picture is its energy and spontaneity. It makes a great cover for Lonely Planet Sri Lanka, don’t you agree?

Lonely Planet Singapore

We usually see glamorous shots of the Singapore skyline, its skyscrapers, and iconic buildings like the Durian (Esplanade) in Singapore Tourism Board’s advertisement campaigns. What we don’t see is the real Singapore – the heartlands where folks dress down and literally put their feet up. I think this picture of an old man playing Chinese chess is uniquely Singaporean. It may not be a pretty picture that shows a squeaky clean modern Singapore, but it’s a lot more interesting than the generic and staid images we are bombarded with.

Lonely Planet Laos

I reckon this shot of a young man bathing in the Nam Kham River, Luang Prabang makes a prefect cover for Lonely Planet Laos.

Lonely Planet Bhutan

Here’s my dream cover for Lonely Planet Bhutan. This picture was taken at Dechen Phodrang Monastic School, Thimphu, Bhutan.

Lonely Planet Cambodia

No, you’re not looking at the new cover for Lonely Planet Cambodia. It’s just something I did for fun. But seriously, if I could I would love to do it for real. I’ve told a few friends that it’s my dream to do a cover for Lonely Planet travel books. Maybe my wish will come true someday?

High Tech

As I’ve mentioned in my previous blog, the best things that happen are often unplanned. I just finished a photoshoot at NTU Research Techno Plaza this afternoon when I caught sight of this image. The sky was overcast outside, but for a few seconds, the sun shone through, illuminating the glass panels. I hurriedly whipped out my camera and took the photo. The result is brilliant! I like it so much that I’m giving the image to my client as a bonus shot.

Sleepy in Singapore

Still on our sleepy theme, here is a photo I took for an upcoming book (I'm not allowed to reveal too much at this point in time). The photo was shot in Chinatown, Singapore, earlier this year. To be honest, it's hard to find inspiration when photographing in my own backyard, but this assignment surprised me in more ways than one. There are gems if you’re willing to open your eyes and mind.