Three Monks

Enchanting

Glamour in Little India

Here is Sanna stopping traffic with her grace and beauty in Little India, Singapore. Sanna used to be a top model in Europe. She still does a bit of modelling, but yoga (and family) are her greatest passions in life now.

The Yoga Family

A family that practices yoga is a happy and healthy one as these pictures show.

Live Breathe India

Here are some pictures I shot for Lifestyle Living (an Indian magazine) recently. My subjects are an expatriate couple, Garry and Sanna, who are from England and Finland respectively. Devoted vegetarians and ardent practitioners of yoga, they practically live and breathe India. Their cosy abode in Newton, Singapore, is filled with objet d'art, antiques and books from India. It was a pleasure photographing their lovely home and not forgetting to mention their very photogenic son, Axel.

Village Girl

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Reluctant Residents of Chandni Chowk

It’s not easy to take photos of the people in Chandni Chowk. According to my guide, the residents there are mostly Muslims and due to some sensitive issues, don’t like to be photographed. And he was right. I had rotten fruits thrown at me for taking the little girl’s picture – can you believe that? Another elderly woman hurled expletives when I pointed my camera at her. So to avoid detection, I took these photos with my zoom lens.

Madam Genteel

This is the lady who invited me to her home for the scrumptious lunch. She is so gentle and placid like the lake she resides on. I will never forget her hospitality. And she will always remain as one of my favourite portraits that I've taken.

Flirt

As promised here’s the posed shot I was talking about. Intriguing, huh? As a matter of fact, there’s a funny story behind this photo. I was walking along Bach Dang Street when this old lady approached me. To my surprise she spoke in English. “Please take my picture. I like very much,” she said and gave me a wink. I got goose bumps. Not sure if it was the way she brazenly flirted with me or how astonishingly photogenic she is. But one thing’s for sure, this is one of my all-time personal favourite photos.

People of Hoi An 2

Here are more candid shots of the friendly folks in Hoi An. I like to photograph people when they are at their most natural. But sometimes a posed picture can be a classic like the one I’ll be posting here tomorrow. Stay tuned…

People of Hoi An 1

I’ve travelled to three cities in Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City, Hue and Hoi An. Which city speaks to me the most? Hoi An without a doubt. The city is bursting with colours, it is quaintly atmospheric (I felt like I was on a movie set with brilliant art direction) and the people are easy to photograph. They wouldn’t demand money from you or give you dirty looks like the people I encountered in Galle Fort, Sri Lanka.

Here are some portrait shots taken in the old quarters of Hoi An, where I spent the whole afternoon exploring. Everywhere I turned there was a photo opportunity. Women in cone hats rowing boats, men enjoying a drag while playing chess, and folks young and old haggling at the wet market… Hoi An is a photographer’s dream come true!

Golden Oldies

Still on the subject of old age, here are portraits of “golden oldies” I took in Bali and Central Java. The lady in the main picture asked my guide/fixer with a giggle, “Why is he taking my picture? I’m so old not pretty anymore!” I said to my guide, “Please tell her that I think she’s very beautiful.” And I speak from my heart. These old folks have something that most of their younger counterparts do not have and that’s inner beauty.

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?

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 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 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?