Old & New Favorites - Panorama

Laughing Buddhas

Well, I posted this panoramic photograph on our local photographic forum i.e. Clubsnap forum, on 12 Jan 2006. Since I just started on my new photography blog, I also wanted to share it with every blog reader.

I got the chance to borrow a classic HORIZONT panoramic camera from a friend of mine and took on a roll of Fujifilm Superia 200. One main problem with this camera is light leakage and I was lucky to get this shot without light leakage. Phew! All the photographs I took, were at the mercy of the camera's mechanical fault. You never know what kind of light leakages you will get or how worse it can get.

In fact I took 2 shots of these 2 Laughing Buddha in Waterloo Street. Taking panoramic picture does change the way I see things. As I came across the Laughing Buddha there were lots of people praying and worshipping They touched the Buddha statue for good fortune and good health. The last time I was there on 31st Dec 2005, the old Buddha was still in that spot. Now, it was shifted aside and replaced it with a new varnished Buddha statue. Everyone go for the new one and neglect the old one. Personally I find it pretty humorous and ironic on the other. For your information, the tarnished state of the Buddha statue was due to the countless touchings by prilgrims. The new one symbolizes a good new start in the coming new year. So does favoritism play a part here?

Today is Vesak Day. I wish every reader healthy and happy always.

My New Photography Blog

Since the day I started blogging, I've had many ideas on what to write and post and to share with every fellow photographers and friends. It came across my mind on creating another blog site, focussing on generic photography based on genres like landscape, street photography, still life, portraiture photography, studio photography etc etc.

Basically it's all about my personal photographic work and some experiences to share and to inspire others, too. Of cuz planning and preparing are essential. Finally I got everything set up. So expect more blogs from me soon.

Moving Out

Moving Out

I took this photograph last year at Change Alley, obviously as the sign board stated, in the event Eye The City 2006. This is the picture that got selected for the upcoming publication and photography exhbition to be held at The National Library, some time in early August. Date to be confirmed.

In case any of you do not know about Eye The City, it's a project event that encourages the documentation of social changes, recorded through photographs on the last day of the year to form the collective memories of Singapore from the eye of ordinary individuals. It was my second year participation.

Let me tell you a little about Change Alley.

Change Alley is located in the downtown core of Singapore's Central Business District. The original narrow spot stretched from Raffles Place to Collyer Quay. Unlike its namesake in London where stockbrokers congregated, Change Alley was world famous for its money-changers and inexpensive shopping.

For its history, you can log on here.

Change Alley was officially closed down on 31st December 2006, Sunday. I was fortunate enough to take many photographs on that day and I chose this shot for submission. Preivously I was strolling along the corridor of the shops area and I saw a few shops were still packing up. I talked to one of the shop owners, who has had operated business there for more than three decades. It was really hard on them to depart the place they loved so much. Most of the shops were shifted to nearby shopping arcades to resume their businesses, while others were closed for good. The owner kept pestering me to buy his last stocks at super-low cheap prices. Well I ought to as I mentioned to him about Eye The City and he was kinda freaked out, at the thoughts of documenting the last 24 hours of 2006.

So eventually he refused to be photographed. We shook hands and I went off. As I came down to the end of the overhead bridge, to the ground level, I bummed into an Indian businessman who, like the others, came back to retrieve his own stuff. He smiled and approached to me. "Are you taking photos of this place?" he asked. "Yes I am." I replied. "Take as many photos as you can. This place is closed for good. Today is the last day." he said. Before I could ask for his permission to take a few photographs of him, he turned and walked off. To each his own.

Shortly after, a man with a trolley full of stuff, appeared at the entrance/exit of the bridge. Upon seeing this photographic opportunity, I raised my camera and took the shot. Of cuz, the first was never a good one. Fortunately the man made a couple of trips and finally I got what I wanted.

Homeless Man & No Littering

Homeless Man & No Littering

© 2005 Martin Liew

Homeless Man & No Littering

I paid a visit to the National Library today to check out Eye e City 2005 photo-exhibition. I took part in the event last year and one of my pictures was selected, as shown above. I know this is not related to night photography but I just wanna share my joy with every reader here.

Here's how I came about making this picture:

31st Dec 2005, Saturday morning. I arrived early at Waterloo Street and walking around for some interesting things to shoot. As I took the escalator up a level above the hawker center, I saw this homeless man sleeping soundly on the floor. I walked pass him but as I turned back to look again, I spotted the "No Littering" signboard on the wall. As the wall was curved outwards, the old man's body laid just along the contour comfortably as if he's performing some yoga.

Initially I wanted to shoot the old man as the main subject but upon seeing the whole scenario, it occurred to me that the old man and the sign board have a contrast implications. It somehow creates an awareness of homeless folks wandering and sleeping in the street with no-one to look after them. These people are literally treated like "garbage" and the No Littering sign board speaks for them. Don't neglect these people and their welfare. This can be a serious social problem if attention isn't paid on them.

Nikon D70s • 18-70mm standard lens • B&W conversion in Adobe Photoshop with Level adjustment and minor dodging.

Eye é City 2005

Eye é City 2005:
A Visual Account of the Last 24 Hour of 2005
2005年岁末二十四小时人文记录

This was the fourth year of Eye é City. Through this project, the organiser encourages the documentation of social changes, recorded through photographs on the last day of the year to form the collective memories of Singapore from the eye of ordinary individuals. While for the past few years, they have had being collating photographs of amateurs, novices and professionals alike, and showcased them at exhibitions and in publications. Last year they also invite Secondary School and Junior College students to join in this meaningful event which they hope to see Singapore through the eyes of our young future leaders.

It was my first year participation in this event. It was a fun and fruitful day on 31st Dec 2005 Saturday. Six months later, on 12 June 2006, Monday, I received 2 emails from the Organising Committee. One stated about the launch of photo-book and photographic exhibition which will be featuring the 100 B&W pictures selected for the photo-book. Here the details of the event:

Book Launch cum Sharing Session
新书发布与分享会
Date: 8th July 2006, Saturday
Time: 2:30pm - 5:00pm
Venue: National Library Board, Central Lending Library @ Basement 1
100, Victoria Street

Exhibition Period: 01 - 31 July 2006
Opening Hours: 10am - 9pm

A talk (in English) by Mr Lee Tiah Khee, Chief Photographer of Lianhe Zaobao, has also been scheduled for you on the 29th July 2006, Saturday at 3.00pm at the same venue. Everyone is most welcome with their friends or colleagues to attend this talk to gain some insight on photojournalism.

All above mentioned events are free admission.

The second email is a good news for me. It stated that one or more of my submitted photographs was/were selected to be printed in the photo-book and for the exhibition as well. As a compliment, I'll be receiving a copy of the photo-book. This is really exciting for me! Awesome!

I'll post the selected photograph here on that actual day. Watch out for it!