I was at UBIN

“Photographs will offer indisputable evidence that the trip was made, that the program was carried out, that fun was had”

Susan Sontag

In many ways, photography was opened up a new vision and perspective to people.

However, it was gives an impression that something does exist and is “Present” in that time and space. Question is, how can we use this “Present” Objects / Scenes to create something NEW.

Holding on to my new film camera, my girlfriend and I decided to take a trip down to a Island around the isle of Singapore called Pulau Ubin. Armed with just a bicycle and the camera we went around the island taking in the view and serenity not seen in the busy Singapore island. While she was there practicing “framing” - She’s a Film Major Student,

I was there looking to practice my exposure on film as well and double exposure compositions.

The thing about film is how it never fails to surprise you. 

Unlike the DSLR, you an’y bend your head down after ever shot to check if you “GOT IT!”

And considering that it was my first time using this new form of manual focus, it was hard for me to “GET IT!” However, after developing I was surprised to get a couple of interesting and planned shots. THANK GOD!

All in all, it was definitely not easy to get the focus on a film.

However, one thing it definitely does is train us to view things from angles outside of a DSLR.

Instead, we hunt for angles that we know is different.

After all, with just 36 Frames we only want the best in it.

Collecting Singapore

"To Collect Photographs is to Collect the World"
Susan Sontag

36 Frames

Moving Back to Move Forward.
After So many months of yearning and procrastinating, finally gotten my hand on a Manual SLR. And my I've to say I'm loving every part of it.


While what seems to be the whole world moving towards the Digital Era, I choose to move a little back into the 1970s.


I'm not an old middle age man and neither am I a Hipster. I can't fit in skinnies anyways for that matter of fact. But, a good man/photographer once said, 36 frames forces you to focus on the necessary and shoot only the best. Besides that, $7.50 per roll and $6 developing fee also does the job of making sure I have only the best shots possible in that 36 frames.

Previously shooting on a Canon N series I had the ease of Auto Focus to ensure my shots are sharp. With this Manual SLR, its a WHOLE other story. 


Working on a film makes you respect all those photographers pre-DSLR. All the amazing street photographers that truly had to frame, compose and make changes within seconds to get the shot they wanted. 

With reference to one of my favorite Vietnam War photojournalist Nick Ut who shot one of the most famous photos that is iconic to the War. "The Napalm Girl " It really makes you shiver at the thought of "what if he didn't frame it well." The whole world wouldn't have seem the painful innocence of a civilian casualty. 


Then again, with the whole idea of film comes the problems.
Nothing hurts more then have a roll of film accidentally exposed or damaged.....
Its hurts just as much as realising that your CF card is corrupted after an amazing photo shoot.


Time to return to my Susan Sontag.
My goodness, they should give her articles as "A" Level examination scripts. 
Surely, there will be a uprising of disgruntled students. Then "Ways of Seeing" the next year. That would scare the living day lights of students....

The Stranger's Reunion

Probably my final Photoshoot with Jipaban before my "Self Training Period".
Sounds a lot like I'm about to climb up a steep hill to seek training in the mountains.
But generally, its just my way of saying "Photo Walking" before my Major Year starts in August.

Quick Reflection on this shoot : NOT GOOD

This was suppose to be a Fashion and Documentary shoot.
If the Fashion side was not well done it would be hurtful, but to mess up the Documentary side thats Harsh. I love documentary and I never like messing up documentary work especially since it was something I was working towards as a career.

1.  No flow of events
2. Lack of angles from photos
3. Not using foreground and background wisely