SGMemory Chinatown Photowalk

Recently i went on a photowalk combing Chinatown Singapore. The photowalk was a project which is organized by National Library of Singapore and SGIG and InstaSG, the Instagram communities in Singapore. There were around 20 instagrammers joining the photowalk which was guided by Aik Beng Chia, a well-known streetphotographer from Singapore. The theme of the project is My Home My Library. In fact anyone can contribute their pictures with this theme through Instagram, and hash-tagged the pictures #sgmemory. Pictures should depict things that evoke memories about Singapore, be it about things, food, buildings, people, childhood games, well...it is about anything, actually.

So here is my contribution, (among others that is not labelled under the above subject) for this project. If you wish to see the pictures instead of slide, click this please. Enjoy! 

Taking Architectural Photography using a smartphone camera

Recently, I was asked by InstaSG to write tips on taking architectural photography using smartphone camera. InstaSG is one of several Instagram communities in Singapore. 

Well, I am not an expert in this area, but yes I have been shooting architectural photography using my iPhone camera (first i used iPhone4 and now iPhone5)

The thing is, I shoot mostly based on instinct. So this request is timely as I was finally able to consolidate and pen down what my 'instinct' has been telling me whenever I 'click' the camera button on my smartphone. :)

So here it goes, the edited version of the one featured on InstaSG instagram. This tips is not just for iPhone users but for those who use smartphone camera to shoot this theme. Lastly, I hope the tips will be useful for you. 

Things you need to understand when taking architectural photography.

1. Shapes. Because of the lens restriction, we usually get distorted perspective when we capture whole structure of a big building using smartphone camera. I would suggest shooting parts/ details of the building instead. For example: the spiky roof of the esplanade, the UFO-like roof of the Changi expo MRT, the stilts of the Science and Arts museum, the fan-like roof of the open plaza at RWS, façade details of the (now-defunct) Tanjong Pagar railway station etc.

2. Lines. Always find interesting perspective and leading lines. Choose interesting and fresh angle (one that people never have taken from before) and apply good composition (try to follow rule of thirds). Architectural elements as leading lines can be in the form of sharp fins of windows, stairs leading to a room, merging lines of a dome, bending path of a bridge etc.

3. Order. There is always an order in architecture. It can be in the form of facade pattern, flooring/ window pattern, the roof structure etc. Showcase them. Most times it is easy to spot orders in a building, occasionally though, it is not so obvious.


 

4. Symmetry. Understand the symmetry of the building, or the proportion of the building. Learn about “golden section” if you wish to know what is considered good composition in photography (and architecture). Basically it is the rule of thirds.

5. Use surroundings to add scale, for example: people walking by, vehicles, lamppost etc. Use surrounding and nature elements such as trees as foreground or background, frame etc.

6. Look up. You will be surprised with what you will find.

Most importantly, we should understand the building before we take pictures of it. Do walk around first, in and out of the building if you have time. It will give you a better sense of the scale, mass and spatial elements of the building, thus hopefully you can identify those points mentioned above. 

Have fun shooting! :)

When you have time....

to go jalan-jalan...i would suggest you to go to Little India.
Dont forget to bring your camera...or cameraphone, like me :-)

My favourite place to shoot street photography...is Little India. There is always so much things to explore and find and capture!

I've been going to Little India for as long as I can remember, for the food, for the fresh produce, for the cultural happenings (I joined the Thaipusam procession couple of years ago) and...for the abundance subjects to shoot with my camera errr...phone. 

Klick the word Little India above, it will bring you to the map of the area. From Little India MRT, just go along Serangoon Road, go into Norris Rd, Upper Dickson Rd, Dunlop Rd, Veerasamy Rd, Chitty Rd, Kampong Kapor Rd...well, basically every lanes and road in this area. 

You will find this beautiful church Kampong Kapoor Church around Kampong Kapoor and Chitty Road. The parish Rev. Wong invited me to see the inside of the church, including their piped organ. It is beautiful! Will upload the pictures on separate post :-)

You will also find this beautiful Abdul Gaffoor mosque in Dunlop Street. It is hidden among rows of shophouses, so you will only see it when you are already very near to the mosque. Do visit this gem...it is beautifully preserved! 

My sister, aunt, mom and I finally found this gem!

Back Alley. Do you notice the designated parking lot for motorcycle here? :-)

Laundry day today :-)

Something has never changed

Back alley...from the otherside.

Hello Granny :-)

"Hello...this is me"

Satu Hari Minggu di Punggol Park

Waaah...ada wedding photo shoot :-)

Punggol Park adalah taman favorit kami, bukan saja karena lokasinya yang cukup dekat dari tempat kami tinggal, tapi juga karena ada banyak kenangan sejak Aqila, anak kami lahir.
Kami dulu tinggal di daerah Hougang, dekat sekali dengan Punggol Park. Sejak Aqila lahir, saya rajin membawa dia jalan-jalan ke taman ini. Banyak kenangan manis dan lucu terjadi di sini. Suatu hari saya membawa Aqila jalan-jalan pagi di sini. Aqila masih kecil sekali, masih bayi. Saya membawa dia dengan menggunakan kereta dorong. Pulang dari taman, saya baru menyadari...lho kok Aqila tidak berselimut? Hahaha...ternyata selimutnya jatuh di tengah jalan...entah di mana lah. Kok bisa ya? Sibuk day dreaming mungkin ibunya ya? haha
Taman ini cukup besar, ada kolam di tengahnya. Sekeliling ada jogging track. Ada juga tempat bermain anak, fitness corner dan barbecue pit. Menurut saya tempat BBQ nya kurang bagus karena jauh dari taman, membelakangi taman pula.

Ada tempat makan menarik juga, Oats something namanya. Menyajikan makanan barat seperti fish n chips, steak dan spaghetti. Ada juga makanan titbidsnya seperti bruschetta, onion rings etc...ada porsi anak juga. sayang, menurut saya rasanya biasa saja.

Anyway...berpiknik di lapangan rumputnya saja sudah cukup menyenangkan kok :-)

Okay...tidak perlu banyak ngomong, lihat saja foto-foto ini ya? Ohya...foto diambil dengan menggunakan cameraphone (iphone4)...tanpa edit.

Ibu dan Nenek pengantin tersenyum ketika difoto :-)

Bapak dan ibu ini asyik mengobrol :-)
Sekarang Punggol Park dapat dicapai dari Punggol Promenade dengan berjalan kaki atau bersepeda melalui Park Connectornya. Menarik sekali! Ada tempat penyewaan sepeda juga di sana, senang kan?



Ooops....hati-hati dooong!

 Aiyaiyaaaaiyaiyai....jangan nubruk!


Tidak lama...terlihat sekumpulan pengunjung taman tekun mengamati sesuatu di pinggir kolam taman.


Anak-anak berkumpul pingin tahu. Ada apa yaaaa?

Kakek inipun asyik menonton....

Aaah...ternyata...ada perahu dengan remote control! Seru lho menontonnya!


Oops...maaf ada kaki ikut terfoto :-)
Senangnya...bersantai menikmati hari Minggu di taman yang tenang nyaman dan asri :-)

My neighbourhood

I was on my way to my lesson when i caught a glimpse of the sky and realised how pretty it was. I was pleasantly surprise to see the results...so i share them here with you :-)

It seems just recently we moved in to this area. Hey....it seems just recently we heard about Punggol estate. ;-) Well, Punggol is the newest estate in Singapore. Punggol now is still an ulu place. But come 5 years from now, it will be a very vibrant estate with various amenities for everyone, or so it was said by the government :-)

Okay...okay...am not in the mood to explain about it now, initially i just wanted to post these pictures of my Punggol :-) So if you are interested to know about the latest development of Punggol Town, please clik this.  

Mirrored World

"Mirrored world. Good Tuesday all! "

Took this picture from the Sail, the newest post condo in CBD.

Loose hinges

view full image

"Loose hinges. "

Playing with perspective :-) 

This is a picture of Pan Pacific Hotel in Marina Square.

It is interesting to understand the limitation of a cameraphone (mine is an iPhone4) and get something creative out of it :-)

As i cycle

A new photo series containing pictures that i take as i cycle.

This was taken around neighbourhood. Snapped this morning during our morning ride.


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