People 2012 (52) - Partner

I started this project to showcase 52 different people I meet in this entire 2012. Coming to the last week of this project, I want to dedicate it to the most beautiful woman in my life. And she is the only person who will feature in this series twice.

Kless is the woman who have been with me for 20 years. No other woman knows me more than her. No one loves me more than her. No one supports me more than her. And I want to be the same for her. I will love you, support you, care for you, more than anyone in this world. Thank you for being my partner!

“It’s fun to have a partner who understands your life and lets you be you.” Kim Kardashian

People 2012 (51) - 小不点

She is the darling of my heart. She captures my heart like no one else. I call her affectionately 小不点 cos she is so small size and carrying her in my arms just brings a smile to me always.

Jayne looks more like Kless outwardly, but character-wise she is not like both of us. She is a typical 2nd child, more rebellious and mischievous. But for some reason, she really lives up to her name 以心, she can easily capture one’s heart in an instant. She is always saying sentences that will leave us bewildered yet full of laughter. You will always stay so special in my heart, papa will protect you and love you till the last days.

“Every baby born into the world is a finer one than the last.” Charles Dickens

People 2012 (50) - First Born

The last 3 photos in this series will feature the 3 different person who leaves a very deep impression in my life and will forever be the most love of my life.

Joey is my first born. No matter how many children we have, our first born will always be different. She will be the evidence of my strength and vigour. Many people commented that Joey looks like me. I’m not sure which part or angle, but I know she takes after me in terms of character. Both of us are definitely leaders, likes to give instructions or take the lead in any given situation. We are also very similar in terms of our persistency/nagging, we can nag and nag until we get what we want.

I totally love my girl. She is going to P1 next year, most likely she will start to have more friends and spend lesser time with me as she grows up. But papa will always be here for you, my first born.

“You can only have one first born. You may love all your children deeply and with passion, but there is something unique about the first born.” Raymond E Feist

People 2012 (49) - Snorkeling

Did snokerling for the first time in my life recently. At first when I saw this man clumsily moving into the waters, I was laughing inside. Until it was my turn, I think I did worst than him. Snokerling is fun but tough.

“I’d rather be snokerling in the sea of love. But instead I’m stuck here, in a fully paid, all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean.” Jarod Kintz

People 2012 (48) - Confidence

When you are passionate about your work, you will always naturally portray the aura of confidence. That is what I see from this Japanese chef when I popped in one day at his shop. He was not shy and not worried even though I was pointing my camera at him suddenly. Salute!

“If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started.” Marcus Garvey

People 2012 (47) - Colourful

Some say that when we grow older, we tend to dress more in colours. Is that true? Uncle in this photo exhibits the true spirit of a carefree man, decked in his green, blue, orange and with a yellow umbrella. Just be yourself.

“I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colours. I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns.” Winston Churchill

People 2012 (46) - Sisters

Probably one of the moments I think three is better than two. Can’t help but took a quick snap of these 3 sisters playing at the water pool. Watching how kids play always reminds me of keeping a pure and simple heart.

“Sweet, crazy conversations full of half sentences, daydreams and misunderstandings more thrilling than understanding could ever be.” Toni Morrison

People 2012 (45) - Homeless

This guy is actually a homeless man on the streets along Fremantle Perth. We walked past him a few times and probably that’s why he noticed me with my camera and came up and introduced himself as the “king of Perth” and asked me to take his photo. Why would I decline?

"What we have found in this country, and maybe we're more aware of it now, is one problem that we've had, even in the best of times, and that is the people who are sleeping on the grates, the homeless, you might say, by choice." Ronald Reagan

People 2012 (44) - Mother & Child

There is nothing more fascinating than seeing a mother and her child having a moment of love and intimacy. The little girl has been walking around the huge shrine for a while, and when she is tired, mummy is always just round the corner to hold her for a rest.

“The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom.” Henry Ward Beecher

People 2012 (43) - Halloween

Halloween is a yearly holiday observed around the world on Oct 31. Mostly believe that it originate from the Western European harvest festivals and festival of the dead.

But more recently, this has just became another season of the year for party-goers to dress up and have a jolly time.

“There is nothing funny about Halloween. This sarcastic festival reflects, rather, an infernal demand for revenge by children on the adult world.” Jean Baudrillard

People 2012 (42) - Train Master

My first trip to Japan Tokyo. The people there are generally very nice and good-looking. The train master at the airport was so focused on his job that he was totally unfazed by me standing just besides him snapping away. Commitment 100%.

“The only way of catching a train I have ever discovered is to miss the train before.” Gilbert Keith Chesterton

People 2012 (41) - Security

Met this security man outside a certain building and his smile attracted me. Usually security personnel are not friendly, probably they have to maintain a level of security that people will not mistake as weakness. So when you meet a friendly security man, it’s quite impossible not to be drawn.

“Security represents your sense of worth, your identity, your emotional anchorage, your self-esteem, your basic personal strength or lack of it.” Stephen R. Covey

Sunday Special - Stairs

A different perspective in seeing things.

People 2012 (40) - Janitor

I am extremely proud and happy to meet people who are not ashamed of their profession, regardless of what they do. It’s that sense of responsibility and honour that is quite lacking in the younger generation.

“We learned about gratitude and humility, that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean…and we were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect.” Michelle Obama

People 2012 (39) - Hip Hop

I have always been harbouring a secret desire to be able to dance. As a tall guy, I was never one who can coordinate my movements as well as others. But every time there is a dancing show or act, I would definitely be lamenting my “disability”.

“The thing about hip-hop today is it’s smart, it’s insightful. The way they can communicate a complex message in a very short space is remarkable.” Barack Obama

People 2012 (38) - Cobbler

A reason no one really know but the best cobbler in Singapore are usually these old Uncles who are hidden at certain corners around the neighbourhood.

“As he cobbled and hammered from morning till dark, with the footgear to mend on his knees, stitching patches, or pegging on soles as he sang, out of tune, ancient catches and glees.” Oscar H. Harpel

People 2012 (37) - Pole Dancer

Thanks to this girl who sporting jumped onto the pole and did a pose for me. Pole dancing really is difficult, not only do you require tremendous strength and agility, you need to be very confident too.

“Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion.” Martha Graham

Chinatown Photowalk

Catching on to quite a few street photographers’ inspirations, I have decided to do my own photowalk. The idea is just to walk around a certain vicinity and take some interesting shots with no particular theme in mind. This is of course another good way to hone my photography skills and to further train myself to be bolder in street photography, especially with people.

So my first destination is Chinatown. This place is always full of surprises, doesn’t matter how many times I have been there, every single visit brings different views and photography opportunities.

Walking from Cityhall direction, we will pass this bridge to enter into the CBD area and also the Chinatown section further up. No ERP needed if you are on foot.

The uniqueness of Singapore’s town urban planning, we get to see old buildings with skyscrapers not too far off.

An interesting “corner”… If you want to speak, please apply for permit..

It would be cool if our HDB windows can be like this.

A normal day in Chinatown.

It happened to be the Hungry Ghost Festival when I was there. Such altars are common with the Chinese, praying for blessings and protection.

This man seems to be lost in thoughts, probably thinking what did he forget to buy.

Some are rushing home to prepare dinner.

Some are just waiting for time to pass.

Some just enjoys the peace and tranquillity of the environment.

This is Chinatown.

Sunday Special - Donuts

Don’t be deceive by these cute donuts. Nice to see but not good to eat. It’s clay.

People 2012 (36) - Puppeteer

A puppeteer is becoming more and more a common act for children’s gathering. Entertaining the kids is never an easy job, especially under the hot sun. Great job!

“The day I need a television puppet or clown to tell my children what’s right and what’s wrong, I’ll bow out as a mother.” Elinor Smith

Sunday Special - Cat

I don’t think I will keep a pet cat. But I definitely love to take photos of cats.

Saw this white cat in Pasir Ris and it was that slight injury mark on it’s face that drew me in. Amazing to see how yellow are the eyes.

People 2012 (35) - Happy Man

Just like the quote that I have pasted below, this Uncle is such an adorable happy man when we met him on the way towards Chinese Garden. He is probably in his 80s, but he is still walking around enjoying his life and making the best out of his life.

A man can only be happy if he is living a fulfilled life. And this Uncle has shown me the proof.

“It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.” Benjamin Franklin

Sunday Special - Trunk

We are suppose to determine the age of a tree by the number of rings you can find in it’s trunk.

But seriously, I have been staring at this particular log for a long time, where is the ring?

People 2012 (34) - Photographer

Okay I am biased. All along when I started this project, the only photographer I have in mind to feature has to be one using Nikon. So it has been this long wait when I am able to find someone using the right equipment and is also in such a perfect pose for me to shoot him.

“It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imagination to be a painter, because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the ordinary.” David Bailey

Sunday Special - Mosque

Selamat Hari Raya! Season greetings to all my Muslim friends, have a wonderful celebration!

People 2012 (33) - Tour Guide

Secretly one of the job I ever have lingering thoughts to step into was to be a tour guide. I like to meet people, exchange ideas on traveling tips. But due to my lack of adventurous spirit, it was always just a thought.

I am contented now to be the guide just for my own family.

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sunday Special - Singapore

We just celebrated our nation’s 47th birthday. Looking back at what we have accomplished in the last 47 years, we must all be in awe of the success and the great works our leaders have done. True, no one is perfect, but I am quite sure we have one of the best group of leaders in helm.

People 2012 (32) - Foreign Worker

What a coincidence that this post falls on our National Day! Of course the best photo to post will be a photo of the president or prime minister. But that is just a wish.

So I thought let’s be totally off and post a photo of this foreign worker who is definitely not celebrating National Day, he would probably be still working when the nation is celebrating. But the fact is, our country will not be like what we are without this group of foreign workers. Many of us despise them, think that they are dirty or smell differently, but how many of us are willing to exchange with them and take over the hard work done by them?

Salute to all the foreign workers in Singapore. Happy National Day to you!

“A man is a worker. If he is not that he is nothing.” Joseph Conrad

People 2012 (31) - Fisherman

What is the greatest gain in fishing?

Most people would say is the obvious gain like how many fish did you catch.

But what about the unobvious gains? Like patience, isolation, concentration, perseverance?

“All you need to be a fisherman is patience and a worm.” Herb Shriner

Sunday Special - Fishing Rod

I am seriously thinking of reviving that lost interest of fishing. But the idea of staying in the sun for 12 hours, or staying overnight with mosquitoes made me think twice.

If there is a good enough reason to ignore the heat and bugs, it will be a chance for me to bond with my dad. He is the one who intro this interest to me.

People 2012 (30) - Traders

Stall owners at a pasar malam are known as traders too. A trade that is fast diminishing in a sophisticated society like Singapore.

Love the quote that comes along under this photo.

“Rivalry is the life of a trade, and the death of the trader.”  Elbert Hubbard

Sunday Special - Sauces

If you can name your sauce “A1”, then you have to be very sure that the sauce is pretty good.

I confirmed.

People 2012 (29) - Chef

Chefs are a bunch of shy people. They are too used to be hidden behind the kitchen, dishing out all the wonderful amazing cuisines. But when you take them to the front, they will be like fish out of waters.

“A gourmet who thinks of calories is like a tart, who looks at her watch.” James Beard