I'm a Singapore event photographer; specializing in corporate events, weddings and birthday parties.

2011-05-31

T-Shirt Shop, Cheng Yan Place, Bugis


This looks like the place to go if you want a T-shirt which has a cute slogan or that parodies corporate logos. Me? I'm a buttoned-down shirt guy. Cooler (thinner) and doesn't stretch out of shape.

I'll photograph anything with bright colors. The T-shirts qualify, but it's the blue blocks on the second level, that really make the photo work.

  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f3.3, ISO 800, 1/45 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, straighten, crop.
Had to wait a few minutes, take a few photos, to avoid pedestrians that were walking around and messing up the photo.  At least I didn't have to deal with cars.

Evening is a good time to photograph buildings. You get enough daylight to light up the outside of the building, but not too much until the light inside the building is overpowered.

Oxford Hotel Singapore


The Oxford Hotel Singapore ( http://www.oxfordhotel.com.sg/ ) has an unusual design. Few hotels here have murals, let alone such a brightly-colored one. It looks like it is glowing because of spotlights on the ground. It is 7:20pm in the evening. 

The hotel is located between Queen Street and Waterloo Street, near the Singapore Art Museum. Compared to a conventional hotel, it is turned 90 degrees: the side of the hotel faces the street. 
  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f1.8, ISO 800, 1/60 seconds
  • Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, straighten.

2011-05-29

F15 Taking Off, RSAF Open Day, Paya Lebar Airbase


RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) F15 taking off for the flight display. It looks fuzzy because of heat shimmer from another jet that just passed in front of it and is now out of the photo.

I stood back from the crowd, maybe 20, 50 meters, because I hate crowds. I thought heck, you want to see the planes in the sky anyway, so no point squeezing to see them on the runway. Luckily stumbled onto this shot because of that.

If you take a photo of the airplanes alone, it's pretty boring. You need to add people to make it come alive. If I were close to the crowd, I wouldn't be able to get the jet looking this large plus so many people in the crowd, into the same photo, because the perspective would be different.

The open day is an annual event. Anyone can go. You don't need to show any identification, but all your stuff goes through an x-ray machine, like in an airport. Cameras are allowed, but lenses are limited to 500mm. The open day is popular and is crowded. 

The RSAF has official photos on Flickr ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyberpioneer/tags/rsafopenhouse2011/show/ ).
  • Nikon D7000, 70-210mm f4-5.6
  • At 135mm, f16, ISO 1600, 1/1000 seconds
  • Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Crop, auto contrast
Stopped down quite severely to get decent depth of field because DOF is really shallow at telephoto focal lengths. Lots of light outdoors plus the D7000 at ISO 1600 still looks good. Could have sacrificed some shutter speed and stopped down even more.

2011-05-28

Old Terrace Houses, Emerald Hill Road


Quite a few pre-WWII shophouses in Singapore, but old residences are harder to find. These are in Emerald Hill, famous Peranakan (Straits Chinese) area, off Orchard Road. Had to crop off the bottom of the photo. Large green trash cans in front of each house. Totally spoils the picture.  

  • Nikon D80, 12-24mm f4
  • At 24mm, f8, ISO 100, 1/125 seconds
  • Aperture priority, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop, graduated tint fake blue sky
Went to manual exposure because a lot of the photos I took along the road were backlit by the sky. Didn't want to bother with exposure lock. Not so much sky in this photo, but no point changing exposure mode once you've got manual exposure nicely dialed in.

Don't need f8 for this photo, but then don't need high shutter speeds either, and I'm still at ISO 100. For outdoor daylight photos, exposure is easy. You've got light to burn. It's the indoor shots that are a pain, and where you really need a DSLR. You could get a high quality image of the above scene with a compact camera. 

2011-05-27

Official Graffiti, Post-Museum Cafe


Outside wall of the Post-Museum Cafe ( http://www.post-museum.org/ ), Rowell Road (off Jalan Besar). Looks like another official, commissioned graffiti. Unfortunately the wall isn't in good condition and some of the paint is peeling. 

Post-museum says that they won't be renewing their lease, are looking for another location. Not sure what will happen to the graffiti. 

  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f4, ISO 1600, 1/30 seconds
  • Aperture priority, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop
Had to shoot at an angle, to squeeze more of the graffiti in. 35mm isn't wide enough and I was already backed up against a wall. One advantage of shooting at an angle is that you do compress the image horizontally, so you get more of the photo filled up, instead of a lot of black space at the top and the bottom.

Stopped down to f4 to get enough depth of field for the angle.

Youth Park, *Scape


The Youth Park is part of the irritatingly-named *Scape ( http://www.scape.com.sg/venue_os.asp ) area near Orchard Road, set aside for youth facilities and activities. Note that the website domain name is scape.com, because you can't put a "*" in a domain name. Nice going guys, good job confusing people. 

The bus is a real derelict, as far as I can tell. I remember a cafe being inside, but that doesn't seem to have worked out. "Graffiti" on the benches are commissioned and officially sanctioned. I mean, this is Singapore. Before you start romanticizing about real graffiti, read Heather Mac Donald's article, Radical Graffiti Chic ( http://city-journal.org/2011/21_2_vandalism.html ).
  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f4, ISO 1600, 1/60 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop, straighten
I increased ISO until the Program mode set aperture to f4. Wanted at least f4 to get both the bus and the benches in focus. The benches are important to add interest to the photo. If it's just the bus, the photo wouldn't be as interesting. I didn't think of using the benches at first. It's only after walking 360 degrees around the bus that I saw that the benches would work.

2011-05-25

Buzz Pod Convenience Store, Clementi Bus Interchange


The name on them is Buzz, but their website ( http://www.buzzpod.com.sg/ ) calls them Buzz Pods. This is a franchise business, surprisingly, run by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), the Straits Times guys. They probably see it as a way to sell their publications, though the pods also sell snacks and drinks. 

A lot of the bus interchanges have one. The black strip with the red Chinese characters is a scrolling LED display, with news headlines. Some pods display Chinese headlines, others display English. 

  • Nikon D7000, 18-200mm f3.5-5.6
  • At 18mm, f4.8, ISO 400, 1/180 seconds
  • Aperture priority exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop, straighten
At 18mm and with a stabilized lens, I could have gone to ISO 100 and 1/45 seconds, but I was in a hurry and didn't have time to optimize.

SingTel Public Phone Booths



You don't see many public phones (http://info.singtel.com/personal/communication/payphone-cards) nowadays. Everyone has a cellphone. These are outside one of the Somerset MRT station exits, along Exeter Road. 

They have been a lot of different designs over the years. Common features are: no door, horizontal bar for sitting. Simple, low-maintenance. This one has advertisements on the outside, but they are SingTel's own ads. 

  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f3.3, ISO 100, 1/60 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop.

2011-05-23

Merdandy Bar and Cafe, Haji Lane


The Merdandy ( http://www.merdandy.com.sg/ ) is one of many cafes along Haji Lane. Their menu is a mix of local, Italian and Arabic food.  

This is the rear entrance, which is more interesting than the front, but they don't seem to want to advertise the rear on their website. Waste of beautiful artwork. Some kind of graffiti-style cyber/science fiction and Aztec or Egyptian feel (lady looks like Nefertiti).

  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f4.8, ISO 100, 1/180 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop.
For a slanted object like this, you need some depth of field. A kit zoom lens starts at f3.5, so you don't normally have to worry about depth of field. With a large aperture prime, you need to set to at least the kit lens aperture to be safe. Day was bright enough for Program mode to set f4.8. If aperture wasn't small enough, I'd simply boost the ISO until it was. You can take short cuts like that if you've got enough light, no need to go to aperture priority mode.

2011-05-22

Painted Manhole Cover


I don't know why this particular manhole cover and the ones nearby, are decorated. Most aren't. They are outside the Bishan bus interchange. Love the colors. The picture is actually printed on plastic and glued onto the manhole cover. There are a few different pictures, and they aren't unique. The same picture is used on more than one cover.

Manhole covers in Singapore are square, not round. The black line in the middle is where the cover's double doors open up. The little teardrop shapes are raised bumps on the steel, so that you don't slip when walking on the cover. 

  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f6.7, ISO 100, 1/180 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop, highlights.

2011-05-21

Singapore Post, Post Box Artwork, Official Graffiti


Most of the post boxes I see are plain white, but a few seem to have custom artwork. Probably official, I doubt this is graffiti. This one is near the Bukit Batok bus interchange. 
  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f4, ISO 100, 1/60 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast

2011-05-20

Bao Today, Chinese Cafe


Bao Today is a franchise chain ( http://www.baotoday.com/ ). This one is outside the 313 building, Orchard Road, next to the Somerset MRT station.

Local restaurants and cafes don't use Chinese lanterns. Those that do, look touristy. I'm not saying that the food is not authentic. I'm just saying that the decor isn't local, but it sure makes for a pretty picture.

I've tried the porridge a few times. It's quite good: Catonese-style watery and boiled until the rice disintegrates.

  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f2.8, ISO 100, 1/60 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast

2011-05-19

Candylicious Store, Resorts World Sentosa



One of the more striking shops at Resorts Worlds (http://www.candyliciousshop.com/Candylicious_Press_Release.pdf). It's near Universal Studios. As it's name suggests, it sells sweets and chocolate. Unfortunately, I'm on a low-carb diet.

Petaled roof is part of the standard Resorts Worlds design. The candy trees are from Candylicious.
  • Nikon D80, 12-24mm f4
  • At 12mm, f6.7, ISO 100, 1/180 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast

2011-05-18

SingTel Crab Advertisement



The crab, of course, is not real. It's plastic, beautifully and realistically painted. Pretty spectacular and eye-catching, as far as advertisements go. This is a Singtel (Singapore Telecoms) advertisement, for their "Red Rewards points" for restaurant discounts. Unfortunately, you need to read the fine print to find out what it's about, so I'm not sure how effective the advertisement is, no matter how good it looks.

Advertisement is at a bus stop opposite the National Library (you can see the library in the background). I'm not certain but I'm guessing that the advertising company pays for the construction of the bus stop, in exchange for permission from the LTA (Land Transport Authority) to sell advertisement space. I love capitalism. I'm just wondering who keeps the crab after the campaign is over. 

  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f1.8, ISO 100, 1/90 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop

2011-05-17

Pan Pacific Serviced Suites



The Pan Pacific Serviced Suites are on the right ( http://www.panpacific.com/pan_pacific_service_suites_singapore/ ). Building on the left is the Orchard Building (blocking Cineleisure Orchard from sight). Building behind that is the Mandarin Orchard Hotel, with its distinctive canoe top.

Near Somerset Station, behind Orchard Road. The serviced suites have a cool-looking design, but I'm wondering what the curved bottom few levels, without windows, are. That's the recurring issue with architecture. The most efficient design is a rectangular block, but that's boring. More interesting designs always end up wasting space. 

Serviced suites (also called serviced apartments) are a cross between a hotel and an apartment. They are short-term rental apartments or long-term rental hotels (weeks or months). They are furnished and cleaned by staff like a hotel, and have a kitchen like an apartment.
  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f4.8, ISO 100, 1/90 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop, fill light, color temperature

2011-05-16

The Gateway, Beach Road


Well-known office building near Suntec City, designed by I. M. Pei ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gateway_(Singapore) ). There are two towers, which is what most photos show. I thought that this angle, showing only one tower from the side, would be more interesting.

Building plan is diamond-shaped, so it looks flat when viewed from some angles. You can see part of the "hidden" side of the building, on the right, which spoils the illusion a bit. This is the thin side of the building, which makes the building look slimmer than it is.

  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f11, ISO 100, 1/500 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop

2011-05-15

Going Om Cafe and Bar, Haji Lane



Looks like a Buddhist-themed cafe/bar, though their website (http://www.going-om.com/) says Nepalese. This is the sign on the second level. The ground floor is much less colorful.

Haji Lane is near Bugis MRT. It's full of old shophouses, converted into cafes and fashion boutiques. Lot's of tourists there.
  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f6.7, ISO 100, 1/180 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop

2011-05-14

Houses Next to Choa Chu Kang Stadium


These picture-perfect houses look like they've come out of a Hollywood movie. They are located right next to the Choa Chu Kang Stadium. You can see the grass of the stadium's football field in the foreground, and the running track in the middle.

It is just possible to make out the image of a father and his young daughter, in the middle of the photo, at the edge of the grass. There's also a resident in a pink blouse on the balcony of the third house from the left. 

  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f2.8, ISO 400, 1/60 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop

2011-05-13

Fountain Court, CHIJMES



Fountain Court is the lower level, which seems to be shared by a few bars and restaurants (you can see the square signs for Harry's Bar at the bottom left). It is an open-air basement. Upper level is the ground floor. Structure at the top right is the Pizzeria Giardino. The fountain is out of the picture, on the right, just below the chapel.

CHIJMES (http://www.chijmes.com.sg/) used to be the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus. It's now a collection of bars and restaurants. The chapel has been deconsecrated and is now called CHIJMES Hall, a popular location for wedding dinners.  

Wikipedia has details (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHIJMES).
  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f2, ISO 3200, 1/30 seconds
  • Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, incandescent white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, fill light

2011-05-12

McDonald's Bukit Panjang Plaza



It's the black-and-white lighted panels on top, that give this McDonald's an unusual look. Store placement is of course, superb, at the front corner of the shopping centre, the first thing anyone walking in from the LRT or bus station will see. There's a rule in commercial real estate: get a shop next to a McDonald's.
  • Nikon D7000, 18-200mm f3.5-5.6
  • At 18mm, f4, ISO 1600, 1/30 seconds
  • Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, incandescent white balance
  • Picasa: Crop, straighten

2011-05-10

Bars or Cafes Along Emerald Hill Road


Next to Centrepoint, off Orchard Road, just after Peranakan Place. The road here is still closed off to vehicular traffic. Right after this is the start of the residential part of Emerald Hill. 

Most of the buildings here were built before World War II, some before World War I. Red unit on the left is now a shop. Don't ask me about the dinosaur on the roof. I don't know what that is.
  • Nikon D80, 12-24mm f4
  • At 12mm, f5.6, ISO 100, 1/125 seconds
  • Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop, fill light

2011-05-09

Orchard Central, Side Street View, Night


One of the many new malls that sprang up recently. Next to Somerset MRT station (inside the 313 building further down), opposite Centrepoint (on the right), built over the old Phoenix Hotel.

Almost all the new shopping centres have an escalator going up inside, from the outside, but most don't look as psychedelic as this one. Must drive a lot of traffic for this feature to be so popular. 

  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At 35mm, f2, ISO 400, 1/30 seconds
  • Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop

2011-05-08

Food Republic Food Court, VivoCity


Food Republic is a food court chain that is owned by BreadTalk (http://www.breadtalk.com/foodrepublic/).

This one at VivoCity is right next to the monorail train station to Sentosa. It has dark wooden furnishings: chairs, tables, food stalls. Making it look traditional and even village-like, even though it is in a mall. Don't be fooled by the small entrance, the place is huge (and always crowded). There are also mini restaurants inside, where tables are cordoned off and reserved for patrons of a specific stall.
  • Nikon D80, 12-24mm f4
  • At 12mm, f4, ISO 360, 1/30 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance, auto ISO
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop

The Michael Hotel, Sentosa



Part of the Resorts World Sentosa complex, it's right next to the Waterfront monorail train station.

I thought it was named after Michael Jackson, but their website (http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Hotels/HotelMichael) says that it is named after architect Michael Graves.

It's sometimes called The Michael, other times Hotel Michael. It looks like a circular tower from this angle, but it is a standard long block, though with a funky baroque roof which you can't see from this angle. This is the rounded end of the block. White petals on the right are the shaded roof of the pedestrian walkway. Red stick at the bottom is a fire hydrant.
  • Nikon D80, 12-24mm f4
  • At f8, ISO 100, 1/250 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop
Had to wait a few minutes for a clear shot, without people walking by and cluttering up the photo. That's part of the fun of photography, the waiting. It's like fishing that way.

2011-05-07

Hard Rock Hotel, Sentosa



Yes, it's the cafe guys, branching out into hotels (http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Hotels/HardRockHotel). Part of the Sentosa Resorts World complex (casino, Universal Studios and a few hotels), what the government calls an "integrated resort" or IR.

Resorts World is built like a slice of pie, with the monorail train station on one side and Hard Rock Hotel on the other. The standard way to walk there from the train station is indoors, through the complex buildings, which is the route the guides will ask you to use. But this takes you along the outer edge of the pie. There's a shortcut along the inner edge of the pie, less than half the distance, but there are no signs or human guides standing around to help you. 
  • Nikon D80, 12-24mm f4
  • At 12mm, f8, ISO 100, 1/250 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Strighten, auto contrast, crop

2011-05-05

Wisma Atria Shopping Centre



Wisma Atria is at the start of Orchard Road, next to the Orchard MRT Station. Its basement level is directly connected to the station. It has been around awhile, but has kept up to date with facelifts for the facade.

I like it because it is one of the few that proudly displays its name on the front. I'm often in some strange area, looking out for a specific shopping complex because it is a landmark, see one, but then can't find its name anywhere on its outside. I've walked past many of the new shopping complexes along Orchard, and I still don't know their names.

You can see the Food Republic food court at the top left. It's a chain with branches all over Singapore.

Website is http://www.wismaonline.com/
  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At f2.8, ISO 100, 1/60 seconds
  • Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast, crop
Had to take the photo from an angle because the 35mm isn't wide enough to fit everything in if I'm flat-on straight at 90 degrees. Actually looks better this way. Using the non-zoom 35mm has forced me to explore different angles, instead of simply zooming to fit.

2011-05-04

Jelapang Road Sunset, Aerial View


Nothing much to say. A lot of photography is being at the right place at the right time.

It's 7:15pm. Long, low building in the center is a car park. The buildings are HDB public housing. Track is for the LRT, station is Jelapang. 

  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At f2.0, ISO 400, 1/30 seconds
  • Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Auto contrast

2011-05-03

SDP (Social Democratic Party) Election Rally, Jelapang



Taken from the public corridor of the top (17th) storey of a nearby HDB flat. I was prepared to go down a floor if any of the residents there objected. Instead, one lady saw me through her gate (she left the main door open) and asked me if I wanted a stool. Surprisingly, I was the only one at the top. I was expecting a crowd. 

Stage is the red rectangle on the left. Blue blob at the top is the media platform with a bunch of cameras. Diagonal line at the bottom is the LRT track. You can see a portable toilet next to the pillar at the bottom. Guys in fluorescent green are policemen in raincoats. Light rain, so everyone was under an umbrella or using the LRT track as shelter.  
  • Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
  • At f2.8, ISO 800, 1/30 seconds
  • Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Crop, auto contrast

2011-05-02

Singapore Visitors Centre, Orchard Road



There are a few Singapore Visitors Centres. For example, there's one in each of the three Changi Passenger Terminals (1, 2, and 3). Good place to get free city maps (also available at most hotel lobbies). They are run by the Singapore Tourism Board (http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/plan-your-trip/travel-essentials/singapore-visitors-centres.html).

This one is in the heart of Orchard Road, near The Heeren and Centrepoint. It has been here for years already, but I can't help thinking that it's only going to be around until someone buys that piece of land and builds a shopping centre.

Entrance is at the right. On the left is Duck & Hippo, a city tours company (http://sgsnaps.blogspot.com/2011/02/duck-and-hippo-sightseeing-bus.html) .
  • D7000, 35mm 1.8
  • At f2, ISO 800, 1/30 seconds. Quite flat subject, so don't need much depth of field. Set f2 to allow lower ISO to be used and get less noise. Set shutter to 1/30 seconds, about minimum speed to get decent photos with the 35mm (not much margin for error, need to hold the camera steady), increase ISO until exposure is okay.
  • Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
  • Picasa: Crop 
Black letters look faded, but that's how they look in real life. 

    2011-05-01

    Centrepoint Shopping Centre, Night



    One of the older and more well-known of the malls along Orchard Road. It's opposite Somerset MRT station. Anchor tenant is Robinsons. You can see the Robinsons display windows on the ground floor (unfortunately over-exposed).

    The facade has changed, and the building renovated and extended but the taxi stand in front remains. There was a minor controversy over the taxi stand, the government saying that it blocked traffic flow, but the building's management said that it would affect business if removed. 

    Webpage is http://www.fraserscentrepointmalls.com/malls/cp/index.asp
    • D7000, 35mm f1.8
    • At f1.8, ISO 400, 1/30 seconds
    • Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
    • Picasa: Straighten, auto contrast