Advertisement
 

--------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from CNET Asia.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Campus Snapshots: Singapore Management University II

By Leonard Goh
29/05/2009
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/digitalcameras/0,39001469,62054485,00.htm

Most professional photographers usually discover photography as students, and hone their skills over the years before achieving recognition. Which is why we are casting a spotlight on young photobuffs from various tertiary photographic societies by providing a platform for them to showcase their works.

This is the second installment of SMU's Campus Snapshots. To see the first part, click here.

Credit: Hendry Poh

SMUSAIC

Established in 2002, SMUSAIC is SMU's premier photography club focusing on photography and digital imaging. The club acts as a central body to gather aspiring photographers in SMU. This is where members share, appreciate and learn from each other’s experiences. SMUSAIC also organizes regular outings and courses for students keen to pick up photography or improve their existing skills.

In 2007, the club adopted a new direction and vision--photography education and visual literacy. The rebranding effort saw a series of events and initiatives open doors to professionals and amateurs alike. With the aim of spreading visual literacy and promoting public education to benefit the SMU community at large, these events are carefully tuned to be highly inclusive and amateur-friendly.

SMUSAIC's Web site

His shots:

Credit: Hendry Poh

We were at the Singapore Biennale and it struck me when I saw how the light interacts with the darkness. It's like finding art in common places that others have missed.

Credit: Hendry Poh

After hearing a talk by Singapore photographer Russell Wong and seeing his works for Jackie Chan, I decided to do something similar. Fortunately for me, the model was daring enough to lie in the middle of the road for this shot.

Editors' note:

Please do not try this shot unless you are familiar with the situation and have taken the necessary safety precautions.


Credit: Hendry Poh

This photo was taken because I saw the complexity of something simple. Although this picture shows just flights of stairs, when you view it from the bottom, it looks like an endless twirl upward. This makes you wonder whether you are looking up or down.

Credit: Hendry Poh

Some say that the eyes are the windows to a soul. Therefore, I paid greater attention to the eyes for this portrait shot.

Credit: Hendry Poh

Starry Starry Night is a yearly gig in SMU. It is our society's tradition to get together on this day to have a drink, enjoy the music and take some photos.


Click here to view more of Hendry's shots.

Her shots:

Credit: Olivia Griselda

This shot was taken at a traditional drama performance presented by the Indian Cultural Society during the school's Arts Festival 2009. There is something comforting yet unsettling that I found in this character's gaze. He was the protagonist in the story.

Credit: Olivia Griselda

This garden located in Haifa, Israel, is one of the most beautiful gardens I've seen. It is a religious ground for the Bahá'í Faith, which teachings emphasize on the underlying unity of the major world religions, such as Islam, Christianity, Jewish Orthodox and Buddhism. On the left is the shrine where the founder of the religion was laid to rest.

Credit: Olivia Griselda

This picture was taken in Hong Kong in 2006 with my first camera, a point-and-shoot. It was taken at the Central district around noon in winter. The sky was perfectly blue and the sunlight, warm. The tall building in the center is the International Finance Center where Batman jumped off in The Dark Knight.

Credit: Olivia Griselda

I took this picture when I participated in the Canon Marathon in Singapore last year. If I wasn't with a friend, I would not have dared to go to Marina Bay alone. I didn't want to disturb the subject, so I used a 200mm telephoto zoom lens to snap this shot.

Credit: Olivia Griselda

Had it not been a twist of fate, I would not have been able to take so many beautiful pictures in Mount Sinai of Egypt, including this one Having seen the sunrise from the peak, my brother and I started descending the mountain. Somehow, of the two down paths available, our guide decided to bring us through the more torturous, hilly one (which is certainly not for the unadventurous!) Now, I see the whole incident as more of a blessing-in-disguise.

Credit: Olivia Griselda

This is the famous Giza pyramid in Egypt. I decided to include human elements in the picture to emphasize the sheer size of the structure. The tourism policemen, which are the men in the white uniform, are a common sight in tourist areas in Cairo. Seeing the Giza pyramid made me realize how technologically advanced ancient men were and how amazing that is.

Credit: Olivia Griselda

Mocha is a popular Indonesian pop jazz band. I went for their free performance at the Mosaic Music Festival 2009, and took this shot of Riko, the band's guitarist. Concert photography is a good excuse for me to set my camera's ISO at its highest, since the grains give a quality of intimacy to the shot.


Click here and here to view more of Olivia's shots.

These pictures came from an expedition to Yuksam, India. Yuksam is a pristine village that has come under considerable environmental stress in recent years, with more tourists and huge construction projects in the region. We were there to assist their local NGO with its ecotourism efforts.
His shots:

Credit: Alvin Koh

Our homestay host, Tseten, joined us for breakfast and reminisced about his childhood. He is pursuing a degree in history, and serves as a trekking guide in his spare time. Just like the other villagers, Tseten is very proud and protective of the pristine environment he grew up in.

Credit: Alvin Koh

A frightened child showed up at the house and was offered comfort, food and drink. The villagers have a lot of love and respect for children, and it shows beyond these little gestures. For instance, orphans are so readily adopted that some families raised 11 children at the same time!

Credit: Alvin Koh

It was sheer bliss the joining children in their races and tumbles across endless fields in the beautiful weather. Here, inseparable buddies take a breather from their game of tag.

Credit: Alvin Koh

This little child was playing at the village center as his proud mother watched on. This is one of those lucky shots. I was so focused on the child's serious expression that I did not notice the contrast of his mother's broad smile in the background.

Credit: Alvin Koh

While exploring the village, we chanced upon a child's birthday celebration and were invited to join in the revelry. Amid the dance and laughter, I noticed an adorable kid looking a little left out. To me, this photograph evokes a lot of thoughts and emotions like individualism, identity and isolation within groups.


Click here to view more of Alvin's shots.