How would you describe your photography style?
Tell us more about your venture into pets & family photography. The special bond we have with our furry friends is one of the most beautiful and fascinating subject to me. Each of them may have their unique colours, fur patterns and personality but one thing is constant - the unconditional love & joy that they bring. They are family, a companion & soul mate. That’s what drives & inspires me - to capture that unconditional love, bond & story between pet lovers & their pets.
I also want to provoke people into thinking, why is there such a positive connection between humans and their pets, and yet, animals in the wild have to suffer due to human activities such as illegal wildlife trade, clearing of forests, poaching, etc. Is it due to our lack of understanding or appreciation for the wild animals? I want to inspire people to care more about wildlife, to find that missing link between humans and animals that should also exist outside of a domestic household.
I think my mum feels more proud of those than I am! Personally, awards are just pieces of paper that can motivate and validate the hard work that you’ve put in – and I feel proud as a Singaporean to have a picture displayed at the Smithsonian. Ultimately, spreading love and awareness is what I truly want. I consider it an achievement if I can influence someone with my pictures, and inspire them to fall in love with wildlife and nature.
You’re a person who has set clear goals for yourself, judging from your ‘life list’. How important is it for a person to have goals?
In your own words, fulfilment is…. To make a positive difference in someone’s (human or animal) life. If it’s something that I can do to help create a brighter and better place, I would do it.
Can you share with us, what is needed for Singaporean photographers to make it as a professional?
PERSPECTIVE
I always capture emotions in my images. I want to bring out the story, and develop a connection between the subject and viewer. Many times, my pictures have a back story, and it’s this back story that shines the light on the subject’s plight or behaviour, that draws this particular connection.
Do you feel successful with all the awards you’ve garnered thus far?
Becoming a professional photographer requires many stages, and it is vital to have an adequate business sense when it comes to going full-time. Many people forget that full-time photography is a business – think studio rent, marketing techniques, business development, quality of photo products and customer experience, so on and so forth – and these come with thousands of hours of experience and hard work. Lastly, you should always value your work and never devalue it. Only by doing so would you be able to build a thriving business around it, and not short-change your time, talent and expertise by competing on prices.
orangutan_Borneo It depends. That list contains all the things that I’d really love to do, sort of like a blueprint for my journey in life – one that I want to experience without being affected by society, without being told what to do or what not to do.
perspective
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