Congratulations To MUFJ On Their New Digs

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd celebrated their move to the landmark Marina One Building with a full-page add in the Business Times.  My brief was to make their building prominent, with a good view of their signage.

It was a challenge to isolate the building from the surrounding buildings, but I think we achieved the goal of presenting the building in its best light.  The trees were a bonus – they softened the image, and I think they give it a Japanese feel, reflecting the heritage of the bank nicely.

 

 

 

Tips On Better Travel Photography

Appeared in The Straits Times and Singapore Airlines’ inflight magazine; Silverkris.

Click here for the link.

An Old Favourite

Alan John is someone I admire and respect greatly, so it is an honor to see one of my shots on his office wall.  He talks a little about it on his blog.

This is one of my all-time favourite images.  I love it because it is filled with joy and freedom, taken at the epicenter of where I am happiest – Ladakh, in the Indian Himalayas.

Here’s a screen grab from his blog:

Portrait of the Singapore PM for the BBC

I promised to not talk about this project, so I am not quite sure what I am allowed to say!

Let’s just say I proudly took this portrait for the BBC….and just leave it at that!  Ha!!!

 

 

Did I Mention I Love Panoramas?

Yeah, I have probably mentioned this before!  But I do!  Panoramas, done well, can tell bigger stories.  In this case, viewers can see that Ce La Vi at Marina Bay Sands has a restaurant, a bar, and a view.  Three for the price of one!

I’m on the Telly!

I was a judge on The History Channel recently.  The show is Photo Face-Off where a professional photographer competes with amateur photographers to win the final showdown.

Thankfully I didn’t have to compete, so the pressure was off!

Here’s a link to little preview of what we did:

 

 

It’s Okay to Ask

Commercial photography is a very collaborative process.  It’s not just one person directing everything to their own taste.  Which is why I love to get get everyone involved in my shoots.  I want to know my client’s vision.  I want to know the feelings they want to portray, what the image should say about their brand.  What they want to sell.

On a recent shoot atop the Marine Bay Sands at Ce La Vi, I started with my usual style of a fairly conservative portrait.  I love to go a bit crazy with my portraits, but I understand local tastes, and try to cater for them.

But the team at the bar had other ideas – they wanted something a little moodier, something a little edgier.  And they weren’t afraid to ask me to change direction.

This is the image we created once we all understood the mood they were after.  I think we created something special.  It’s just the right mix of being out there, but still with the right corporate tone and an air of sophistication.

So I encourage my clients to be a part of the process.  Share your thoughts, tell me about your vision – my job is to listen and adjust to your needs while at the same time contributing my insight as well.  The sign of a true collaboration is when everyone adds their own piece of expertise to the process.  And it always produces better results!

Singapore Botanic Gardens gets World Heritage Recognition

Belated congratulations to the Singapore Botanical Gardens for being recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It’s a big deal because it is Singapore’s very first World Heritage Site.

It was a bit of an honour to be asked to contribute to the Garden’s Nomination Dossier.  Here are some of my shots featured in the successful nomination application.

 

Lying Down on the Job

Okay, I know how it looks – Rory is slacking off again!  But it’s not true!  This is how we make hotel beds look pristine and perfect.  I know it a little bit cheaty, but I pull the sheets tight to remove any visible creases and slot this bit of the image into the final image.    This is one of the newly renovated rooms at M Hotel, Singapore.

Update!  The final image:

Pollen’s Bold and Intriguing Cover

 

I knew I got ‘the shot’ when I captured this restaurant image for Pollen at Garden’s by the Bay.   I knew this one put  the restaurant in context, I knew it was bold and eye catching.  I knew it would intrigue the viewer.   The restaurant marketing department obviously agreed because it is the opening image on their website – the image that grabs the viewer’s attention and entices them to explore more.

Which is really what I try to achieve with every image I make.  In my mind, every exposure has to be a winner.  None of them can be boring, humdrum or just average.  They have to tell my client’s story while trying to sell an idea, help people discover and excite the senses.

Another of my shots appears on their Facebook over – another example of my panoramas fitting in nicely with FB’s cover image ratio….