Gates and Doors series

Gates #1

© 2005 Martin Liew

Gates and Doors series

Here's another mini-project series on gates and doors. All were taken during my Nite Projekt trips. Somehow in some way or rather with strange feelings, I'm always drawn to gates and doors especially in the night where each individual gate and door presents itself as the "guardian" or "protector" of the respective building. Not to forget about the surrounding lightings that provide enough brightness and contrast on the gates and doors, along with its own shadows cast against the wall or on the ground. Gates and doors are entrances or passageways that lead oneself into an unknown premises which hold so much mystery, curiosity and even fear. To some, they bring hope and security.

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 40secs

Shanghai Hotel

Shanghai Hotel

© 2005 Martin Liew

Shanghai Hotel

It was a great challenge upon taking this picture, in terms of composing and finding the "right" vantage point/angle. The building on the foreground is Shanghai Hotel and River View Hotel on the background.

I was attracted by the grandeur of Shanghai Hotel with all the spot lights shining upon its majestic building structure. As I wasn't able to frame the whole building with a TLR of 75mm fixed lens, I had to compose and frame in a way to show the scaling and dimensional size of Shanghai Hotel. Hence River View Hotel came into view in the background. There was a strong spot light shining not directly on it but enough to view its name, creating a slightly dim effect compared to the foreground building lights. The lights from River Vew Hotel rooms showed enough shadow details which in turn made the building more three-dimensional. Because of this, I was able to show the depth of field between these two buildings. Here the lighting plays an important part.

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 40secs

Water Reflection

Water Reflection

© 2005 Martin Liew

Water Reflection

I came across this water fountain at The Esplanade Park, formerly known as Queen Elizabeth Park. The fountain is named after a very wealthy but generous merchant, Tan Kim Seng who was the first Chinese magistrate in Singapore. His numerous contributions to the society include the suppression of the secret society riots in 1854 between the Cantonese and the Hokkien communities. First unveiled in Fullerton Square, this beautiful Victorian-style fountain was built to commemorate Tan Kim Seng's generous cash donation in 1857 to improve Singapore's water supply. The memorial was later moved to Battery Road in 1905 and to its present location in 1925.

I was attracted by one of the four cherub statues as shown above; not by its own structure but its own water reflection. Here I tried to compose it in a subtle way as possible by showing the full body reflection in the water and its leg or body cropped in half on the upper frame. It was a challenge to compose and make the exposure with a TLR. The result is still acceptable. I'll go back for a few more attempts to get the desired result I wanted.

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 40secs

POINT TO WATCH

• I could have waited for the spotlights to go off as they certainly caused much distraction. On the other hand, without the spotlights, there'll be no lights shining on the cherub statue, in turn reflected back in the water.

• There are certainly a number of ways to get the right exposure after the spotlights go off. Either use a flashlight to pop some lights on the statue alone on a reasonable range where it's enuff to reveal some details back to the water reflection OR shine a strong searchlight on a light reflector to serve as diffused light on the statue. Well it can take quite some work to get it done successfully.

'TWINS' #5

'TWINS' #5

© 2005 Martin Liew

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 40secs

'TWINS' #4

'TWINS' #4

© 2005 Martin Liew

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 40secs

'TWINS' #3

'TWINS' #3

© 2005 Martin Liew

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 40secs

'TWINS' #2

'TWINS' #2

© 2005 Martin Liew

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 40secs

'TWINS' Projekt Series

'TWINS' #1

© 2005 Martin Liew

'TWINS' Projekt Series

'TWINS' Projekt was formed during my Nite Projekt series. As I travelled around the city by foot, I got to see more things than just riding a bicycle or driving a car with which one tends to oversee or miss certain things or details.

I was intrigued by the symetrical patterns and identical structures of the subjects I photographed. Hence the first impression and idea came across my mind. The subjects make me see them in different ways, metaphorically and emotionally. Well pretty much on personal preference here. It's subjective as well for any viewer.

Anyway I approach this project in a straight forward and conventional way in the fine-art photographic style. In this case I'm not making portraitures as the title stated. I take it as it is at the time of exposing. This sub-series is also an ongoing project which I think will take much longer time to complete. So far I got a few images made and this is the first one for your viewing pleasure. More to follow up.

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 40secs

Fountain of Youth

Fountain of Youth

© 2005 Martin Liew

Fountain of Youth

Fountain of Youth was made conventionally in fine-art style. The ambience lighting was so right and I couldn't resist this beautiful scene. The softness of the water certainly adds up more atmospheric mood which makes the whole image quite romantic.

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 40secs

POINT TO WATCH • I could have move back more for a wider view all round i.e. to reveal more of the fountain on the foreground and the wall on both sides in the background.

Homeless Man & No Littering

Homeless Man & No Littering

© 2005 Martin Liew

Homeless Man & No Littering I paid a visit to the National Library today to check out Eye e City 2005 photo exhibition. I took part in the event last year and one of my pictures was selected, as shown above. I know this is not related to night photography but I just wanna share my joy with every reader here. Here's how I came about making this picture:

31st Dec 2005, Saturday morning. I arrived early at Waterloo Street and walked around for some interesting things to shoot. As I took the escalator up a level above the hawker center, I saw this homeless man sleeping soundly on the floor. I walked past him but as I turned back to look again, I spotted the "No Littering" signboard on the wall. As the wall was curved outwards, the old man's body lay just along the contour comfortably as if he was performing some yoga.

Initially, I wanted to shoot the old man as the main subject but upon seeing the whole scenario, it occurred to me that the old man and the signboard have contrasting implications. It somehow creates an awareness of homeless folks wandering and sleeping in the street with no one to look after them. These people are literally treated like "garbage" and the No Littering sign board speaks for them. Don't neglect these people and their welfare. This can be a serious social problem if attention isn't paid to them.

Nikon D70s • 18-70mm standard kit lens • B&W conversion in Adobe Photoshop with Level adjustment and minor dodging.

Koh Boon Wei

Bridge

© 2005 Koh Boon Wei

Koh Boon Wei

Boon Wei owns a photo-printing lab business located in Bedok area. He inherited the business from his late father who had taught him photography and darkroom printing skill when he was young. I came across Boon Wei's work at a local online B&W forum early last year. We bumped into each other during the Photo-Imaging 2005 held at Suntec Convention Hall. A nice friendly guy who always carries a smile whenever he talks.

Here are the two images taken by Boon Wei during his free time. All taken on Ilford Delta 400 with 80mm lens on Mamiya 645. 'Bridge' was taken at the Seletar Reservoir in the late night. The composition breaks away from the conventional way though somehow it cuts the picture in halves. Playing with the bridge silhouette and its water reflection, all against the lit-up graduated sky on the background, it certainly has the contrast effect. The reflections of distant light source on the right, add up as a bonus to the whole picture. Without it, the whole picture could look dull and flat. It makes the bridge more dimensional, separating the water and the sky.

I'm not sure where did Boon Wei take of 'Staircase'. Personally I find its contrast effect pretty theatrical. The lines and shape certainly play as important parts in the composition. It's easily passed as a straight forward fine-art exposure. Well I believe Boon Wei has his own interpretation or point of view at the time of exposing.

Mamiya 645 • ILFORD Delta 400 • Not recorded

Staircase
© 2005 Koh Boon Wei

Empress Place

Empress Place

© 2005 Martin Liew

Empress Place

This is The Empress Place. The government has certainly changed the buildings in that whole area Empress Place has turned into a western fine food restaurant and lately they have had just completed internal renovation. Perhaps it has changed management and into other sort of F&B business.

It was a full moon night but the moon was obscured by dense clouds in the night sky. The building was under the full moon charm which I was enchanted by its overall beauty. Without much ado, I took up this position and exposed for 2 bracket shots. This is the first take which is a lot better than the second one. Any further delay, the moon would have set down behind the building and the whole night beauty would have been gone.

This is another exposure with good tonality and contrast. The front structure of the building and balcony was brightly lit by the opposite lamp posts and/or spotlights, with cast shadows on the main entrance. Followed by the graduated dim-lighted area of the building and its roof. Everything falls nicely into the Zone system.

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 36secs

POINT TO WATCH • The image was cropped in too tight on the left side at the time of exposing. I could have move back a little more but the unwanted items on the foreground will be included which can quite messy. • If only the clouds are more in fluffy shapes than dissipated that acts like a layer of diffuser. Otherwise the night sky will be brighter with a more dramatic impact. • The strong highlight on the right side window was caused by the opposite lamp post light reflection which seems kinda distracting here.

Lonely Lamp Post

Lonely Lamp Post

© 2005 Martin Liew

Lonely Lamp Post

I walked around the other side of this old parliament house and spotted this part of the building that's perfect for a night shoot. This night scene resembles a 19th Century street building with one lonely lamp post shining throughout the night. I was attracted by its light that created such great contrast of shadows and the ambience atmosphere around. I stood there for a few minutes and kept looking at the scenery. I could feel a sense of peacefulness and a little curiosity about what was inside the building.

After the first exposure, I took a closer look at the building again and went in closer to the staircase on the right side. Here's a close-up exposure on which I like the great contrast between the white wall of the building and the shadow cast on the stairs with jagged patterns. It certainly has an dramatic impact that makes the image more 3-dimensional, rather than flat with dull tones.

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 36secs

Staircase

© 2005 Martin Liew

'Head'

'Head'

© 2005 Martin Liew

'Head' Sculpture (1999) by Botero

Most of you might recognize this sculpture, 'Head' by Botero. Botero came to Singapore in Dec 2004 alongside with Taiwanese sculptor, Ju Ming. Botero's work can be seen around the art center, Esplanade and in the garden as well. This 'Head' is situated right at the main entrance of the art & performance center, with 4 strong spot-lights shining at it.

It's a challenging one on making picture out of it and I managed to get a "good" angular position. I even flashed 3 times to get more shadow details. Sometimes with a little splash of stray flares from the spot-lights can create quite an atmosphere to one's photograph. Howsoever, I made this exposure at the "wrong" timing. If you observe closely on the left side of the photograph where the art center dome is behind the sculpture, lotsa of details were not fully captured. I could have arrive much earlier when the interior lights in the art center is still on.

Alternatively I can dodge that part in the darkroom to bring out more shadow details. Perhaps the photograph will have more contrasty impact between the textured surface of the dome and the smooth surface of the sculpture.

Shanghai TLR • KODAK TMAX400 • 3min 36secs

something in the Way

something in the Way

© 2005 Martin Liew

something in the Way

This was the night when Cindy Tan and I went out for night photography in town area. As I used my Shanghai TLR for all of my night shoots, there is exception at times where I'd use my SLR. The above image was made under this highway flyover located at the Esplanade Garden. This highway is called Esplanade Way.

Playing with the lines, I compose diagonally to make it in an abstract form and to break away from the symetrical pattern I took of the Monument. Due to the low film speed (ISO 125) rated at 100, I exposured it for full 16min to bring out the extreme contrast between the highlights on the highway railings and the dark sky, and also exposed for the shadow details.

Nikon FM10 • ILFORD FP4 Plus • 16mins