Where have I been?

Abandoned House

© Martin Liew Photographer

Where have I been for the past 6 months? Not a single blog posted here for more than 6 months. Yes! This is really outrageous I know! Am I slacking? No I am not. I was busy with my digital portraiture projects; doing mainly fashion photography. Check out my new work over at my website. I've always consistently looking for inspirations and never forget about nocturne photography.

Here's the new updates for you readers out there. The last nocturne outing was held in May 2011. Two friends had joined me that night and it's my pleasure to showcase their work here. Make the jump to find out more.

New Tool for Light-painting (A New Upgrade)

About a week ago, I placed an order for this wonderful LED flash light, FENIX TA21 which I just collected it yesterday. This flash light comes with 12 modes of light output, with the lowest light power at 4 Lumens to the maximum of 225 Lumens. At 225 Lumens, it is pretty strong. Its cree XR-E LED (Q5)  has a lifespan of 50,000 hours.

Previously I was looking at FENIX TK40, but I find it is way too strong and powerful for my nocturne photography. I consider getting a TA21 as a new upgrade and partly because I want to travel light.

More details after the jump.

Laser Pointer, a Light-painting Experiment

This is a follow-up to a blog I wrote on a green laser pointer which can be used as a good light-painting tool. I didn't really make as many experiment shots with it, but just one I did during the Singapore Night Hunt photo-marathon contest. See the result for yourself inside.

Dwell In The Night (A Short Film Trailer)

Lurking...

© Martin Liew Photography

OK you might ask what does a short film trailer got to do with night photography. Make the jump as I explain.

Singapore Night Hunt Experience + 1 Good News

Sound of Darkness

© 2010 Martin Liew Photography

Tonight I'm going to share with you on my Night Hunt experience. Last Saturday night, there were reportedly about 160 participants turned up at City Square Mall for the first ever night photography marathon contest solely organized by Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF). Upon seeing the people who turned up and the sight had my friends and I all jazzed up and ready for the great fun and excitement that awaits us.

Follow me as I share more of my night adventures.

First Night Photography Marathon + 1 Film Screening

Singapore International Photography Festival aka SIPF has organized the first ever Night Photography Marathon event, called Singapore Night Hunt. With Canon as the main sponsor, I wouldn't be surprise about this photo marathon event. It could be similar to Canon's Photo-marathon concept. Anyway I have registered for this event and I really like to see how it goes. I wouldn't miss this fun and exciting event as long it's related to night photography. Registration and details can be found from the link above.

Looking at the event poster image, I believe they are looking for more artistic, creative and contemporary style of night photos, if not just mere snap shots of night street photos or urban landscape at night with some creativity of course. All subject to their themes or topics set on that night. I'm looking forward to this event and will update in my blog on my experience.

For those who are keen to take part, I think registration is still open and the non-refundable fee is SGD$20. As some fellows commented that Canon photo-marathon registration fee is just SGD$10 and why is this night event so costly. As a complimentary, SIPF gave out free tickets to one of their film screenings titled, A Sense of Place for just one night. The screening was held last night at The Moving Image Gallery, SAM at 8Q. No worries as there'll be a second screening this coming Sunday afternoon. More details from the second link above.

Talking about the film, it gives an insight to the creative processes and working methods of 6 contemporary photographers. The first clip showcased is Todd Hido on his Night Studio. I came across Todd name during the first SIPF in 2008. I was attending a night photography talk conducted by Shannon Castleman and she mentioned Todd Hido. I didn't pay much attention to his work then, but after watching his video clip, I'm starting to appreciate his work.

Here's a video clip from YouTube in which Todd was interviewed and talked about his work and creative process. Pity the video is cut off right towards the end and couldn't find the second half. Check it out if you will. For those who received this blog as an email, visit my blog site to view the video clips.

Here's another video on American Beauty by Stephen Shore, This video was shown in the film screening last night. There is a beauty in his artistic work which I find it helpful in shaping and reviewing one's own vision and artistic direction in pursuit of one's own photography project, which in turn will develop one's own style. For this I think it's important in night photography.

Well I hope these 2 photographers' work would inspire you. Do come back for my Night Hunt experience which should be up by early next week.

Night Photography Outing with Troy Paiva & friends

75 Loewen

© 2010 Martin Liew Photography

OK here I am, writing this blog about the night photography outing with Troy Paiva and friends. How do I begin? It was the most amazing, exciting and fun night outing I ever had. An unforgettable experience doing nocturnes with Troy!

Make the jump for the night adventure.

A Great Surprise!

October 11 2010, Monday was the greatest and exciting day for me. I went to work as usual , pretty refreshing after recovering from a cold. I checked my mail box and to my great surprise, I received an email from one of my favorite and greatest night photographers.

Make the jump to find out who is the night photographer.

A Walk in the Garden

© 2010 Martin Liew Photography.

I took a walk in Toa Payoh Garden this evening. It's been a long time since my last visit. I arrived at about 7:00 PM and the lamps were just lit on. I've passed by this Garden many times from work all the way to the Bus Interchange but didn't make effort to walk over.

Walk with me, if you will.

'Art of Dark Craft' - A Night Photography Talk Session @ SAM

Photographs © 2010 Martin Liew Photography

This month Singapore Art Museum presents Digital Nights @ SAM as part of the first edition of Digital Nights 2010, a grand showcase of visual and digital arts. Starting from 17th September to 26th September.

Good news is, I'll be giving a talk under their titled event,  'Art of Dark Craft', where I'll be sharing my photography work and experience, and perhaps some night photography tips & techniques. The talk will be held at the Chapel @ SAM on 24th September 2010, Friday night from 7:00PM to 9:00PM. It's a free event and open to public. If you are keen to learn night photography, do come down with your camera and tripod. Hope to see you guys there.

For more details on Digital Nights 2010, please click here.

Laser Pointer, a Light-painting Tool Part 2

Last week I got myself a new light-painting tool. I bought a green laser pointer for S$52 as a set in which it comes with a free AAA size battery and a diopter lens adaptor. The diopter lens adaptor is this smudgy opaque lens that distorts the laser beam and creates some wonderful effects when fix onto the laser pointer beam head. Jump right in to see some of the results.

"Scott, beam me in!"

Location Recce: Nissen huts

Last week I went for a location recce of these abandoned Nissen huts in the northern area. To my great disappointment, the whole vicinity is locked up and no entrance or whatsoever is possible.

Read more on the Nissen hut story.

A Night at the Railway Station

A couple of weeks ago, I went to KTM Railway Station a.k.a. Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. As news broke out about the closing down of the station and will be shifted to Woodlands, I paid a visit at the station for the first time in my time. I was there one Sunday morning, and got to make some photographs and at the same time, thinking about the possibilities of doing night photography there. You can view the day time photographs in monochrome here.

Make the jump to find out more on what I did for night photography.

Machine Gun Post @ Labrador Part 2

Tonight I want to show you some interesting nocturne fotos taken by my long-time friend, Randall. We have known each other for 13 years now. Randall works in the airline industry and he used to do film photography for leisure and fun. Therefore he has the basic knowledge of composition and exposure.

Recently he picked up photography again as digital photography has made it so much more convenient and more fun. He got himself a Canon 500D and a couples of lenses. As he is all juiced up with energy and enthusiasm, I got him to join me for an organized photography outing, organized by a friend of mine. From there we did some landscape and seascape photography. It's no surprise that Randall picks up quickly and learn fast.

Read on to find out more about the fotos Randall has made.

Machine Gun Post @ Labrador Part 1

I can't say how much relief and joy I had on 27 March 2010, Saturday night that I was able to find time for my nocturne photography and to make some good nocturne fotos. At the same time it was a great pleasure to have a long-time friend to join me for the night outing.

I've always wanted to do nocturnes in Labrador Park. It wasn't my first time there. In the previous week, I did a location recce and I found this machine gun post, which is one of the WWII relics in the park, as my main subject. Its concrete structure design is unique with worn-off textures. I would not talk about the history of this machine gun post here as I dun wanna bore you.

So read on to find out how I made the photographs as I explain and share the techniques used.