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AUGUST 10, 2001

Strike a pose

What to check out for picture perfect snaps, don't just aim and shoot

By Suhaila Sulaiman

National Day and Singapore's urban landscape gets all exciting.

The evening skyline is dotted with the tiny figures of parachutists and the National Stadium is a zig-zag of lights and colours. And, of course, there are fireworks to wrap up the nation's birthday.

National Day is also a day when shutterbugs pop up everywhere to capture a slice of the celebrations.

Steven Yee, the assistant secretary of the Photographic Society Of Singapore, said festive occasions provide boundless opportunities for photographers to test their skills.

'Somehow, some of the photographers have the mindset that they have to venture abroad for picture opportunities, even though there is so much to capture here,' said Yee, who is in his 20s.

'Besides the festive seasons, photographers can explore the various parts of Singapore. Pulau Ubin, for example, is ideal for a black-and-white photo-essay.'

He said that more Singaporeans are taking an interest in photography.

When the society organised an exhibition-cum-recruitment drive at Suntec City in May, it saw a record 231 new members. It has currently about 1,300 paid members.

For an entrance fee of $60 with a yearly subscription of $36, members can take part in activities like talks and workshops for free.

The National University Of Singapore also has a Photographic Society comprising students.

Course-coordinator Mervyn Sek, 22, said it gets about 150 new members each year. The society's current membership stands at 600.

The society provides basic photography courses in which those new to the craft are taught how to handle SLR (Single Lens Reflect) cameras. The SLR camera is different from idiot-proof compact cameras. It has in-built focus and flash and comes in different parts: the camera body, the lens and the flash.

'You need to master the technicalities of the camera before you can express your creativity by playing with the shutter speed, the zoom or the aperture,' said Sek, a fourth-year science student.
More advanced members can sign up for classes in darkroom processes and digital camera.

The digital camera is a good choice if you are thinking about convenience. It allows users to check immediately if the photo you have snapped is passable, and to retake if you don't like what you see. You can wire the camera up, pop the contents into your computer and style the photos with Photoshop software.

Still, many professional photographers prefer to use film because the technology of digital cameras is still being refined.

Besides, with conventional SLRs, there is also the thrill of not knowing how your product looks like until you get to the darkroom, said Sek.

For those who are still filled with the patriotic mood and whose fingers can't stop clicking, read on.

LTW sets off to capture pictures of model Jolene against some quintessentially Singaporean landmarks. Award-winning Straits Times photographer George Gascon also divulges some tips for that perfect frame.