Photography is one of my favorite ways to see the world.

Check out my beloved camera collection, read about my workflow or my artistic vision, or buy my zine (coming soon).

    • My Little India

      Published on September 29, 2023

      Of all of the neighbourhoods in Singapore, I've probably spent the most time in Little India. Not only was I born in a hospital on its edges, I also lived and studied near here for several years. Every trip abroad had to start with a visit to Little India, for foreign currency, electrical adapters, or extra supplies at Mustafa Centre.

      1. A scan of a color photo of three glasses on a table top in front of blue and tan walls

      Filter coffee.

      2. A scan of a color photo of coconuts sitting on a counter at a restaurant

      Coconuts.

      3. A scan of onions and potatoes being displayed at a little India grocer with a blue tarp over it

      Aloo pyaz.

      4. A scan of a color photo of colourful windows (painted green on wood and brown) with purple and green and bright green or yellow colors around it

      Windows.

      5. A scan of a color photo of two men in little India sitting at the back of a restaurant. An alley opens up into them, and the foreground wall is painted with geometric clay color and shapes, indicating it is part of a Hindu temple next door

      Alleys.

      All photos taken on Nikon FE, 50mm, Kodak ProImage, dev and scan by Triple D Minilab, Singapore.

    • Five Frames Chinatown

      Published on September 28, 2023

      With motion picture film.

      There's a touristy bit of Chinatown Singapore (Smith Street-ish) and a less touristy part. Often, they're just side by side and you need to know which doors to duck into, or which alleys to turn off into, to see the less tourist bits.

      Since I grew up here, I think I have a pretty good handle on things. There are the little barely marked doors past my favorite food stalls. Go through a door and turn left, and you'll get to a large wholesaler of Korean toiletries. Take a certain overhead bridge, and you'll get to another part of Chinatown that will soon turn into the bars and restaurants of Clarke Quay.

      1. A scan of a color photo of two women making buns inside a food market

      Buns

      2. A scan of a color photo of the Pearl’s Hill side of Chinatown. There is an old man walking along the street. Photo is taken overhead.

      People's Park.

      People's Park Centre

      Doors.

      A scan of a color photo of many wigs in a store.

      Wigs.

      A scan of a color photo of an old lady cycling on the street in Chinatown

      Cycling.

      All photos taken on Nikon FE, 50mm f1.8 lens, Kodak Vision 3 500T, dev and scan by Whampoa Colour Centre, Singapore.

    • Mei Ling Street

      Published on September 27, 2023

      Between 2013 and 2018, I lived near the Mei Ling Street estate. I felt like if I was a housing estate, I would be Mei Ling Street. It's old and crumbly, but it's also got fantastic third wave coffee, one of the best cheese shops in Asia, and a few of my favourite hawker stalls (Sin Kee, Shi Hui Yuan, Ah Pang Seafood, Hui Wei Lor Mee). It's quiet and sleepy, on the surface, but full of interesting stuff if you know where to look!

      a scan of a color photo of some yellow work shirts being hung from the side of a tall building

      Old apartments.

      a scan of a color photo of a few singapore flags on poles at a covered walkway

      Flags.

      a scan of a color photo of cut grass in a wheelbarrow at the ground floor of a building

      Grass.

      a scan of a color photo of danger, keep out sign in 4 languages

      Danger. In all languages.

      a scan of a color photo of chicken hanging from a hawker stall

      One of the national dishes. One of my favourite stalls.

      (All photos taken on Nikon FE, 50mm f1.8 pancake lens, Kodak Gold 200, dev and scan by Whampoa Colour Centre, Singapore)

    • Roadtrip to Tretes

      Published on Invalid DateTime

      A memory I will always treasure: the opportunities I've had to visit Tretes. Going to Tretes always means going on a short road trip with my best friend of 25 years. I remember listening to her describe her home to me, when we met as teenagers in Singapore, and dreaming about going there with her one day.

      Indeed, we stayed friends, and I've visited. Many times. While I live ten thousand miles away now, Indonesia, especially East Java, will always have a special place in my heart.

      This past weekend, we managed to get up to Tretes again. The trip was remarkably the same as every other time. Consistently delightful food and company. I am going to miss this. And everyone.

      a scan of a color photo of a restaurant in Indonesia called Margo Rukun

      Absolutely delightful rawon, pecel and empal. Possibly one of my favorite restaurants in the world.

      2. a scan of a color photo of wooden tables inside a restaurant that is slightly dark, with sunlight streaming onto a table that has a tissue paper box

      Sunlight trickling into the restaurant we usually stop at.

      a scan of a color photo showing bags of krupuk (Indonesian crackers) hanging

      I don't know anyone who eats as much krupuk as I do. And it's the best in this part of the world.

      a scan of a color photo of rawon, an Indonesian beef soup, on a wooden table with tea

      Nasi rawon is my favorite dish in Indonesian cuisine. I can eat it a few times a day, every day. That I don't get (good versions of) it, or at all, abroad, is why I feel the need to really focus on my rawon time when I am in East Java.

      a scan of a color photo of a valley in East Java from the top of a building

      Check out the view. You can't hear it, but there was also beautiful traditional / classical Javanese music streaming out of a school or home in the valley below. Culturally, this part of the world just speaks to my soul.

      (All photos taken on Nikon FE, Kodak Gold 200, developed and scanned by Whampoa Colour Centre, Singapore)

    • Doors of Surabaya

      Published on September 26, 2023

      One of my oldest friends in the world lives in Surabaya. I love visiting her. Not only is the food one of my favorite cuisines (East Java food is my favorite Indonesian regional food, and it can be hard to get abroad), the city is also a place I enjoy photographing. Eat, shoot, eat, shoot. That's basically all I do there.

      This was my first time there with a film camera. I brought my trusty tiny Nikon FE with a 28mm f.28 lens, as well as a 50mm pancake f1.8 lens. That's really all I need on a vacation.

      I even got the film sent off and developed at a local lab in Surabaya, which I was happy with.

      a scan of a color photo showing a large old green door with metal handles

      Green.

      a scan of a color photo showing an old pale blue door and dirty cement and metal bars

      Old.

      a scan of a color photo showing a Chinese Indonesian noodle shop in old Surabaya with Chinese and Indonesian words. The door is green with yellow features

      Noodles.

      a scan of a color photo showing a no parking sign written in the Indonesian language

      No parking.

      a scan of a color photo showing rainbow colored pillars outside a kindergarten in Indonesia

      Rainbow.

      I'm getting into the swing of things, shooting and developing film locally. Although I miss developing film since I'm so used to it, it's nice to see what services are available.

      (All photos taken on Nikon FE with either 28mm or 50mm lens. All photos are Kodak Gold 200, dev and scan by Impossible Lab Surabaya)

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