Mindyshoots

Youth Olympic Games – Singapore 2010

mtan2 — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:50:58 +0000

YOG is over. Gone in a flash. And as Alan describes, he’s experiencing withdrawal symptoms. What should we do with ourselves now? You wake up the next day in shock after 11 gruelling non-stop days of action. We’ve fallen into such a hectic routine of wake-shoot-sleep-wake-shoot-sleep, we’ve lost count of days, ignored the backaches, plunged into a world of F-stops and AF functions, I think we’re half-robots now.

I was in the pool of photographers under the Singapore Press Holdings-Youth Olympic Games Committee, which works as the Host News Agency (HNA), feeding images to newspapers and media all over the world.

We’ve been so accustomed to getting through channels of security and equipment scans, it feels empty being able to walk the streets without getting checked.

On the last day, last match, last 10 mins of the men’s finals match between Egypt and Korea, I was left with a souvenir that would last till now. A handball came flying straight into my lens from a blind corner. The impact, which was a very loud “Pock!” split my lens-hood into two, ripped the lens grip, and luckily only smeared the protective filter, not the lens. I started bleeding profusely from the forehead and the world started churning. I could only think of looking down to check if my camera was still working, or I’d be really pissed.

The volunteer from the emergency medical post ran over but didn’t know what to do with me. Fellow photog Edwin offered a piece of tissue while others gathered and some took pictures. Didn’t know if I should laugh or cry Alan asked if I got the shot. “Of what?”I replied. “Of the ball flying towards you.”

In the end, a doctor glued the cut up and I’m walking around with a plaster stuck to my brow at least for the next week. He calls me Harry Potter.

That aside, I’m wondering when the time will come again to be among a large pool of photographers shooting for a major sports event. Hearing our cameras click in synchronisation of ‘the right moment’, and gawking at the pictures afterwards creates extreme job satisfaction. On top of that, it’s the only time we all get to wear these ugly but utilitarian photographers’ vests with large pockets without feeling too embarrassed or geeky.

It’s also great to see my pictures appearing randomly on the Chicago Times and on The Boston Globe’s Big Picture site.

Here are some of my pictures to share.

Those who didn’t feel excited about the YOG really should have gotten themselves tickets to catch the athletes in action. It was allll worth its while.

Wedding Day Photography: Nicholas & Jenni

mtan2 — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:10:47 +0000

Wedding Day: 7 Aug 2010
Wedding banquet: Four Seasons Hotel, Singapore
Church: St Teresa’s Church, Singapore
Videographer: Substance Films
Wedding Singers: Kewei and band

Over the long National Day weekend, I’ve had the pleasure to photograph the two-day wedding celebration of Nick and Jenni. I had such a wonderful time.

Nick comes from a music-loving family who also love to dance. Kewei and band were engaged to sing at the banquet-powerful voice! Singers at the church also packed a punch. And for the luncheon, live jazz and singing.

Jenni is all about the details, so this means she custom-made her oh-so-gorgeous dress, held a pink Peony-Rose bouquet and also got yellow chiffon dresses for her bridesmaids. Jenni looked truly radiant in her gown, it was as if a glow had descended upon her. All that was surreal before, was finally happening! I love how everyone who attended enjoyed themselves, and could partake in the celebrations as they could relate to the couple’s joy.

You can tell when two people are basking in the bliss and contentment of love. Even this photographer can hear their hearts beat.

Congratulations Nick and Jenni! So happy for the both of you =)

Lover’s leap: Daphne and Keeseng’s Sri Lanka Pre-Wedding

mtan2 — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:45:09 +0000

Both love adventure and mountains. Both wanted to see Sri lanka – Daphne for the first time and Kee Seng, to relive his backpacking days.
The couple wanted to visit World’s End and Horton’s Plains, doing a little trek while posing for pictures. Since there wasn’t much written about these two seemingly magical places off what was already on Flickr, I agreed we could end up with some really awesome photos.
So we booked tickets to Nurawa Eliya, armed with a guidebook, hearts filled with anticipation, and Chan Sing (Kee Seng’s trusty brother), who would be everybody’s assistant.
It turned out to be my most challenging pre-wedding shoot – climb, trek, squat, stand, aim, focus, trigger, compose, carry two heavy cameras and lots of lenses, plus brave the rain and the cold all at the same time. Don’t believe lonely planet when they say “6 km trek on a guided footpath”. With a wedding gown and an avid photographer, the distance could triple.
But looking at the pictures and the couple’s happy faces, it’s more than worth it, especially when Kee Seng, himself a published landscape photographer, gives his nod of approval.

Daphne came up with the idea of wearing a sari, and the outfits turned out to be brilliantly coordinated against the environment.

Though we were scared stiff when it stormed the night before, the town turned out to be quaint, very local, and extremely charming. The people were warm, friendly and smiles surround. Portions of the colonial legacy were still obvious – British architecture, oil paintings of a very young prince Charles, and local dark-skinned hotel butlers who went by names like Mr Milton and Mr Myers, straight out of children’s storybooks.

Sri Lanka was an illustration – molds of hills bathing in sunlight, red futile earth, flowing rivers and streams, bright flowers, cute ponies, colourful clothes, happy smiling people, and carefree animals grazing the fields. Love, love love!

Here are some tea plantation and lunchtime shots =)

Platform 10.7 Talk @ Sinema Old School

mtan2 — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:17:17 +0000

I was invited by guru photographer and lecturer Tay Kay Chin over a month ago to share an essay on Asian Youths.
Last night, this happened at Platform 10.7 at the Sinema Old School, along with two other speakers Jean Loo and Matthew Teo
For those who were present – THANK YOU for attending!

Besides an earlier photography talk in front of a whole cohort of primary school students from Elias Park Primary, this is my second public speaking experience yet. Turned out to be much fun and I enjoyed the questions from the crowd, most of whom are fellow photographers and members of the creative industry, who make conversation of the like-minded so invigorating!

These pictures, other than the selected few on my website have never been shown to such detail since the project concluded in 2008. This was a commission from a research firm who would use my pictures to represent their findings to mark trends in the Youth handphone market, with Seoul, Mumbai and Shanghai identified as the fastest growing markets end 2008.

Here are the slides that were shown last night.
The Little Red Ants Creative Studio also made a video recording. Will post links once they are ready.

Platform 10.7 mindy tan-small

View more presentations from Mindy Tan.

Documentary film feature – Asia Exposed in Manila

mtan2 — Sun, 30 May 2010 18:25:46 +0000

Back from a documentary shoot in Manila, where I slept barely 10 hours in 3 days and had to endure the scorching heat. It is amazing how much work goes into each minute of TV. This will be a half-hour show on Channel News Asia that will air every Tuesday for 6 episodes. I will be featured in the 4th episode on 20th July, 8.30pm, as a Paralympics sports photographer, now taking up the challenge of photographing ordinary, disabled people not in the sporting arena, where struggling with their everyday lives have become the norm.
Manila proved to be a humbling journey, I felt like a newspaper journalist once again, back to my roots.
It was good to get back to working and interacting with people at ground level, where things can turn ugly, where truth hurts, and help is needed. It’s inspired and reminded me that I have to make a greater effort to give back. And that there are many a way powerful images can.

The trailer of the show here:
Asia Exposed Trailer – Mindy Tan

Children in a neighbourhood in Manila.

Malar, the lensman who was shooting me shooting others. A very odd feeling it was.

Blind war veteran Mr Rommel and his wife.

The crew: Director Raja, Producer Azira, Soundguy Arnold, and Cameraman Malar- you guys are wonderful!

Director Raja, giving me a brief before camera starts rolling

Berlin fashion shoots

mtan2 — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:08:01 +0000

Back to my sunny island Singapore, from cold Europe since Chinese New Year. Feels like a long time and was shocked to see the Marina IR near completion. The rate Singapore grows!

Since February, I’ve spent some time in London and Paris but mostly in Berlin. When my parents took a trip to Europe, we also made it to Dresden, where remnants of WWII can still be acutely witnessed, to Potsdam, a world heritage site and the quaint town of Werder Havel where spring is in full bloom.
All in all, lots of nature, fresh air and treats of cheeses.

But it ain’t all holiday!
I worked on producing a couple of shoots as part of my personal work, and was fortunate enough to put together a great (international!) team from Poland, Russia, Germany, Hongkong and Singapore.

Thank you Patrycja for travelling from Poland for our shoots and believing in the wonderful pictures.
Thank you Cathy for helping with all the liaison and ironing the clothes.
Thank you Maria, for enduring the tough shoot!
Most of all, to Madari, who helped in the recee and our transportation and was there in whenever help was needed.

A pleasure to present to you, pictures =)

The team:
Photography and post-production: Mindy Tan
Clothing design/Stylist: Cathy Cheung
Hair and make-up: Patrycja Helminiak
Model: Maria Kupreeva
Photo assistant: Madari Math Ly Haroun

Location: Berlin

Now, a second shoot.

Photography: Mindy Tan
Model: Julia Witthöff
Make-up and hair: Patrycja Helminiak
Clothes: Cathy Cheung
Photo Assistant: Madari

Female portraiture – Olga

mtan2 — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:20:38 +0000

Lunchtime photoshoot with Olga in Tiergarten, Berlin. It’s a little like Central Park in New York – big, lush, right in the middle of the city.

I got Olga to loosen up by dancing around the grass. One must enjoy the shoot as much as I enjoy shooting. Snap, snap, snap and it’s over.

Spandau in my backyard

mtan2 — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:26:48 +0000

Last week was spent in Spandau where Maddy and I were house-keeping while his mum took a Paris holiday. It was picturesque and my first time ever experiencing, in my own time and quiet, the blossoming of spring. The house had a garden, many sparrows and robins, and a short walk away was a forested area with a reserve for animals including boars and reindeers.

Little blooms I could observe from the window were such a simple delight that put on a smile in my heart. Trees were sprouting new leaves in magnificent shades of greens.

When the sun turns golden, I leave my computer for a walk, or a jog, or just to wander among the trees with my camera. You can spot all kinds of dogs walking with their owners. Furry ones, skinny ones, mixed breeds, Dalmatians, poodles, russells, spaniels to name a few. I also sneaked in some yoga poses among the leaves when no one was watching. If you find a pool of light among the trees, stand under its glow and look up into the light, it’s as if your whispers will be heard by a greater unknown.

Here are some pictures to share, of my time in the forest. Sometimes shivering. There were so many more Kodak moments (of beautiful dogs!) that I missed because I was jogging and not holding a camera. There’s only so much of life one can capture!

By the way, as some of my Singapore clients already know, Berlin is one of the destinations I’m offering under this year’s overseas wedding photography packages. It is also the most attractive in terms of value, starting from SGD $4,500.

If you are keen on a pre-wedding shoot or an engagement shoot in Berlin, please write to me mindyshoots@gmail.com for detailed pricing. I also did a winter shoot here, check out the pictures.

Will post more of my time in Berlin soon!

The first buds

Some Easter eggs I painted, using crayons

Love the details on Maddy’s clothing against the sun

I plan to have a picnic right in the middle of this field one day

Isn’t this church just gorgeous? If only someone was sitting on that chair.

Wonder where this path leads to…

Walking where the trains end

Dogs at sea

mtan2 — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:03:57 +0000

Dogs are not my usual subjects, but during my recent trip to Hong Kong, I found myself on a hiking dog-shoot to Tai Long Wan. I love dogs and never had to chance to own them, so it was perfect.
Their owners picked me up and we drove to the outskirts of Hongkong, embarked on a 3-hour (tedious) hike up and down two valleys, and to the beach.

Here’s Milkshake, the cream coloured one.
And Lemondrop, the one who looks like a cow.
Both were rescued by their owners from the pound.
They grew on me so much, it was hard to say goodbye at the end of the day.
Especially so for Milkshake, for whom I am convinced we have a special connection. : p

All the good things.

mtan2 — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:28:38 +0000

This morning in Berlin, I woke up to a lot of good things.
The sky was an amazing blue and my alarm clock was no longer an awful fireman’s buzz but soothing jazz.
Having finished London and Paris edits and ready for a breather, I felt so light, light like floating.
Best of all, the temperature outside’s probably hit a double digit so I can open the windows for fresh air now! Gorgeous! Turned off the heaters and embraced the warmth. =)
I put on a face mask, laid out a breakfast of smelly cheese, bread and strawberries. Boiled some water, took time to smell the brew of earl grey and welcomed the day with a smile.

Then, just when I was at my most content, even better things happened.
I was randomly searching for some design news and chanced upon Steve Job’s commencement speech for Stanford University graduating cohort. Remember watching this before, but as the days passed his message slipped. And its so wonderful to watch it again.

So to all my grumpy friends for whom I’m constantly seeing your office snag-posts on Facebook, watch this!
It only takes 15.06 mins and marks up as good food for the soul.

I am so happy, heading out for a job now!