Last month, Singapore played host to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings so I was there to shoot it.
Somehow, there’s always an air of excitement at international media events when photographers from all over the world gather, I totally dig this.
It’s the sort of infusion you need to have once in a while, like going out to a big party with fab electronic music that thumps your heart out. My last one eye-opener was at the Paralympics in Beijing a year ago, so as a photographer working mostly alone, could not help but feel it was time for some good company.
I can’t tell if I enjoy the pushing, shoving or sticking of lenses up each other’s heads and having to clamor for a spot all the time. But I suspect it’s the gathering of geek gears, seeing all these lenses and equipment all at one time is a bit like having lots of Pradas and Guccis displayed in front of you all at once.
I always try to talk the guys up, where do you come from, what were you shooting before, this guy relates his riot adventures in Nepal and how coming to Singapore is like a massive holiday, always interesting stories to hear.
For most of the media covering APEC anyway, the treat really came at the end of the week when Barack Obama finally arrived.
Meeting him was for me, the man-moment of the year! I have to admit, did go a little ga-ga.
Favourite first lady vote goes to the with the very charismatic Miyuki Hatoyama of Japan.
US President Barack Obama with Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong
(Intimate) Close up of Australian’s prime minister Kevin Rudd
Miyuki Hatoyama, wife of Prime Minister of Japan Yukio Hatoyama meets Nanyang Primary school girls who give her a rundown on the history of soybean
Prime Minister’s wife Ho Ching meets Miyuki
L to R: HK Chief Executive Donald Tsang’s wife Selina, Taiwan’s former Vice-President Lien Chen’s wife Lien Pang Yu, Indonesia’s Susilo Bambang’s wife, Ani Bambang Yudhoyono, Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon’s wife, Margarita Zavala
Just trying to get the job done
by mtan2
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