Keeping the dream alive

I first read up about Malawi table tennis a month ago. Back then, as the Youth Olympics approach, I predicted two types of coverages would happen. Firstly, the media would gun in the big teams - China, Russia, USA. Secondly, the local Singapore media would give extensive coverage to our athletes.

Therefore, I set out for a personal challenge to cover the lesser known side of the Olympics, to explore the bigger world out there beyond my home. I wanted to do what I felt was the most important role of journalism, to give a voice to the voiceless. Of course, I also wanted to produce a fresh piece of work for others to enjoy. 

I was glad to have given Malawi a presence in the Young Olympian Daily, a country which otherwise would not be covered in the mainstream media. They have a great story behind them, a story beyond winning and glamour. It was also my first time dealing with a story ridden with emotion, and I had to be careful about writing it. 

Now as the YOG is ending, I reflect on my mistakes and shortcomings during the Games, and hope improve my reporting in the future, taking it to new heights. 

The one kilo surprise

I watched a weightlifting competition at the Youth Olympics recently and found its quite exciting to watch actually. I wrote a story after that after taking a good picture of the final lift which won the gold.

With a loud yell, Iran's weightlifter Alireza Kazeminejad lifts 196kg towin the Men's 85kg final at Toa Payoh Sports Complex on August 19 morning. He had been trailing behind Armenian Minasyan Gor for most of the final, but eventually caught up to snatch a surprise gold.

My story and photo was eventually published at the Young Olympian Daily. Click the file to read the story up close!

Photolympics

I followed the Journey of the Youth Olympic flame across Singapore on 7th, 11th and 13th August. Despite some flops with the YOG cheer and an overblown budget, the ancient Olympic torch tradition still worked some magic. On the ground, my camera captured Singaporeans, young and old, who were there to cheer the flame. See it for yourselves.

Surrounded by her schoolmates at her school, Aurelia Chan from Nanyang Girls High School receives the torch from Keith Wong of Nanyang Primary. Hundreds of students turned up in the early morning to cheer on torch bearers, which are students nominated by teachers and friends.

Fireworks from the Helix

I followed my sister to the Helix bridge on Marina Bay to capture fireworks from Singapore's National Day Preview. It is my first shot at capturing fireworks so the images are a little shaky. Nonetheless, I find some shots interesting.

Friendship forged in water

It is a rite of passage every freshman must go through, and a rite of passage where new friendships are formed. From 19-23 July, I had the opportunity to capture some moments at RVSP 2010, the freshman orientation camp of Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, where I was attached to the OG Jagerbomb. In particular, I liked photos involving water games, and thus I wish to share it here :)


A freshman enduring a wet game in the opening day of the camp. His OG mates had to collect water from a pail, run across the open area outside the school, and pour into an empty bottle on his head.

Photo Story: a Zen Life

This photoessay covers the life of Zen monk Seido Raymond Ronci, who teaches English Literature at University of Missouri-Columbia (MU). In addition, he teaches Zen mediation to students of the MU Buddhist Association. These pictures are taken between March 17 to April 30, 2010, as part of the final project for the class Fundamentals of Photojournalism, at the Missouri School of Journalism.

Seido rests in his office after a long day of conferences with students from his English classes. He balances his life as a Zen Monk and an associate English professor.

Classmate Project: Angela Hamilton

This photoessay covers the life Angela Hamilton in the town of Columbia, Missouri, from February 28 to March 11, 2010. These photographs were taken as part of a class project called the Classmate Project, an assignment given during the class Fundamentals of Photojournalism, which involves photographing a random classmate selected by a random ballot.