Times Of Life

Elegant clock designed by artist Eng Siak Loy standing at the entrance of the National Orchid Garden. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Exposure was left unbiased to keep the scene gay and bright. Magenta and blues were pulled back a little in post to fix some chromatic aberration.

Rejoicing In The Garden

A driftwood deer skipping for joy in the conservatory. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

The Last Supper

A porcelain portrayal of Christ’s last supper with His disciples before His crucifixion. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This was taken at an indoor bazaar and so the lighting wasn’t that good. At ISO 1250, the shutter speed was a mere 1/40 second. Thankfully, things turned out okay.

Bearing The Cross

One of the stations of the cross on the grounds of a disused Armenian church in town. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

A Bali Roar

Designed by local artist Eng Siak Loy and carved in Bali with Lychee wood. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

There had been likely already countless photos taken at this lion doorway but I had wanted only to show the ‘lion’ in its own majestic and imposing self, and thus it was cropped right into the face and mane here from a low angle.

Flight Of Swans

A sculpture by sculptor Eng Siak Loy taking flight in the botanic gardens. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This was captured with 1-2/3 stops of underexposure to retain highlight details.

The image appeared fine at this size here but at actual size, vegetation didn’t seem to be clear and the swan sculpture looked like a painted block.

ISO was a low 200 and shutter speed was 1/950 second, so it could probably be a lens de-centring issue which this particular camera had been known to be quite prone to.

This was already my third XS1, two others I had earlier had to be shelved when they also eventually developed the same problem.

Riding In The Wind

The “Thelwell Pony & Rider” sculpture getting up to speed in the conservatory. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Solace In The Darkness

“Eastern cowboys” by Timor Leste craftsmen on a night journey in a wilder part of the conservatory. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This was taken with the exposure biased darker by 1/3 stop despite the original bright background so as to keep the carving details on the sculptures. Much work was then done in post to ‘burn’ out the background and surrounding distracting foliage which inadvertently had turned it into a night shot.

Turning Heads

A restaurant in town showing heads of happy diners on their premises. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

The barrel distortion of a fish-eye lens was used here to invoke a little curiosity. The camera was held very close to the first head and just beneath its level. The image was then converted to monochrome in post.

Playing On The Mall

“Budak Budak” by sculptor Chong Fah Cheong on the Orchard Mall. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua. 

This was captured with a stop of underexposure to keep highlights but had ended up with the shop in the background in darkness except for the “smart living” lights. Shadows were then brightened up in post as the shop could play a complementary role in the theme while mid-tones were separately darkened for the playing kids.

Two Fearless Pigeons

Two Rock Pigeons babysitting a pride of ‘lionesses’ in the garden. Photo credit: Eleanor Chua.

Exposing for the highlights had originally ended up with the two little pigeons looking too dark. This was fixed in post by brightening them up separately.

A Vegan Lion

A herb-eating lion in the Cloud Forest and hopefully a reality in a future golden age. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.