Holiday Burnout

Nisses collapsing in apparent exhaustion in the conservatory. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

A Rich Feast And Full Bellies

A prop depicting a Nordic Christmas feast in the conservatory here. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

I had chosen this elevated angle of view where it was much easier to keep selfie folks in front and at the rear out of sight. The conservatory had been seeing increasingly huge crowds since the border here re-opened last year.

Santa Mail

A postal truck negotiating through Candyland in this Nordic Christmas prop in the conservatory. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This was captured from a low angle to give the viewer the impression of being on the scene watching the truck thundering past and also to keep selfie takers behind the truck out of sight.

Ramsey’s Dancing Ladies

Oncidium Gower Ramsay dancing in the Cloud Forest. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Photographing these orchids for me often meant isolating a few of the flowers and choosing an angle where they would stand out and apart from the messy clusters. A dark backdrop such as the one used here would probably also helped.

The Gorgeous Bombax

A flowering Red Cotton Tree in the Flower Dome. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

We had seen this small tree budding a few days back. The flowers were now blooming one after another. 

This was captured against a dark brown backdrop with the exposure biased 2 stops darker.

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

Euphorbia ‘Red Glitter’ heralding the Christmas season in the conservatory. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

The exposure meter in the camera seemed to be acting up. This capture had been biased 2 stops darker but yet deliver this bright image here.

Camel The Botanist

A ‘camel’ looking happy with its work in the garden. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This was taken in the harsh sun. In post, shadows were lifted, highlights were toned down and contrast tweaked a little to fix the harsh look somewhat.

Cavenagh Bridge

A 19th-century suspension road bridge, the only of its kind here, spanning a narrow section of the Singapore River. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This was rendered sepia in post as I had thought that it would fit the theme better.

A City Perspective

The Central Business District as seen from the Boat Quay. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This was taken with an ultra-wide angle lens as we emerged from underneath the Elgin Bridge onto Boat Quay. 

I was facing the sun and the buildings were back-lit but I still had this underexposed a stop to keep the highlights, especially that of the little figure at the lower right. She would’ve otherwise been washed-out. 

Little People

Folks feeling small in the Cloud Forest. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua. 

This was taken with an ultra-wide angle lens. The place didn’t look this huge actually.

Facing The Heat

Folks taking the afternoon heat in their strides in the city centre. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This was captured with the exposure biased 2 stops darker to prevent highlights from burning out especially in those little human figures. Shadows were then brightened a tad in post and the mid-tones then darkened a little.

Country Lime

Chrysanthemum ‘Country Lime’ appearing in the conservatory. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Out-of-camera jpeg had a more greenish tone to it but I liked the raw colour better. So this was converted from the raw file.