In A World Of Heliconias

A gentleman in a pensive mood in the botanic gardens. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Artistry In Motion

A Lambo whizzing around town just before Covid descended on this island state with vengeance back in 2020. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

A Pale Beauty

Rhexia mariana or Pale Meadow Beauty growing well here in the botanic gardens. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This might look like it should’ve been with the exposure biased 2 stops darker. But the original capture was much brighter than this. The light meter in my copy of the camera seemed to have been acting up lately.

Celosia In The Tropics

Celosia making a splash on Sentosa Island earlier this year. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This was taken against a shady backdrop with the exposure biased 2 stops darker. Dark and mid-tones were further darkened in post and the whole image then brightened to near clipping point after that.

One for All – All for One

An aeonium succulent and its flowers growing closely together 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.

Anemone Hupehensis

Anemone Hupehensis or Japanese Anemones blooming nicely in the conservatory. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This with taken the Leica V-lux 4, a 1/2-inch sensor bridge camera. Wide open at f/2.8 and especially if it was up close to the subject, nice bokeh could apparently still be had with the camera.

Pinky Lips

Dendrobium ‘Pinky Lip’ blooming in the conservatory. Photo credit: Eleanor Chua.

This was taken at about the equivalent focal length of 400mm from the minimum focus distance of 1 metre. The jpeg engine of the Leica V-lux 4 processed this a little on the bluish side. But colours came out okay from the raw file.

Reflection Of Its Former Glory

The Clifford Pier as it was in 2016, a restaurant offering local fares to preserve the former pier’s past hawker culture. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Usually when shooting towards the light, exposing for the shadows would’ve consequently brightened things up a bit. But in this instance, the exposure wasn’t biased brighter to keep the reflection clear.

A Ferrari In The Grand Canyon

A Ferrari zipping around town here. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Well, not really … but the background did make me think of the canyon. Captured with the camera placed almost on the ground and tilted for that little extra drama.

Times Of Difficulty

Ominous clouds gathering over the Riau Islands in 2018. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Details weren’t that great as this was taken with a small sensor bridge camera. I had chosen reach over sensor size for the trip.

Beauty And The Beasts

Fiery ‘dragons’ drawing attention on Sentosa Island. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Despite having underexposed by 2 stops, this image had still come out brighter than this. In post, the areas beside the ‘dragons’ and visitor were darkened locally and then the whole image exposed to the right.