A morning scouting experiment with an infrared camera.
Explore along the Singapore River.
I was en route to an Adobe event at Raffles City and decided to begin my journey earlier. I want to do some scouting for inspiration for my future photo excursions. It was a great morning with brilliant weather; hence, I took an alternative route along the Singapore River. Begin to explore at Clarke Quay Central and end at City Hall.
Upon reaching the Singapore River, the first thing that caught my attention was this sculpture of a couple standing. It gives a sense of stillness; that's what I needed — to appreciate things around me.
The sculpture: "Merchants of Singapore" by Italian Michele Righetti.
A moment later, I noticed two ladies were approaching in opposite directions. They were walking forward quickly, and both were engaging on their phones. It would be more meaningful to have a human element to this composition. I immediately reduced the shutter speed to allow motion blur. It looks good, and I titled it "Stillness".
Technology has enslaved us so much that we have lost touch with the beauty of life and nature. Or choose to slow down and appreciate it.
Both ladies' unwavering focus on their phones reminded me of how we can choose to begin our day with an overwhelming dose of stress. Instead of slowing down, embrace a moment of calm and enjoy the environment for a little while.
"You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming." — Pablo Neruda.
The following photo evoked memories of the Umeda Sky Building Garden, Osaka, where visitors go to declare their love through padlocks.
"Padlock Lovers" — A symbol of an unbreakable bond is @Central Mall.
Nonetheless, this display is unique because it is fashioned in a heart-shaped design! It will be good if the organiser expands this display and places it indoors or in a sheltered area to minimise rust on the padlocks. One day, Clarke Quay will be known as a Lovers Hub!
Continuing the journey towards Boat Quay. While crossing the Elgin Bridge, I could see the sun bursting through the downtown buildings.
The Sun bursting over Singapore's financial district has stood the test of time, and the transition is better.
UOB Plaza One is one of the tallest buildings in Singapore at 280m. Yet, just beside it, the OCBC Centre was once the tallest building in the mid-70s to 80s, at 197m. The oldest, charming pre-war terrace houses are nestled in front of these contemporary marvels. Singapore's financial district has stood the test of time.
A short distance away is one of Singapore's most verified creative hubs. Encircled by historic edifices. Numerous iconic architectures have stood and transformed into art spaces, museums and galleries. Thanks to digital technology, I can take panoramic shots and stitch them using Adobe Lightroom. (pixel-picky of me).
"Neoclassical Palladian" — was a courthouse with many government offices.
The Art House, formerly the Old Parliament House, with the beautiful neoclassical Palladian architectural style, depicts the era's strength, pride, and glory. Back in the days of yore, this spot assembled important gatherings that formed Singapore into what it is today. With all the memories evoked, this building is excellent, especially the design of the Venetian windows, which are just gorgeous!
"Twins Entrances" — was a courthouse with many government offices.
Continuing my journey toward the Asian Civilisations Museum (Former Empress Place Building). I encountered two large stone sculptures standing guard and greeting visitors at the entrance.
The warrior greets visitors at the entrance.
"The General" and "The Scholar" — both welcome visitors.
Stepping out of the museum to the open space, I was mesmerised by the beautiful skyline illuminated by the surrounding landscapes. A quick watch check revealed that half an hour was left before the event. I pondered how to make the most of this limited time.
"Building in the Garden" — beautiful Downtown landscape.
The UOB Plaza reappears through the skyline, facing southward, with Plaza Two on the left instead. The buildings appear in a garden with large trees in the foreground. Look at my next piece to see UOB's Plaza One more prominently nestled amongst the forest of trees. I named this piece "Buildings in the Garden."
"OUB Plaza One & Two" — financial district.
The Asian Civilisation Museum stood northwest of where I was standing. The architectural treasures in the former Empress Place are the unique designs of the roof with dormer windows.
"Asian Civilisations Museum #1" — Architectural treasures @Empress Place.
"The Dormer" — at the attic.
The sculpture of Jawaharlal Nehru was unveiled in 2011. A commemorates India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), who made three visits to Singapore and described it as a "great cosmopolitan city" where "Asian unity is forged".
"Portrait & Dormer" — @Empress Place.
I was about to keep my gears and realised a man was napping. I could not resist; I quickly and quietly moved forward to compose my shots. Cheekily of me! — Little did I know, this shot has more to it. On editing on the desktop computer, I realised the chairs were arranged in such a systematic order! From the foreground were 3 rolls of chairs, followed by 2 and a single chair at the far end. What are the odds of such chair placement? Fascinating!
"Napping in the open."
'Ever Prepared to Seize Every Opportunity."
"The chairs & a man."
Yes, it must be one of my best scouting ventures. Having a fruitful and meaningful experience. Yet, with 20 minutes left, I had to bid farewell!
"Definitely will be back next time with more fellow photographers."
Eventually, I got to end my jaunt at the foot of Cavenagh Bridge. An idea struck me, and I took this shot to compare the two eras.
"Engineering eras" — so distant apart, yet nearby!
Comparing the two different engineering epochs. The Cavenagh Bridge in the foreground was built in 1868, and the UOB Plaza One was built in 1992 as the backdrop. A gap of 124 years, yet a 10-minute walk apart. Astonishing!
Time’s-up!
But I still need to find the closing shot. While searching, I saw a cluster of sculptures across the Cavenagh Bridge. Great, it appeared to depict a quaint village scene.
I could imagine what the scene looked like in the past. So, I composed the sculptures as the primary focus point, with the Cavenagh Bridge and the river as the backdrop. As in the past, the villagers traded along the river beside the bridge.
"The Good Old Days" — An artwork created for others to comprehend.
"The River Merchants" is a creation by artist Aw Tee Hong (b. 1932). In this sculpture ensemble, we witness Scotsman Alexander Laurie Johnston conversing with a Chinese trader and a Malay chief. Close by, coolies were loading goods onto a bullock cart. This artwork marks the spot where Johnston, who arrived in Singapore in 1819 or 1820 and left in 1841, once had his house and godowns until the premises were demolished in 1848.
Sum up.
I find immense satisfaction in my morning stroll along the Singapore River. These last shots are just like the creator of these sculptures would say! An artwork created for others to comprehend.
Initially, I planned to take a leisurely walk from Clarke Quay along the Singapore River and end at Raffles City's destination. The route takes 26 minutes because of the lovely weather and unexpectedly stunning landscapes. Instead, it took an hour for creativity; worth it!
With a moderate walking pace, Google Maps estimated the journey would take 26 minutes, covering roughly 2 kilometres … Click on it to open Google Maps in a new tab.
Little did I expect its shape into a narrating exploring trip. That inspired me to begin storytelling through photography. One more great way to exhibit my enthusiasm for Street, Traveling and Nature photography, a process I find deeply fulfilling. I hope you enjoyed reading the article as much as I did creating it. Your feedback and sharing with others would be greatly appreciated."
Thank you & God's blessing.
Gear: My favourite Street Lens, 35mm f2, since 1980 and Nikon D5100 modified into an Infrared camera.
