Photographer/Creative profile questions

1) Can you give us a short introduction on yourself and your creative fields of expertise?

Hello, my name is Agan Harahap. Photographer and artist based in Jogja, Indonesia. My base artistic expertise is photography and digital manipulation. And recently I’m using AI for my latest artworks.

2) What is the inspiration and the stories behind your creative work?

I always get my inspiration from my timeline in social media. Mostly is about politic, religion and history. I offer some silly solution for many problems that appear in society.

3) Do you have a piece of creative artwork or photograph that means a lot to you? Can you share more about this artwork?

The artwork that means a lot for me is my series ‘Mardijker Photo Studio’. I’m talking about nation identity and cultural originality and it’s connections with our society today.

4) Can you share about your journey as a creative/artist? What were some of the challenges, difficulties and setbacks that you faced in your creative journey? 

Well, it’s start in early 2000s at the beginning of digital transitions from manual. When suddenly we can almost create anything with digital software. At that time I already work as a photographer in music magazine. And I always challenged my self to dig more about other possibilities with digital photography. Asking my self is photography still can believed as a medium that can represent the reality. 

5) I read that you started off as an illustrator and digital imaging artist, what are the stories behind these experiences and how did you transition to photography?

As a graphic designer student, I have also learn photography. At that time, I don’t like photography because its expensive and don’t make sense to me. Because at that time I think photography is only for the people who cannot make a proper drawing or painting to express their ideas. And photography is their solution to cover up their inability to make art. Hahaha. But I have to pass the photography test in my study. So I learn how to manipulate photo with digital software. And I pass the test with success. And after graduate, I worked as a freelance illustrator and then become a digital imaging artist in some photography company before I become photographer in Trax Magazine. A music based magazine in Jakarta from 2006 – 2012. 

Generative AI Interview Questions

6) A topic of intense discussion currently is Artificial Intelligence (AI), what are your personal views and thoughts on AI? What is the potential positive and negative impact on the creative industry?

Based on my experienced in early 2000s when digital suddenly takeover many part in creative industry, So for me this is the new era when we have to preparing our self to this new kind of technology. For me, the main impact is the people’s way of thinking and behavior about things will change. And it will become a problem for people who cannot adapt their selves to this AI. So, like it or not, after more than 2 years we stayed at home because of covid, now suddenly we have to face this kind of technology and we have to adapt and adjust our self with it.

7) Do you think Generative AI can actually help us creatives, artists and photographers in ways that we may not see due to our personal bias or blind spots? Or do you think the onslaught of Generative AI will be detrimental for creatives? 

Before AI can help us in creativity, we first have to adapt and adjust ourself. Because at first, we have to positioning ourself between this new technology and our personal and social interest. For me, it’s quite similar like digital photography at the beginning, at the first we may think ‘Oh, with this tools, we don’t need dark room process anymore and we can save more time to create photography. But in the reality, there are many other problems arise due to this digital technology. Like for example, people start to questioning the reality behind photography ect. And after social media era, there is much more problems. We can see the rapid change in many aspects of our live. And that’s exactly will going to happen in our society with this AI technology.

Generative AI will be detrimental for creatives? It’s depend on how you adapt yourself. 

8) Which segments of the creative and arts industry would be most impacted by Generative AI? Artists? Photographers? Filmmakers?

All.

9) Is Generative AI is going to take away the livelihood of the art and creative industries? What are your personal thoughts and views on this point?

At the beginning, the answer is yes. But along with that, the emergence of AI technology, it will open up many new opportunities that may have never been thought of.

10) How do you envision the future for creatives in a new digital and social media world, powered by AI?

Hahaha I can’t imagine it yet. But I believe, sooner or later this AI will change people’s mindset and behavior.

Thank you Agan!  

I would like to say a big thank you to Agan Harahap for putting aside his precious time and agreeing to be interviewed for my article! From a fellow photographer/visual storyteller myself to another fellow photographer/visual storyteller, it’s always an interesting, enriching and enlightening experience to hear about creative/artist/photographer different perspectives, ideas and views, on photography and creative industries, their stories and journeys. 

Agan’s views and perspectives on generative AI would be part of my ongoing TGH Technology AI research/learning series, with an upcoming special article coverage on the impacts of AI on photography and creative industries that would be published on my TGH Photography and Travel portal/blog. 

This special interview with Agan also marks the start of my new personal project series that I mentioned earlier in my earlier article “Reflecting H1 2023 & Q2 2023 (Photography and Travel)”, on interviewing and featuring creatives from various disciplines.

When you visit Singapore, let’s catch up and have a chat over coffee over everything and anything about photography!

Have you visit Living Pictures – Photography in Southeast Asia exhibition?

Have you visit Living Pictures – Photography in Southeast Asia exhibition? If you haven’t visit this amazing photography exhibition, you have to plan a visit to National Gallery Singapore and check out this exhibition! 

The exhibition size, magnitude, and diversity of photography works on display, some 300 of them would blow you away, ranging from colonial archival images, studio portraits, and documentary photography to photo albums, social media photos and modern photography in both offline and online formats.

Living Pictures – Photography in Southeast Asia at National Gallery Singapore

Date and Time 

• 2nd December 2022 to 20th August 2023
• 10am to 7pm daily

Location 

• City Hall Wing, Level 3, Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery 

Admission Fees: (General Admission)

• Free for Singaporeans and PRs

Standard

• $20 
• Non-Singaporeans/PRs aged 13 to 59

Concession

• $15 
• Non-Singaporeans/PRs seniors (aged 65 & above) and children (aged 7 to 12)
• Overseas students and teachers

*I would like to thank National Gallery Singapore and Ogilvy for liaising and facilitating the interview with Agan Harahap.*  

The post A Special Visual Storyteller/Creative Artist Interview with Agan Harahap appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

As a photographer myself, in both personal and professional capacity, I use Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. In my portfolio suite of services along with my photography services, as a content creator, visual storyteller, travel writer and digital marketer journey, I have also added vlogging, producing zines and photo books, as well as some design stuff with my photography works, I am beginning to explore other Adobe Creative Suite software: Premiere Rush and Adobe Express, maybe Adobe InDesign down the road, if I embark on bigger visual storytelling book projects.

Adobe MAX 2022 – Breakthrough Innovations and Upgrades 

During Adobe MAX 2022, Adobe made several announcements and updates, delivering breakthrough innovations and upgrades across its creative and digital solutions. Here are a summary of updates from Adobe Max 2022:

• Adobe Advances 3D, Immersive and Metaverse Experiences with New Products
• Adobe AI Innovation Maximises Creative Power and Precision for Creative Cloud and Adobe Express Users
• Adobe Introduces New Collaboration Capabilities in Creative Cloud and Document Cloud
• Adobe Unveils Powerful New Collaboration and AI Capabilities in Photoshop 
• New Adobe Express Innovations Make Content Creation Easy, Fun and More Productive 

The topics that I would be sharing more about from Adobe MAX 2022 would be on Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, and Adobe Express. 

Powerful New Collaboration and AI Capabilities in Photoshop

New innovations in Photoshop are going to make the world’s most advanced image editing software even smarter, more collaborative and easier to use across surfaces. The Share for Review (beta) enables users to conveniently collaborate on projects without leaving Photoshop, and new features make editing images in a browser more powerful. 

On your flagship desktop Photoshop app, breakthrough features powered by Adobe Sensei AI are added including selection improvements that enhance the accuracy and quality of selections, and a one-click Delete and Fill tool to remove and replace objects in images with a single action.

A quick summary of new AI features launched in Adobe’s suite of Creative software and digital solutions:

Adobe Photoshop

• Selection improvements 
• One-Click Delete and Fill
• Photo Restoration Neural Filter (beta)
• Remove Background
• Masking and Brushing

Adobe Lightroom

• Masking Selection
• Select Objects
• Adaptive Presets
• Content-Aware Remove

Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects

• Premier Pro Auto Colour
• After Effects Scene Edit Detection

Adobe Substance

• Adobe Substance 3D AI-Enhanced Materials

The new version of Photoshop introduces Share for Review, supporting collaborative work from anywhere, critical for creative workflows in today’s increasingly digital economy. This enables convenient collaboration between creators and stakeholders. 

Adobe Express – Innovations Make Content Creation Easy, Fun and More Productive

The template-based web and mobile tool for creators to easily make, edit and share standout content from anywhere and anytime, the Adobe Express has also received the latest innovations and updates.

Everyone from students to small business owners to marketers, and creative professionals, can create a logo, build a social media campaign, design a flyer or banner and make a standout school project. 

Many Adobe Express customers can also use Creative Cloud applications or work with designers who do. The workflows can now streamline with Adobe Creative Cloud applications through Adobe Creative Cloud Libraries. 

New features are frequently being rolled out, Adobe Express creators will soon enjoy expanded video editing powers with a new mixed-media editor, Generative AI capabilities to help generate unique fonts, images and new backgrounds, and new opportunities to collaborate with other creators across other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, delivering greater productivity. 

A quick summary of recently added innovations in Adobe Express include:

• Quick Actions
• AI-Driven Template Recommendations
• Content Scheduler 
• Multi-Page Capabilities 
• Advanced Search Discovery and Recommendations

Adobe Express has new partnerships, they are teaming up with Wix, a global leader in helping creators and businesses create, manage and grow their business, to explore opportunities to bring the best of Adobe Express and the Wix platform to both user bases. 

Adobe has also teamed up with Meta on Express Your Brand, enabling small businesses to grow their online presence using Adobe Express. Adobe Express is also partnering with leading platforms, to accelerate creative and digital literacy skills for students of all ages.

Adobe Express for Education for students and teachers in the classroom, with its new AI-powered features are going to make it easy to design stunning presentations, create attention-grabbing web pages, make captivating video presentations, flyers, flashcards and more. 

Adobe is also harnessing its creative and technological strengths with a new global offering, Adobe Express for Nonprofits. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – A New Future in Creativity and Content Creation, Helpful or Fearful? 

Whether you are a creative in photographer, filmmaker, artist, designer, the Adobe Creative Suite of software and digital solutions, will definitely play many crucial roles. The rise of AI innovation in Adobe’s suite of software and digital solutions, can be helpful in our creative’s digital and creative workflow, doing the smaller tasks and allowing us creatives to concentrate on what we do best, unleashing our creativity and bringing it to life.

I am looking forward to utilising Adobe Express further in time to come, I didn’t get to know more about this relatively new application or even use it, the new additional features are great for content creators to explore, create and showcase with their photographs, videos and design work. 

As a photographer and visual storyteller, my main creative tools/software are Adobe Lightroom, followed by Adobe Photoshop. From a holistic digital experience and services provision perspective, I have started to work on videos/vlogs a few years back, I am also expanding on publishing zines and books in the near future. 

My next creative tools/software that I would look more closely into, would be Premiere Rush (before I decide to go Premiere Pro) and InDesign.  

Adobe Creativity + Adobe Digital Experience

For business organisations, your creative and beautiful photographs, videos, design, artworks are ready for your business sales, marketing, branding, publicity and promotion workflow. Do you know that you are able to combine your Adobe Creativity with Adobe Digital Experience for your businesses? 

Have a read about this article “Adobe Research Reveals: Time to Get Personal” during my recent attendance at Adobe Experience Makers event.

For more information on Adobe MAX 2022

If you like to know more in-depth about the breakthrough innovations and upgrades that were announced during Adobe MAX 2022, visit Adobe MAX website and Adobe Creative Cloud YouTube channel to check them out.

* Information and pictures courtesy of Adobe and WE Communications *

The post Adobe MAX 2022 – Breakthrough Innovations and Upgrades appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Well well, how did I started following and supporting Very Small Exhibition? My first encounter  with them was at Malay Heritage Centre in October 2021 – Malay Heritage Centre x Very Small Exhibition support World Mental Health Day, thereafter I began my adventure following and supporting Very Small Exhibition.

If you would like to know more about my journey with Very Small Exhibition, I wrote it down my story here on “How I Met/Follow/Support Very Small Exhibition & Bring LOVE Everywhere”. 

From 1st to 31st March 2022, come on down to Paya Lebar Quarter and check out Very Small Exhibition new exhibition and a 4m long wall collage of Instagram photos celebrating 1 year of Very Momentary Exhibition.

Paya Lebar Quarter x Very Small Exhibition 

Rainbow illumiNation – Celebrating 1 year of Very Momentary Exhibition 

Dates: 1st to 31st March 2022

Location: PLQ Parkside (new exhibition) and PLQ Mall Level 2 (4m long wall collage of Instagram photos)

With friends Belinda and CK, we went down on the exhibition’s opening day, continuing our support for artist Wei and Very Small Exhibition light art installations transformation of public spaces into rainbow spectrum, and finally taking a group photo with artist Wei! Thereafter, we explored the new exhibition at PLQ Parkside, doing light painting long exposure photography with the Very Momentary Exhibition rainbow illumination artworks, with me doing most of the light painting artworks action while Belinda and CK took photos on their cameras.   

Congratulations to artist Wei of Very Small Exhibition on this milestone, celebrating 1 year of Very Momentary Exhibition! Thank you for featuring some of my photos of Very Small Exhibition and Bring LOVE Everywhere on your 4m long wall photos collage! It’s been my honour, a pleasure, to see my photographs printed and be a part of this photo collage, a part of the 1st year of Very Momentary Exhibition.

May Very Small Exhibition continues to bring bright, colourful rainbow illumination, light art installations, spreading joy, love and a beacon of light for the whole world!

 *** A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R3 Explorer Series Production ***

The post Rainbow illumiNation – Celebrating 1 year of Very Momentary Exhibition appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Malay Heritage Centre x Very Small Exhibition support World Mental Health Day

My maiden encounter with Very Small Exhibition was at Malay Heritage Centre in October 2021 – Malay Heritage Centre x Very Small Exhibition support World Mental Health Day. 

The topic on mental health is an area that I am concerned about, having been through some difficult times placing a strain on my mental and emotional health.

Bring LOVE Everywhere by Very Small Exhibition

This was the trial run done by artist Wei in November 2021, to Bring LOVE Everywhere by Very Small Exhibition around Singapore at a later date in January 2022. I was literally and physically chasing “Love” at East Coast Park, had a great time doing light painting with the LOVE artwork. 

Very Momentary Exhibition 2.9 @ 312A Clementi Avenue 4

There have been a number of Very Momentary Exhibitions produced by artist Wei prior to this edition 2.9. This took place in my neighbourhood Clementi, my first Very Momentary Exhibition, starting from the 40th floor, walking downwards. 

When you looked across from adjacent blocks or from afar, the whole 40 staircase column that was brightly lighted up with rainbow illumination artwork, it sure looked amazing!

Bring LOVE Everywhere in Singapore 

Very Small Exhibition announced in December 2021 that they were going to Bring LOVE Everywhere in Singapore in January 2022. I published and shared about their big project over 6 nights.

After looking at their route map and plans, I decided to drop by and support them when they reached my neighbourhood. 

On the 5th Night (27th January 2022), they started off from Clementi (Firefly Park) in the evening. I decided to drop by and support, had a chat with artist Wei, accompanying them on a short walk with bringing LOVE to Singapore Polytechnic before I said goodbye to them!

On the 6th Night (28th January 2022), I went down to Merlion Park where the LOVE artwork would be at. I was there for the Very Momentary Exhibition @ Merlion Park! The Merlion Park and Jubilee Bridge were illuminated with rainbow colours. It looked really amazing and it was definitely very memorable. 

Two nights of Bring LOVE Everywhere in Singapore, it was a great experience to participate in short segments of its entire big adventure.

Very Small Exhibition x Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel

The most recent one was in February 2022 – Very Small Exhibition x Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel present River of Life. The facade of Grand Copthorne Waterfront facing the Singapore River was lighted up, the changing rainbow light illuminations flowing into a River of Life. 

Supporting Local Artists

In my earlier articles that I published, Round up Jan 2022 and my Yearly Theme 2022 (Photography and Travel), I mentioned about doing personal projects, helping out, supporting and working with fellow local artists from other creative fields in this Year 2022. 

I would try my best, supporting, giving them a shout out, helping out, collaborating and partnering in whatever ways possible. 

Since I met Very Small Exhibition in October 2021, I started following, supporting them, as well as “chasing” Bring LOVE Everywhere on that memorable nights at East Coast Park, Clementi and Merlion Park.

I haven’t fully sit down to curate and share more photographs of Very Small Exhibition and Bring LOVE Everywhere into an album on Flickr. I am planning to do it, sometime down the road. Do keep a lookout!

Do support local artists and creatives in Singapore if you can! Follow Very Small Exhibition and Bring LOVE Everywhere on their social media platforms!

Very Small Exhibition

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verysmallexhibition/ 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/verysmallexhibition 

Bring LOVE Everywhere

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bringloveeverywhere/ 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bringloveeverywhere 

Website: http://www.bringloveeverywhere.com/ 

The rainbow illumination light artwork installations and Bring LOVE Everywhere don’t just mesmerise me visually, the theme of spreading love resonates a deep chord inside me, spreading light, love and compassion to people around us, especially in such trying and difficult times over the past two years (and still counting) due to the ongoing global pandemic. 

Let’s spread more bright colourful lights to shine and light up the journeys that we are embarking on, let’s also spread more love and compassion to those around us, Pay-It-Forward and Pass-It-On, making a difference and impact to people around us.

The post How I Met/Follow/Support Very Small Exhibition & Bring LOVE Everywhere appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Said the rooster to the hen, “It’s time for us to start our artistic exploration adventure to Malay Heritage Centre, let’s go!” 

And the duck replied, “Let’s visit the Heritage Institution together!” 

Security Ah Meow said, “No worries, you folks go and explore Malay Heritage Centre, I will take care of you and look out for your folks there! I may look cute and chubby, don’t worry, I won’t steal your attention and limelight, ok?” 

Off they went, making their presence and appearance, attracting lots of attention and limelight from the visitors to Malay Heritage Centre. The young kids and the big kids are enjoying it! 

Where would the roosters, hens and ducks be heading to next in their fowl play exploration? Would security ah meow be tagging along? Stay tuned for more local artists highlights and mini stories!

Synopsis: 

A guerrilla “lightning” style artworks exhibition by talented local artist Yip Yew Chong, that took place at Malay Heritage Centre over the weekend from 22nd to 23rd January 2022 from 10am to 6pm. 

*** Exploring short visual storytelling style and approach, and a new mini stories series documenting local Singapore artists in action *** 

The post Some fowl play exploration and a security cat at Malay Heritage Centre appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Malay Heritage Centre x Very Small Exhibition support World Mental Health Day

My maiden encounter with Very Small Exhibition light artworks was at the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) in October 2021. MHC has collaborated with VSE to light up the facade of its main building in different hues of blue in support of World Mental Health Day on 10th October, while MHC’s annex buildings are lighted up with the art collective’s signature neon colour lights.

Malay Heritage Centre x Very Small Exhibition support World Mental Health Day

https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/photojournalism/malay-heritage-centre-x-very-small-exhibition-support-world-mental-health-day

Bring LOVE Everywhere by Very Small Exhibition

After my maiden encounter with VSE at MHC, I got more interested in their colourful artworks and roaming exhibitions. I was alerted to this Bring LOVE Everywhere movement by Very Small Exhibition by Belinda. Artist Wei was on a trial walk to bring his interactive light artwork/exhibition Bring LOVE Everywhere from Mountbatten to Changi Village via East Coast Park and Changi Coastal Route.

Belinda and myself decided to head down to East Coast Park White Jetty to catch Bring LOVE Everywhere in action, pushing from Mountbatten to East Coast Park for his first pit-stop. We had a fun time doing light painting with the colourful LOVE artworks. 

From our conversation with artist Wei at that time, this was part of his much bigger LOVE walk project with this Bring LOVE Everywhere artwork around Singapore. This is something that I would be sharing more in the later paragraphs below. 

Bring Love Everywhere by Very Small Exhibition article: 

https://blog.photojournalist-tgh.tv/photojournalism/bring-love-everywhere-by-very-small-exhibition 

Very Small Exhibition presents Very Momentary Exhibition 2.9 

Prior to Bring LOVE Everywhere major announcement, Very Small Exhibition presents Very Momentary Exhibition 2.9. 

On 20th November 2021, from 7pm to 10pm at Block 312A Clementi Ave 4, Very Small Exhibition presents Very Momentary Exhibition 2.9. This 40 storey block stairway was lighted up beautifully, a shining beacon of colourful light artworks that can be viewed from far. 

I live in the extended Clementi neighbourhood sector, it’s not far at all from my home and I decided to visit and support Very Momentary Exhibition 2.9. Belinda joined me that day, there were also other supporters of VSE there too, some were following him along the stairway, others were watching his Very Momentary Exhibition 2.9 from below or from the nearby buildings beside 312A Clementi Avenue 4. 

Belinda and myself also followed along artist Wei as he was producing his colourful artworks from the top floor to the middle level of the block before heading down to capture the full colourful spectrum of the Very Momentary Exhibition 2.9 across the block.

That was my first hands experience of how his light artworks had captured our eyes, heart, mind and soul in our heartlands neighbourhood. This was like a beautiful rainbow in the night, a beacon of hope and love shining for us.

Bring LOVE Everywhere around Singapore

Coming soon in January 2022, VSE is taking its Bring LOVE Everywhere around Singapore! From 23rd January 2022 to 28th January 2022, VSE would go on a round island Singapore walk with  its Bring LOVE Everywhere interactive artwork. Check out the map on Bring LOVE Everywhere Instagram account for more details on the route. 

They would arrive at the Clementi region on the 5th night (27th January 2022). Since this is my neighbourhood, I would make time to go down and support. Having went down to support artist Wei’s trial walk at East Coast Park, I am looking forward to seeing this interactive artwork again! 

Support Bring LOVE Everywhere on Kickstarter

Very Small Exhibition has launched a Kickstarter campaign seeking funds to offset some of their costs to make this project and bring it to the people in the heartlands. If you are able to do so and would like to lend a helping hand, you can support them financially via crowdfunding on Kickstarter. 

Bring LOVE Everywhere Kickstarter project page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bringloveeverywhere/bring-love-everywhere 

Very Small Exhibition/Bring LOVE Everywhere Social media

For more information and updates on Very Small Exhibition and Bring LOVE Everywhere, please visit their social media links below:

Very Small Exhibition Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/verysmallexhibition 

Very Small Exhibition Instagram https://www.instagram.com/verysmallexhibition/ 

Bring LOVE Everywhere Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/bringloveeverywhere/ 

Bring LOVE Everywhere Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bringloveeverywhere/ 

Pay-It-Forward and Pass-It-On

As a photographer myself, I would like to support creative artists from other creative disciplines whenever possible. From my days of covering i Light Marina Bay and Singapore Night Festival, I met a few local creative artists, some are modern contemporary artists while some are more of traditional artists. 

Being an artist or in the creative fields can be pretty tough, this ongoing global pandemic situation makes it even tougher for them. As a photographer that sometimes overlaps into the creative and artistic side of things, I am able to relate to this.

Therefore, I would do my best to Pay-It-Forward and Pass-It-On, to help other creative artists from other disciplines whenever possible.

The ongoing global pandemic has severely disrupted our daily life and work, as well as our mental, emotional and financial well-being. In this unprecedented global crisis, we can all do with more love, kindness, compassion, solidarity and unity as we strive to get out of this crisis and return back to a more normal life before this pandemic. 

Through creative arts movement such as Bring LOVE Everywhere by Very Small Exhibition, let’s help to spread love and care around us, in our society and around the world. 

The post Bring LOVE Everywhere in Singapore appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

First and foremost

Before you are able to use the Xencelabs Pen Tablet, you need to install drivers software onto your computer. On the software installation, you can download drivers from Xencelabs website,  install the drivers first. Next up, you need to plug in the bluetooth dongle into usb port, followed by connecting the Xencelabs devices, finally connect the Xencelabs application to the Pen Tablet. 

Once the software and drivers are installed, you are good to go with your creativity adventures with Xencelabs Tablet Medium. Just launch the application on laptop/desktop, followed by switching on the pen tablet and quick keys.

Pen Tablet Medium

This Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is a well thought out ergonomic design tablet, it has good built quality, minimalist and sleek. It’s also compact in size, portable and lightweight.

Upon launching your preferred creative software application, you can start working on your creative workflow and processes. The dimensions of the Pen Tablet Medium are 320.5 (W) x 232.5 (H) x 8mm (D), I feel that this suits my workflow, not too big on your work desk and you have sufficient space (active area size is 262.4mm x 147.4mm) on the tablet to do your creative work. 

Pens

There are two pens, the Xencelabs 3 Button Pen and Xencelabs Thin Pen. For the 3 Button Pen, it features three programmable buttons with eraser, it feels slighter thicker in width. Some of you might prefer this pen for its feel, grip and 3 programmable buttons configuration.

For the Thin Pen, it’s more of a classic/traditional tool for those who prefer something natural and familiar in the hand. It’s slightly thinner, it has two well buttons that are programmable with eraser. 

You have choices, you can switch around the two pens, best of both worlds when you are into your creative workflow. Each pen has its own feel and characteristics, it’s not fair to say the 3 Button Pen is better than the Thin Pen, I reckon you might end up taking turns to use both Pens at different stages of your workflow. 

Quick Keys

The Quick Keys is an interesting device accompanying the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium setup. It’s really compact in size, portable, lightweight, with a OLED display and physical dial with a button on top of the dial. 

Personally, I feel that most creatives would really like the dial and button function in your creative workflow. It just feels so much easier and better to control edits/changes via a dial than using a mouse.

Creatives can create shortcuts per application and group sets of related functions together. How you would like to configure the shortcuts would be based on your workflow settings and processes that you prefer and are comfortable with.

Thoughts and Views

Here are some key thoughts and views from my Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium review experiences

1. Pen Tablet is the gadget that photographers/creators would be more familiar with in editing their works.
2. Option of 3-Button Pen and Thin Pen, whichever pen and workflow that suits your liking 
3. Easy to use and fits into the editing workflow much easier 
4. For the Quick Keys, I really like the dial and button function. However, the OLED display is a bit of a mixed feelings for me, I would prefer physical button sliders over OLED display or a hybrid combination of physical sliders with OLED display
5. One key factor in my opinion is to first customise and tweak the Pen Tablet Medium, the pens and quick keys setup to your workflow settings and processes that you prefer and are comfortable with

Overall, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is handy, portable and lightweight for you to carry around. This would allow you to work remotely, in a cafe, in your office or at your home office. 

For creatives, whether you are a photographer, designer, artist, illustrator, draughtsman or architect, having a tablet and a pen setup comes in very handy and useful when you are doing creative work in your respective field. For fellow photographers, it gives you a more accurate and precise editing in your photography editing workflow. 

There are different options to choose from, if you prefer the Xencelabs Pen Tablet setup only, they have two sizes Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium and Pen Tablet Small. For those who prefer the full package, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle with Quick Keys is the setup that you would be looking for.

For more information, please visit Xencelabs website. 

* I would like to thank XenceLabs for the opportunity to review the XenceLabs Pen Tablet Medium. *

The post Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Review appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Prior to this “bring LOVE everywhere” test walk 2 on 6th November 2021, I recently visited Malay Heritage Centre recently to photograph an earlier light artworks by VSE on display. Malay Heritage Centre had collaborated with Very Small Exhibition to light up the facade of its main building in different hues of blue in support of World Mental Health Day on 10th October 2021, while Malay Heritage Centre’s annex buildings were lighted up with the art collective’s signature neon colour lights.

After photographing a beautiful sunset at East Coast Park, Belinda and myself waited for Very Small Exhibition to arrive at East Coast Park White Jetty. From a distance, you can’t miss the bright and colourful 4 letter words “LOVE” making its way into the East Coast Park heartlands. 

This marked the start of an hour of interaction with the LOVE light artwork, doing light painting around the LOVE artwork, bringing them into a new dimension and realm, with supporters coming down to pen their love messages on the LOVE sticker and pasting them on the LOVE light artwork. 

Those moments were bright and colourful, spreading love, and asking ourselves, what is love, what does it mean to you, what are the messages that you would like to write down and send to your family, loved ones, relatives and friends? It was a quiet moment for me, and for some of us too, as we reflect on LOVE, its importance, relevance and how we can spread the message of LOVE, especially during this past close to two years (and counting) of great difficulties to our daily living and work due to the ongoing global pandemic. Many of us suffered in many different ways or another, some more than others. How can LOVE plays a part to help people in whatever ways possible during this great difficulty period that has affected us mentally, emotionally and financially? 

During a quiet moment inside me, I was immersed in creating the light painting while Belinda was photographing my light painting artworks, my heart was thinking about this topic too. As I was penning down my message for “bring LOVE everywhere”, I asked myself:

Q:What is Love? 

A: Love is of Fate and Time.

Love is of Fate and Time, I wrote and published a photo story article “Fate and Time” back in June 2021, my article title and the story inside speaks for itself, my heartfelt answer to the question above. That period of time, coupled with other situations happening concurrently, was a very down period. For those who wish to know what could have happened, this paragraph would shed more light.     

While Belinda and myself were at East Coast Park White Jetty, we got to know supporters who were also waiting for Very Small Exhibition “bring LOVE everywhere”. Nice to meet cheryllovescake and dototo13! They joined us in our light painting photography shoot too! We connected via Instagram later, after Very Small Exhibition continued with their journey along East Coast Park. 

Through Belinda and cheryllovescake sharing on their Instagram posts and stories, their sharing of love messages as well as from classic love songs, they are heartwarming, positive and encouraging, something that is very much needed during this time for many of us out there facing our own unique challenges and difficulties, in our ongoing battle against this global pandemic. Love can give us great hope, warmth and confidence, love can also hurt us and affect us. 

Spinning out some love ballads from my Spotify, these classic LOVE rock ballads pop into my mind, “All You Need is Love” by Beatles, “More Than Words” by Extreme, “Love is not the Way” by Saigon Kick and one of my favourite songs by Queen “Love Of My Life”. Not forgetting, “温柔”, ”擁抱“, “心中無別人” from another of my favourite rock bands 五月天!   

Do support local artists whenever possible, Pay-It-Forward and Pass-It-On, spread the word for them, giving them more publicity and awareness. I would give them a shout out, cover their stories and artworks as and when I am able to do so. Throughout the years writing and publishing photo stories here on my TGH Photography and Travel portal/blog, I met a number of creative, talented and passionate local artists through various events such as i Light Singapore and Singapore Night Festival. 

In January 2022, Very Small Exhibition is challenging themselves to their limit, bringing LOVE one round around Singapore in 6 consecutive nights. Let’s all help to spread some LOVE, warmth and friendship together with Very Small Exhibition. 

Very Small Exhibition

Website: www.verysmallexhibition.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verysmallexhibition/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verysmallexhibition 

What is Love? Love is everywhere, it’s around us, from our family, loved ones or friends, sometimes we just lost it because we are too close deep inside that we don’t realise it. Love, however, sometimes it’s about fate and time as well. 

No matter what level and stage of Love you are at right now, that’s something we can all do together for a common good, let’s bring LOVE everywhere and unite together stronger, closer, care and help one another as we are still battling this global pandemic situation, a common goal as we seek the light at the end of the tunnel filled with love, joy and a return to a more normal life.

Let’s #BringLoveEverywhere!

The post Bring LOVE everywhere by Very Small Exhibition appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Hypebeast@Uni is featuring original prints by leading visual proponents Takashi Murakami, Chiho Aoshima, Steven Harrington, Shen Jingdong and up-and-coming Dutch doodle artist Stijn Valentijn, the contemporary art will be for sale while diners eat – with 10 percent of all income going to the Children’s Society of Singapore.

A collaboration between Pop art gallery simpleArte by iCare.4u and specialist sea urchin restaurant Uni Gallery at The Plaza on Beach Road, offering diners an opportunity to tap into the “hypebeast” movement with a series of collectible pop prints showcasing some of thew world’s best-known contemporary artists. 

For those who love Japanese food and especially sea urchin, you have to check out Uni Gallery by OosterBay. It’s a sashimi restaurant for its exquisite focus on sea urchin dishes. Uni Gallery with its specialist take on Japanese cuisine makes it an obvious choice and location to showcase the extraordinary artworks by world-known artists. 

As for simpleArte, they are at the forefront bringing pop art to Singapore. “Hypebeast” is a movement based on street fashion that has proven to be a powerful force in contemporary culture. 

“This collaboration provides a platform in which popular art, street culture and food can align and be accessible to the general public,” said Jason Ong, owner of Uni Gallery. “It’s also helping to provide support to children in need.” 

“Hypebeast@Uni will offer diners the chance to experience modern street art first-hand as simpleArte brings an artistic perspective to the movement often characterized by high priced sneakers and urban streetwear,“ said Glen Tay, curator at simpleArte. 

“You can buy a ‘Hypebeast’ t-shirt, get the insanely priced sneakers … and now you can also own a piece of iconic, limited-edition print from the same movement,” said Tay. “‘Hypebeast’ is the most contemporary of all street culture right now, and our artists are among the frontrunners.”

Featured artists like Takashi Murakami have been lauded around the world for their work – his most expensive piece to date sold for US$13,500,000 at Sotheby’s New York auction in 2008. Steven Harrington is the leader of a contemporary Californian psychedelic-pop aesthetic, while Chiho Aoshima has worked with legendary Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake. Shen Jingdong is a leading contemporary artist in China while Stijn Valentijn describes himself as ‘a part time student of neuro sciences and full time visual artist’.

“We support modern culture in all its forms, and given that the art is so fresh and contemporary, we felt it was a great chance to connect our food with this movement. “We are bringing the best of the world’s artists from the ‘hypebeast’ movement right to your table,” said Ong of Uni Gallery. 

The art pieces will be displayed in the main dining area and private dining rooms at Uni Gallery. They will be refreshed every time a sale is made, guests can look forward to new limited editions in a series of four shows. This inaugural showcase will feature iconic artworks pieces by the featured artists Takashi Murakami, Chiho Aoshima, Steven Harrington, Shen Jingdong and up-and-coming Dutch doodle artist Stijn Valentijn.

At the media event, we had an exclusive media-only interaction with Dutch artist Stijn Valentijn via Zoom. This was a very interesting, interactive and fun experience as we learnt and understood more from the artist himself via Zoom on his artworks, inspirations and styles.

Hypebeast@Uni would definitely interest contemporary arts and pop culture lovers in Singapore. With an awesome pairing of delicious Japanese food and drinks, all these makes up a lovely and wonderful combination of arts, food and pop culture coming together. This would make a great outing and gathering for fellow friends who are also into arts, food and pop culture. Do check out Hypebeast@Uni, enjoy and have a fun evening of contemporary arts and pop culture enjoyment along with delicious Japanese food and drinks!

Oh yes, for those are fans of Old Master Q, it’s in the next instalment coming soon in April! Hypebeast@Uni forms part of an ongoing series for 2021, don’t miss it!

For more information on Hypebeast@Uni

Uni Gallery 

Address: 7500A Beach Rd, B1-310 The Plaza, Singapore 199591 

Tel: 9838 8209

Website: www.unigallery.sg 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unigallerysg 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unigallerysg/

Enquiries: enquiry@oosterbay.com

Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday

Lunch : 11.30am to 2.45pm (last order)

Dinner : 6pm to 10pm(last order)

Drinks : Till 10:30 pm

simpleArte by iCare.4U (Gallery) 

Address: 237 Pandan Loop, Westech Building  Unit 04-06, Singapore 128424

Website: http://www.simplearte.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplearteasia/

Contact: glen@abouticare.com

The post Hypebeast@Uni – Arts, Food and Pop Culture comes together appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

I currently have a few Moleskine notebooks, they are special and limited editions, two from Canon and one from LG. They were more than just gifts from the two major brands and I am only currently using the Canon Moleskine notebook, the other two are still wrapped up!

During a recent event in Singapore, I was introduced to Moleskine, celebrating M for Movers, of ideas and creativity, the movers life journey in a modern world today, with changes to working, travel, creativity and expression. Along with the wider world of Moleskine’s family of products, embarking on the Moleskine Creative Trail in Singapore and an introduction to urban sketching with Paul Wang.

In this article, I would be introducing you to Moleskine’s family of products for movers and creators.

Moleskine Bag Collections

First and foremost, I have never known that Moleskine has bag collections! When they introduced their Moleskine Bag Collections, I was amazed and pretty impressed by their bags collection, range and designs!

Moleskine Bag Collections

First and foremost, I have never known that Moleskine has bag collections! When they introduced their Moleskine Bag Collections, I was amazed and pretty impressed by their bags collection, range and designs!

The Metro Collection

The contemporary bags collection, clean urban design and modern technology feel. While it may not look that big in size, they can pack in technology gadgets such as a 15inch laptop along with your other creative stuff. The water-resistant nylon casing and padded pockets protect your gadgets and tools.The embossed honeycomb lining and subtle reflective details shines a light to the Mover on every part of their creative journeys. For the Movers, there is a My Moleskine Notes Pocket, for you to store your memories, ideas, thoughts, dreams, intimate moments during your Movers creative journey.

Price:

Metro backpack: SGD$220

Metro slim backpack: SGD$190

Metro vertical device bag: SGD$170

Moleskine Classic Bag Collection

This series was first designed by Giulio Iacchetti in 2011, for the minimalist Mover, aesthetic and beautiful. There is the Classic Leather Collection, for Movers who love both leather material and design with great functionality and ergonomics. For this bag collection, the corners are rounded, just like the classic legendary Moleskine notebook and each bag carries the time honoured “in case of loss” notice in the interior. More than just a classic bag for the Movers to store their creative tools while traveling, they are also the secret places to keep your memories, ideas, thoughts, dreams, intimate moments during your Movers creative journey.

Price:

Classic leather backpack: SGD$320

Classic leather device bag: SGD$250

Classic leather pro backpack: SGD$390

Moleskine Go Shopper Collection (newly launched in October 2019)

The artist/doodle/sketcher in you, would love this self-customisable Moleskine Go Shopper. With this bag, you can draw, doodle and write on its surface, telling your stories, thoughts, ideas and moments through your artworks, whereby you can stamp your artistic mark on this special bag.

Price:

SGD$41

Moleskine Art Collection

The world of notebook journaling has now expanded with the watercolour notebook, along with the watercolour block and pencils.

Watercolour Notebook

This watercolour notebook is made using cold-pressed cotton-blend paper and they can handle plenty of water on both sides of the paper. Just like the classic Moleskine notebook design, rounded corners, a ribbon bookmark and matching elastic closure, you can now have the creative freedom to write, sketch, draw, colour each and every page with your words, moments, thoughts, drawings, sketches and paintings, whenever you are on the move, at a location creating artworks or when you have an inspiration or idea coming into you.

Watercolour Block

The Watercolour Block is the ultimate companion for the creative artist as you strive to capture the inspiration, the moment, whether you are indoors or outdoors on the move. They features a strong backing support and high quality detachable pages that allows you to unleash your creativity and talents while on the move.

Price:

Large: SGD$40

XL: SGD$61

23×31: SGD$61

Watercolour Pencils

Bring beautiful colours into your inspiring works with Moleskine Watercolour pencils, through your drawing, sketching and colouring. Featuring 12 Moleskine Watercolour pencils a set, it’s time to unleash the creative artist in you! Add some water to create light washes and moments as you draw, design, sketch and colour.

Price:

City Travel Palette SGD$60

Moleskine Limited Edition Collections (Launching Soon)

Most of us would know Moleskine for their classic notebooks and if you are a fan of James Bond 007 or Star Wars, you have to take a look at them!

007 Limited Edition Notebook Collection

There is something special inside 007 limited edition notebook, there are two limited edition notebooks. Each chapter in the story celebrates James Bond’s resourceful spirit and skilful mastery of knowledge. Each notebook also comes with a set of 25 tickets inspired by over 50 years of Bond films.

Price:

SGD$60

Star Wars Notebook and Planner Collection

If you are a Star Wars fan, this collection would definitely interest you! This Star Wars Notebook and Planner Collection pays tribute to Star Wars. Which side are you on, the Jedi or the Dark Side?

Each notebook/planner inside this collection includes the distinctive Moleskine design features, such as the colour-coordinated elastic closure, expandable back pocket for your notes and thoughts, a matching bookmark ribbon and filled with graphics on the front and back endpapers, a themed paperbound B-Side and special sticker inserts.

May the Force be with You, creative, inspirational, artistic and talented Movers of Moleskine!

Price:

Notebook: SGD$60

Planner:

Pocket size: SGD$37

Large size: SGD$45

For more information on Moleskine products and where you can purchase them, visit Moleskine.com

Moleskine Creative Trail in Singapore

Coming soon, keep a lookout for the second part of this article, learning how to draw and sketch with Moleskine Watercolour Notebook and Watercolour Pencils, my personal experiences, stories from Moleskine Creative Trail in Singapore, plans and inspiration to further expand my personal movement of photography, writing, prints, notebook journaling with Moleskine for my personal photography projects (documentary, travel)

Would the M for Movers by Moleskine, be the final piece of the puzzle of my photography,  notebook journaling along with my photography prints, sketching, drawing and painting?

* Thank you Moleskine and Burson Cohn & Wolfe for the invitation *

The post Celebrating Movers of Ideas and Creativity with Moleskine appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.