During the journey leading up to this launch, I do have a lot of thoughts, feelings and emotions, behind the scenes in producing and publishing my second photography zine that couldn’t really go inside there, I wanted to share some of them here below. 

What is my second photography zine all about? It’s a lot more than just sweat and tears 

The motivation and story behind my second photography zine came about from some personal crisis in a middle of an ongoing global pandemic situation. There were a series of situations that took place in 2021, I won’t be going into detail anymore. In a nut shell, I spiralled down into a rabbit hole and I have to find my way out and up. 

My second photography zine has a unique and special theme – photography therapy theme, heading to the outdoors, nature, photography walks with friends, all forming part of my route to recovery. 

On a side note, if you are interested to read and know about my lengthy rantings, you can visit and discover my articles on this TGH Photography and Travel portal/blog and TGH Technology and Business portal/blog (where I write and publish personal articles as well)

Why do I write and publish a zine, and not as a book?

I decided not to go in an official book format/style, I would like it to be a bit less formal and a photography zine allows me to explore and test it out further, my photography zines are my building blocks towards a more formal visual story telling style book down the road.

“Nobody is going to buy your book/zine”

A feedback/comment that I heard previously, both a constructive and brutal harsh feedback/comment in a capitalist world that we live in. This is also on me to constantly improve my writing, style and types of visual story telling projects. 

We are living in a goldfish memory world that probably has only a 1-2 minutes attention span, glued to videos and driven by social media flaunting, or only looking at article headline and not reading the full article/story. 

Let’s bring back the world of reading, not just online, also reading from a physical book/magazine/zine again, in a world driven by internet and social media. We are also supporting fellow creatives and writers too! 

Question: Where can I purchase your second photography zine?

For my relatives, friends, supporters and followers from outside Singapore, my second photography zine is available for purchase on the MagCloud. For those living in Singapore, you can also order from MagCloud platform! 

As for my family, relatives, friends and supporters in Singapore, I would need to speak to local publishing/printing company Grenadier Press, and print them for the local Singapore market. I have yet to finalise how and where I am selling them. I might have a chat with my regular photography shops and place my zines for sale at the local Katong Square lifestyle and vintage market held every first weekend of the month.

Acknowledgements 

There are a number of people that I would like to sincerely thank them from the bottom of my heart, from being there for me when I was at the rock bottom. I wrote a pretty lengthy acknowledgements inside my second photography zine.

Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart to the following folks that played a significant role/part in my second photography zine that you might or might not have known: Chef Keith, Ryan Cheng, Isaac Ong, Wendy Kong, Michael Tay, Sue Fang, Tiffany Ngan, Belinda Tan and Fernando Gros.

What’s next in 2023?

Till my next photography project in 2023, which form and type should I embark on? A new photography book from my list of personal projects, a visual story book on my travel or a new set of photography zine? 

Last but not least

Last but not least, thank you from the bottom of my heart, to my family, relatives, friends and supporters who believe, trust and supported me in my photography and personal journeys, writing over the past decades (and still counting).

I have my fair share of criticisms, making (I lost count) mistakes in my personal life, professional career and from running my own small business. There are also people who look down on me (who doesn’t have them in your life?). We have to take it on our chin – learn from mistakes and life lessons, change, adapt, adopt and improve.

It’s not perfect, there’s always room for improvements, my photography business, personal photography, writing, publishing photography books, photography zines and I can only get better.

Thank you once again, for joining and following me my visual storytelling photography adventures over the years!

The post Official Launch of my Second Photography Zine appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Just to recap, in April 2022, I shared an update titled, “Second Photography Zine Update – Review, Edit and Amendments”. Finally, I managed to push it through after some delays, procrastination, juggling between business and content creation.

This is an interim update post that is way overdue on my part, this may not have everything that I would to share at this point in time. More information and details, as well as my own heartfelt personal stories in this journey creating, producing, writing and piecing all the segments together, would be shared and published when I make the official announcement on the launch of my 2nd photography zine.  

What’s going to happen next?

This would be my final review, edit and amendments. For my final 2nd draft, the following steps would take place:

1. Final layout adjustments and amendments
2. Whether to go for saddle stitch binding or perfect binding
3. Lastly, a final look through with another peer review, for the last round of edits and amendments 
4. Uploading it for official sales/printing (international market)
5. Visiting Grenadier Press to discuss on local prints

Pricing and Availability (International and local)

I haven’t decide on my selling price for my 2nd photography, once I get the local printing costs, I would be able to determine my selling price.

For my friends and supporters in other countries, it’s quite straightforward. You can purchase it from the MagCloud platform, they would print and deliver the photography zine to your residence. 

For my family, relatives, friends and supporters based in Singapore, I would be making an appointment to visit Grenadier Press and have a chat with them on printing my photography zine. More details on where and how to purchase would be make in due course.

Thoughts, Feelings and Emotions

My 2nd photography zine is one of my visual story telling works that meant something deep and personal inside my heart, mind and soul, during a global pandemic period facing so much uncertainties on both professional and personal fronts, and a mixture of personal matters that spiralled me into a pretty dark hole.

The journey to capture and write my visual stories was helpful, grateful and therapeutic. Beyond that, I faced other challenges such as “Nobody is going to buy your works” and many more.

When my 2nd photography zine is ready for official announcement, I would share more, 2 ends of a spectrum, from hurt, disappointments, sweat and tears and pride, to the joy and happiness in another personal photography, writing and creative accomplishment. 

Last but not least, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart, to those who supported  and helped me out during those turbulent times. 

The post 2nd Photography Zine Update – Final 2nd Draft appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography 

Business

Running any business, no matter whether it’s a small, medium or big business, it’s just very tough, very difficult and very stressful. Throw in a global pandemic situation that further transformed into an economic crisis, the magnitude increased exponentially. No educational textbooks can really teach you everything about running and operating a business, let alone a photography business. 

While I didn’t exactly started off properly in my photography business a few years back due to some unforeseen circumstances, when this global pandemic wave hit us in 2020, this was a major setback. I didn’t know exactly know what steps to take, it took me a while to navigate, adapt and change my photography services portfolio. 

In a harsh and brutal analysis, switching photography genres and services can be playing catch up with fellow photographers in those particular fields. Considering the ongoing and near future impacts of this global pandemic situation, I have switched my photography genres services as well as adding digital marketing/social media marketing into a digital agency setup. Therefore, I established TGH Digital Studio earlier in the year and I am working to expand on this in Year 2022. 

Personal/Leisure

Although I didn’t put more time into my personal/leisure photography as I would love to, I was glad to rediscover the art and wonder of nature therapy/forest therapy, a.k.a. Shinrin-Yoku (森林浴) – forest bathing. Entering into the world of nature, green spaces and the great outdoors was my haven for refuge during this particular period whereby I was in a rut, in a really bad emotional and mental health well-being. 

A big thank you from the bottom of my heart to my photography outdoors explorer friends that trekked together with me exploring forest bathing and offering me priceless and unwavering support and encouragement during my downtime. 

Travel 

Exploring my own backyard / Domestic 

The good and bad thing about us being unable to travel overseas, is that we explore our own backyard. For me, even though I have been regularly going out to explore my own backyard, it feels good and refreshing to re-explore my own backyard again, documenting and updating my collections.   

The bad thing to me is, everyone is now a hiker, cyclist, nature lover or heritage and conservation advocate probably because they can’t travel out of Singapore for their regular holidays. While they probably have good intentions, their actions and ethics prove/shown otherwise. 

International 

At the start of 2021, I was cautiously optimistic that I would be able to travel out again around Q3 or Q4 2021. However, I got myself thrown into a spiral downwards into a rut due to various situations happening in mid 2021. The travel situation in the earlier part of the year wasn’t that optimistic as well. 

As time progressed into Q3 2021, there were vaccinated travel lane (VTL) arrangements between Singapore and a list of countries, opening up the possibilities for people to travel out. However, there were still many uncertainties with this ongoing global pandemic situation. The emergence of the new variant Omicron has put international travel back to a slowdown again.

As a co-host of Travel Talk on Twitter (TTOT) community chat on Twitter taking place every Tuesday 9:30am GMT and 9:30pm GMT, I learned a lot more about the international travel and tourism situations from fellow travel and tourism friends and networks. 

I was reminded on this life lesson, “Travel can be a privilege”, a constant reminder to myself. During this global pandemic crisis, this quote is even more prevalent, revealing the widening gap between the rich and the rest.

There are still many travel uncertainties, rules, restrictions and lockdowns can change at the snap of the finger by the respective authorities of the country. I also have a tight financial situation due to my photography business being affected by this pandemic. 

When can we really truly restart tourism again? I would share my thoughts and views in another article in January 2022, an update to my earlier articles “When can we Restart Tourism?” and “World Tourism Day 2021”. 

Last but not least

Year 2021 had been a very turbulent year of many ups and downs, disappointments and heartaches from unnecessary expectations. There were many life and business lessons handed out to me, priceless and painful.

Do visit my TGH Technology and Business Portal/Blog too! I have also published a reflection, thoughts and views article in my technology, business and personal segments.

Signing off Year 2021 with a beautiful sunset to say goodbye to Year 2021, good riddance to bad rubbish. It’s been a very painful time, very difficult and tough, mentally, emotionally and financially for me personally. I will learn, remember and apply the good and bad lessons from this year. I will also make sure that I will never let myself fall as low as what happened to me in 2021. 

Year 2022 is starting soon, a new year, a fresh and brand new start in an ongoing global pandemic situation. I would share more about my plans and directions in the Year 2022 for my photography and travel segments inside my upcoming Theme and Goals for Year 2022 article. 

To all those who had pulled me up when I was down at the bottom, as well as those who supported and encouraged me throughout this very difficult Year 2021, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart, no amount of words can show my utmost appreciation towards what you all had done for me. 

It’s time to say Goodbye Year 2021 and Welcome Year 2022.

The post Reflecting Year 2021 (Photography and Travel) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

The theme for World Mental Health Day 2021 is “Mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality”. The governments around the world has acknowledged and recognised that more needs to be more on mental health services. Do visit their pages if you would like to know more!

If you have been following and reading some of my articles on my technology and business portal/blog, as well as here on my photography and travel portal/blog. My mental and emotional health were not in a good shape and condition, the impacts on running a small sized photography business in this pandemic period took a huge toll on me. On top of that, there were deep personal matters and issues that spiral me downwards into a rut.  

With the help of a few friends that helped and pulled me out, I started to lift myself out from the bottom. This wasn’t an easy recovery journey, times are still very difficult and challenging with this ongoing global pandemic, many of us are emotionally and mentally fatigued. 

During my recovery phase, I went to the outdoors, immersed myself into nature/greenery, the peace and tranquility. I discovered an inspiration to work on a photography therapy zine project with a playbook element. This inspiration came from my nature therapy walks during Q2 to Q3 2021 when I went trekking into nature and outdoors, with my camera and lenses, photographing landscapes, light rays, bringing me peace and tranquility. This is an ongoing work in progress, part of my plans/projects for Q4 2021. 

Through my photographs and writing, I would like to share some points/things that could be featured inside my photography therapy zine, based on my own personal experiences dealing and handling with mental health awareness that might be useful for you this World Mental Health Day 2021. 

Journal

Keep a journal, write down your thoughts, feelings and emotions. You can even draw, sketch or doodle. Maybe you can paste photos that meant something personal to you inside the journal.

Outdoors / Nature / Trekking / Exercise 

My haven when I felt down and out, trekking in the outdoors into nature and green spaces is my saviour. The peace and tranquility, it’s so therapeutic. 

Talk to someone 

If you really need to, please please find someone that you can talk to. Someone who is willing to lend you a shoulder to lean on, a kind and attentive listening ear, that will not judge.

Read books / Find a new hobby / Rekindle your old hobbies

We are too engrossed and glued to our technology gadgets and social media platforms/channels. How about going back to reading books? Or find a new hobby? Have you always wanted to go back in time and rekindle your old hobbies? 

Of cute dogs and cats 

If you have followed me on my Twitter or Instagram, you would know how much I love dogs and cats. These lovely pets provide great therapy to us humans when we are down. 

Last but not least

Please take good care of yourself, your mental and emotional health well-being. Please don’t judge, please be kind, help one another. 

Let’s make it a reality: Mental health care for all, no matter how big or small the resources, means and efforts. 

The post World Mental Health Day 2021 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography by Isaac Ong

I am not going to share P2HA restrictions photos or talk much about the restrictions in place, the stacked up tables and chairs at kopitiam, cafes, food outlets or the taped up benches and tables at hawker centres, like what I published previously here. However, I would still continue documenting and photographing P2HA whenever possible. 

Photography by Ryan Cheng

Our mental and emotional health/well-being are receiving further and bigger impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 fatigue along with cabin fever. It’s more than a year now since 2020 when the global pandemic hit us, everyone is feeling very tired, it’s taking a big toll on our mental and emotional health. We can see more people around us getting depressed with news of three murder cases within a week in Singapore doesn’t bade well on our current mental and emotional health/well-being. My mental and emotional health/well-being took a hit in the earlier P2HA, I was depressed, in a rut and I was blessed to have friends who pulled me out. 

Through my own photography therapy, trekking into nature and outdoors for forest bathing, I found solace, peace and tranquility again during this ongoing battle against this global pandemic. While this was’t an immediate recovery, it was a slow and steady pace for me. If you are feeling mentally and emotionally burnt out, feeling depressed, you are not alone, you’ll never walk alone, you have your family, loved ones and friends beside you to help you through this.

Please speak to someone that you can trust, go for physical and exercise activities, get into outdoors and nature, return back to your hobbies. You can also do/start something new too. Mental health matters, your mental health and emotional health matters. Take good care of yourself first and you would be able to help other people, from your family, loved ones, to friends and others in the society that have fallen through the cracks.

I am working on a photography therapy project at the moment, I hope that my upcoming humble photography therapy book/zine can help you or play a small role in improving your mental and emotional health/well-being. 

Is there light at the end of the tunnel in this ongoing battle with this global pandemic? Initially, it seemed like we can see light at the end of the tunnel yet the return of P2HA again dampen the whole recovery journey. This is definitely a long and lengthy battle against this global pandemic COVID-19 with many turbulence of ups and downs, this dip might derail our recovery efforts towards a new normal. Let this be the time to unite, be strong and work closely together to continue our fight and recovery journey against  this global pandemic. 

Return of P2HA – Please Take Good Care!

The post Return of P2HA – Please Take Good Care! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.