Why use a Yearly Theme? How to Choose a Yearly Theme?

I am inspired by Fernando Gros “How to choose a Yearly Theme”, this is my 5th year writing and announcing a Yearly Theme, an approach that I personally feel that it’s more forward looking for a new future, a new era of working, thinking and how we connect as an individual, as a collective, society and the world. It’s not that goal settings or setting resolutions are no longer popular or useful, they still have a purpose and it still works for some people or industries.

Recap of previous Yearly Themes

Before I announce my Yearly Theme 2023 for my photography, travel, creative and heritage, let me bring you back in time, looking at my previous Yearly Themes through a recap below:

• Yearly Theme 2020: Striving to Excel 
• Yearly Theme 2021: Recovery and Rejuvenation 
• Yearly Theme 2022: Onward 
• Yearly Theme 2023: Explore

Yearly Theme 2024 (Photography | Travel | Creative | Heritage) – “Ignite”

Now, announcing my Yearly Theme 2024 (Photography | Travel | Creative | Heritage) – “Ignite”.

From my earlier editions of Yearly Theme for my TGH Photography and Travel portal/blog, I have expanded my scope of business and interests from my usual areas of photography and travel, in the areas of creativity/arts and the heritage sectors. 

Why Ignite?

Via Google Bard – “Ignite: A great story can ignite the imagination and inspire the listener to see the world in new ways. This word captures the spark of creativity that storytelling can bring.”

I want to be a better storyteller in the Year 2024 for both my two key areas of business and  key interest areas. For this year, I decided to try something different, I asked Google Bard to recommend a word to summarise “be a better storyteller”, and the chat based AI tool from Google gave me a few to choose from.

Ignite new directions and plans for my photography business and content creation business 

The photography business has been very challenging, the industry is facing its own headwinds, shrinking budgets and pie to share. That’s no doubt that some competitors are doing better than others. Moreover, the media/social media landscape is constantly changing, with current and near future trends moving towards videos consumption on TikTok and Instagram Reels. Which genres of the photography field should I concentrate on? A review and restructuring of photography services is underway, yet remaining fluid and adaptable as the months move on. 

With such changing media consumption patterns/trends, and how social media is changing, the versatility of a content creator would be more crucial and the way to go moving forward in the next few years at least. The days of being a specialist in your field may not be sufficient anymore, not just in the photography industry. In the creative sector, beside video consumption, the next area is content creation. 

Partnering with videographers and filmmakers would be key, working together on assignments and projects. As for working with agencies, whether it is PR, digital or social media, I am working to grow this segment. Even with networking and knowing people, it doesn’t guarantee anything. 

Time to re-ignite my travel photography, writing and content creation

My last overseas travel holidays when I took a flight out from Singapore was in 2018 when I visited Thailand and Vietnam. In 2019, it was a drive up to Malaysia. The years 2020 to 2022 were the global pandemic period whereby international travel and tourism industries were brought to a standstill. Year 2023 was my target year to travel overseas again, the pent-up travel demands, frustrations and high costs of travel pushed back my plans.

It’s been quite a few years since my last travel overseas. It’s finally the time to re-ignite my travel photography, writing and content creation in Year 2024. Keeping my fingers crossed that travel assignments or familiarisation tours opportunities would come true since I had been knocking on some doors over the past few years.   

Ignite my creativity from interactions with artists from other disciplines 

Year 2023 gave me new dimensions, directions and opening to view through the different world, point of view, and artistic creativity of various artists and creatives from other disciplines. They were more than just an eye-opener for me, they were inspiring and encouraging. 

Through those interactions in Year 2023, they have ignited my creativity and imagination that opened me up to new artistic approaches and cross-disciplinary creative ideas and projects that I might be able to work together with other creative artists. In 2024, I hope to bring some of those inspirations, ideas and projects to life, whether on an individual basis or cross-disciplinary with other artists.

Ignite new plans and ideas to do more for the heritage sector

The heritage sector, putting history, heritage, culture, conservation and preservation segments together, they may not give you the revenue compared to the commercial world. However, the intangible cultural heritage and intrinsic fulfilment cannot be underestimated. 

This sector already has a community running and operating in their own respective realms, that would need more like-minded people of various skills, knowledge and expertise in their respective domains to enter. 

I have always been interested in the heritage sector through my visual storytelling and documentation. I would be on the lookout for opportunities to partner with organisations and/or artists, whereby I can contribute and earn a bit of revenue as well. 

Yearly Theme 2023 (Technology | Business | Personal) – “Transcend”

As for my other key area of focus, my TGH Technology and Business portal/blog, I have chosen my Yearly Theme 2024 (Technology | Business | Personal) to be “Transcend”. I would like to invite you to hop over to my other website and have a read!

Join me in my “Ignite” journeys in 2024

To my networks in the photography, travel, creative and heritage sectors, I would like to invite you to join me in my “Ignite” journeys in 2024, let’s work closer together for more in-depth, meaningful and powerful stories, on both visual storytelling and social media. 

Thank you for your support and encouragement! 

To my family, relatives, friends, followers and supporters who supported me through my visual storytelling, photography, technology writing, social media marketing, especially those that make the effort to read, not assuming thinking you know everything about me, or my business model operations, and making the effort to know more and understand, without judgement or putting me down, I sincerely thank you for your support and encouragement! 

The post Yearly Theme 2024 (Photography | Travel | Creative | Heritage) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography – Business and Content Creation 

Photography business

It has been a very tough and challenging journey running a photography business, just like running any other business. In an already intense and stressful competitive market facing a slowdown in world economy, we are facing an avalanche of new technological developments and innovations in generative AI, that is going to disrupt the photography and creatives market even further.

While some of my photography friends might not agree or would dispute my views, a stand-alone photography business might not be the way to go for running a photography business. The amount and intensity of change, adapt and adopt is going to exponentially increase.

Change of Old Guard 

Although I do take care of my photography cameras, lenses and gears, as much as possible, there will be wear and tear, along with technological improvements and changes over the years especially in the digital imaging world. All the above also coincide with new changes in my visual storytelling and content creation. 

Hello Canon EOS R6 Mark II, Goodbye Canon EOS 1D X Mark II! I have sentimental attachments to the EOS 1D series, this Canon camera model has always been an icon and part of my photography branding. Another story on this for another day.

Photography – Personal and Content Creation

The personal side of my photography gives me an avenue away from many things, not just away from the photography business side of things, a therapeutic time away from the stress and pressures.

Walking to my nearby neighbourhood areas, taking sunsets, cityscapes, nature and wildlife, with my camera and lenses, it was my personal time away from the hustles of running a small business.

Travel and Travel Related Content Creation

International Travel

There’s nothing to share here as I haven’t travelled out of Singapore since 2019. While I am not in a hurry to travel (Yes, I do have some pent-up frustrations in travel). Therefore, I think the time is now for me to get away from Singapore in Q3 2023, likely a regional trip first and hopefully a medium to long haul trip in Q4 2023. As for my travel destinations, I would keep under wraps for now.

Travel Related Content Creation

While I have been producing and creating visual storytelling articles regularly, there aren’t enough for my travel related content creation segments. Although I haven’t travelled overseas for a few years, that is not an excuse. 

An area for me to look more closely into, how and what kind of local travel stories that I would want to share about to friends and travellers visiting Singapore. This should be my “homework” before I return to travel visual storytelling and content creation when I relaunch my travel photography adventures overseas.

My photo walks haven’t officially take off as planned, time to re-ignite and start working on them again.

Plans for Q3 2023 & H2 2023

In Q1 2023, if you recall, my Yearly Theme (Photography and Travel) for 2023 is “Explore”. I feel that this year’s theme fits in nicely, I am exploring new avenues and directions in an increasingly difficult and challenging world economy and geo-political situations. 

Photography business

I never and I usually will not go into business specifics here, just like the Chinese saying, “The business field is just like a battle field”. My thoughts and views in a nutshell, we better evolve, change and adapt faster. We can’t just depend on one skill/expertise alone anymore. 

New personal project – Featuring and interviewing creatives, artists, photographers, heritage 

Earlier in this year 2023, I had an inspiration to feature and interview creatives, artists, photographers, history, heritage, preservation and culture community. Through this personal project, I hope to be able to help them with more publicity through my visual stories and writing, that’s also possibly a cross mixed media production with the artist’s artworks with my photography, as well as future business opportunities for me.

Travel related content creation, collaboration and partnerships

On top of creating more travel related content creation that I mentioned earlier, collaboration and partnerships have proved to be pretty difficult and tricky to breakthrough into. From competitors who guard their turf, time needed to establish stronger ties and limited opportunities, I have and I will continue to strive for a breakthrough. 

Last but not least

More than just my photography and travel segments, please do visit and check out my Reflecting H1 2023 & Q2 2023 (Technology, Business and Personal) on my TGH Technology and Business portal/blog.  

Although I will not be able to write down and share everything that happened or took place during Q2 2023 and H1 2023, compiling and writing them down serves as a form of diary, collection of memories and moments. Neither would I be able to share all my plans for Q3 2023 and H2 2023, just some key highlights.

Some stuff/matters are also more private and confidential that I do not want or wish to be shared on social media. 

The content, reflections, thoughts, and views might be lengthy and boring to others, even to my friends. Some are probably busy posting on social media platforms flooded with media and videos, we need to know what is happening to them, they don’t want to know what is happening to others.

Writing down my reflections, thoughts, views and upcoming plans are more than a good way of regular writing, constantly honing and improving my writing skills, this is also therapeutic in its own ways.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for making it to this line, reading my lengthy writing and ranting (sometimes). 

* Photos shot with Canon EOS R6 Mark II *

** A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R6 Mark II Explorer Series Production **

The post Reflecting H1 2023 & Q2 2023 (Photography and Travel) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

A Recap – Yearly Theme 2022: Onward

My Yearly Theme for 2022 was “Onward”, moving into 2022 from 2021, I felt that this was most suitable at the point in time as the world was edging closer towards reopening of the economy and lifting of risk management measures for the global pandemic COVID-19 that impacted us so much from 2020 to around mid 2022.

Photography / Visual Storytelling

Business/Commercial Photography

This sector has small improvements, however there is a lot of room for growth and improvement especially in a rebuilding phase as we emerge from a post global pandemic period. Through my networking this year, some project ideas came up, some discussions are ongoing, keeping my fingers crossed that they can take off in 2023.

Training and Consultancy 

I mentioned about these two areas previously. They came about from my diversification of my photography and content creation suite of services. These two segments are more private and confidential versus some of the other points that I wrote down here.

The potential for growth and expansion is there for these two areas, going to build on them in Year 2023.

6 years in the business (2017-2022) | Renewed another 3 years 

Before the end of the Year 2022, I was sent a reminder email that I need to renew my sole proprietorship business registration for 2023 onwards. In the blink of an eye, I went through 6 years in the photography business from 2017 to 2022, and during this tenure, around 2.5 years of my time was caught totally off guard and thrown off my tracks when the global pandemic hit in 2020 to mid 2022. 

Running a small business is never easy, it’s already that tough and difficult. This global pandemic situation was a real setback, the life and business lessons were huge for the past 2.5 years. The next few years are not going to be easy with a new set of dark clouds and challenges facing the world economy.

Dark Clouds/Challenges looming ahead in 2023

In this year 2022, just when the world is relieved and happy to be recovering, reopening and moving away from this global pandemic that turned the world upside down for the past 2.5 to 3 years, the world economy is facing a new of economic challenges (high inflation with a recession looming over us) and political instabilities in some parts of the world.

Personal Photography

Visual Storytelling/Creative side of things

I have been a visual storyteller since I started this TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog back in 2006. My visual storytelling has evolved over time, improvements, as well as changes in my writing styles and approaches with my photography. 

From publishing photo books and photography zines, journaling and simple designing through handy apps such as Canva, I have explored more on the creative side of things over the decade. In a world so much driven by social media, some of us are inclining to return back to basics, the craft, art and eye for photography and creative stuff, through hands on art and craft work or analogue/film photography.

Analogue / Film Photography

I recently inherited some old film cameras from a former commercial photographer in the film era,  his nephew is my fellow photographer friend Chester Tan, also a fellow technology writer and talented musician.

When I started off film photography more than 3.5 decades back, medium format (MF) film photography was out of my reach. Now I have an opportunity to enter into MF film photography, as well as a return to analogue/film photography.

On this story, I would share more updates in another article. 

Videography / Filmmaking 

I have been slowly building up this segment, as a complement to my photography, visual storytelling and content creation segments. I am looking to produce my own short works with help from other filmmakers/videographers in both personal and commercial projects. 

Some themes that I am looking at are cinematic travel vlogs, exploration and heritage projects. I didn’t manage to produce more as I would like to in Year 2022, I would be planning some projects  for Year 2023.

Of Photo books, visual storybooks and zines

Launch of 2nd photography zine – TGH Photography Therapy Zine and Playbook 

This took me a bit longer than I expected, I officially announced the launch of my 2nd photography zine in November 2022. On a personal basis, this was a publication that meant something deep and personal to me. It’s not perfect, it’s more of a personal achievement to overcome and get myself out of a dark period. 

If you would like to purchase it, my 2nd photography zine is available for purchase a physical and/or digital copy on MagCloud. 

What’s next in 2023?

After publishing my 2nd photography zine, I am planning to publish more in the year 2023, I would share more in details when I finalise my projects and approaches. Just a short teaser, I am exploring a new photo book (Theme: Old playgrounds or sunsets) or a travel visual storybook (Hokkaido travel adventures) or a new zine collection (B&W street photography)? Or a combination of all of them?  

Travel

International Travel

Although my huge massive travel wanderlust is urging me to get away from Singapore, to a nearby regional destination at the very least. I decided not to join the travel deprived crowds when many countries border restrictions were lifted along with lowering of risk management measures. 

Costs of traveling is one of the factors for consideration, getting my photography business, content creation and writing back on track were my key priorities in 2022, thus I pushed back traveling overseas in 2022, as much as I would love to.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that I would be able to travel in Q2 2023.

Local Travel

Nobody really gives a look at local travel in Singapore (Do we even have a domestic tourism market? Some might ask). During the pandemic lockdown period, Singaporeans did manage to explore more of Singapore (in both good and bad ways), I am re-exploring Singapore again, nature, outdoors and old places. 

Something Personal

Recovery from an uneventful down time in 2021

A few uneventful events got me spiralling down into a rabbit hole in 2021, it took me a while to get myself out of that situation, allowing me to enter 2022 with a clean slate of mind, personal well-being and mental health. 

JOMO versus FOMO

JOMO = Joy of missing out, FOMO = Fear of missing out. The world of social media in recent times had been getting more messy and complicated, oversharing, excess showing off, all wanting fame, likes and first to post/share. 

There was a time when I was FOMO, however I got so delusional on some aspects of social media, even though I am still actively using social media platforms, just more selective. I am moving into JOMO mode.

Maybe JOMO would free me up from those shackles, allowing me to concentrate on honing my craft, creativity and writing even further and better, as a writer, a visual storyteller.  

There were still struggles

I am not going to paint a beautiful scenario or picture, like people posting on their FB or social media platforms, smiling, enjoying life and living a fun and exciting lifestyle.

There were still struggles over the whole year 2022, hidden away from social media. Not many people or nobody can really know what I am going through.

Year 2022 Theme: Onward vs Year 2022 in Reality 

Year 2022 in reality was definitely Onward for me, even though the economy wasn’t giving us a smooth and easy recovery, I have to ride out the usual ups and downs like the rest, even as the world economy is working towards reopening and returning back to a more normal living of pre-pandemic days.  

Last But Not Least

Reflecting Year 2022 in my photography and travel segments is just one half of my equation of my Year 2022 in Review. The other half of my equation of my Year 2022 in Review can be found here in this article: Reflecting Year 2022 (Technology | Business | Personal) on my TGH Technology and Business Portal/Blog.

I would like to say a big Thank You to the various camera, travel, tourism, food and hospitality brands/organisations and PR agency folks that I worked closely with in Year 2022, to my readers for their utmost support for this year.

Wishing you a Happy New Year 2023! Good luck and all the best in the new year ahead!

The post Reflecting Year 2022 (Photography | Travel) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography Business

Business side of things

Q1 2022 started off alright, with signs of a more stable recovery for economy that could flow down to the other levels of the economy. It didn’t seem to sustain with Q2 2022 seems to be a bit of a slow down after coming out full steam in Q1, things didn’t go as expected and planned, making me worried. Q3 2022 was a bounce back into life again. 

There were disappointments, there were lost opportunities, there were new ones too. While there is not a big boom type of growth, there is a good momentum, hopefully this will carry on forward into Q4 2022.

Just like running any business, the levels of stress and pressure are never ending, never low on the scale, sometimes it also come in wave after wave.

Photography consultancy and coaching/training

My years of photography experiences in both professional and personal capacity has finally opened up an avenue that I wasn’t really expecting, the past 2 quarters have been an interesting expansion, slow and steady. The photography consultancy segment also give me ideas on how I might be able to expand this further and wider.

Through my consultancy, it brought me back to coaching/training my friends my photography skills, knowledge and sharing my experiences. A sector that I am planning to expand further, I am back again, having “students” or “disciples”, with me the photography “Shifu”, coined by my former friends who went out with me on various photography outings and walks. 

Although I don’t have an official number, I should have 2-3 “disciples” under my personalised photography care and coaching/training. 

Photo walks 

I used to conduct this regularly, part of my photography coaching/training programme. This went quiet for a period of time, now I am bringing it back again, for my photography coaching/training. I have some expansion plans in mind for this segment, working out the nitty gritty details in Q4 2022.

Photography Zine/Books and Publishing

Since I printed my first photography book in 2015 after my Hokkaido trip in November 2014, I entered into the world of printing and publishing my photography, creative and visual stories into photography zines. 

2nd photography zine update

My 2nd photography zine is now in the 2nd mock up stage, the final phase of editing and amendments. I am setting aside and scheduling my time to get this final hurdle completed and ready for publishing and sale. Thereafter, I would make the official announcement of my 2nd photography zine, pricing and availability. 

What book or zine projects should I embark on?

I have started a number of different photography projects over the years, in different areas and interests over the decade. I am seeking and looking at new photography/documentation/visual story telling projects. 

Some projects on my mind are 

• MF analogue B&W landscape photography
• Produce and publish new photography zines, photography books and photography guide books. 
• From my earlier photography projects in history, heritage and culture, I might choose, work on it and expand them further, and tap on funding if possible.
• Writing and producing my own short films/videos along with my photography projects and visual story telling.

Personal photography

Beyond my photography business, my personal/leisure photography is just as important and crucial for me. This segment is not so much about money, it’s a lot more about personal fulfillments and commitments to personal photography works from documentary to interests. 

Analogue medium format 

Medium format (MF) photography has been an area that I really wanted to explore some years back. Some MF photographers said to me that I won’t understand MF photography even though I have been shooting 35mm or APS-C format for quite a number of years. Personally, I don’t begrudge them since I never tried MF photography before. 

Over the years that I was keen to explore MF, I started off with a Lubitel 166+ TLR although my interest didn’t sustain long enough and it went into my dry box. Yes, it’s a bit embarrassing to confess to this. I was still enquiring on MF cameras, 645, 6×6 or 6×7, which camera brands to look at, does it make sense to get an analogue MF camera body and lens, pair it with a MF digital back instead of a film back. The answer to this, was not recommended, as shared by some of my photography mentors.

Most recently, I was very blessed to inherit some analogue MF cameras from a fellow photographer friend’s uncle, who used to be a commercial photographer in the analogue film days. Now, I finally have a chance to embark on my MF photography journey. 

As this is still a work in progress, checking and sending for repairs if necessary, it’s going to take a bit of time. Once this is settled down, I would share more updates in another article.

Travel 

When should I travel again?

The travel restrictions are gradually lifted around the world, more countries are reopening up their borders for business and leisure travel over the past 2 quarters . Many people could be seen traveling out of Singapore, on one hand I am envious, on the other hand, the airfares are not exactly cheap, the travel, tourism, aviation and hospitality industries are playing catch up to meet the demands and pent up frustrations. 

Travel Photography Bucket List

On my travel photography bucket list, countries in APAC region would be my priority since they are much nearer to Singapore:

Japan

A lengthy list of prefectures to visit in Japan, with a return to Hokkaido on my plans, continuing on with my 4 seasons of Hokkaido travel photography project. Another key region in Japan that I would like to visit is the Kansai region. 

Malaysia

More than just a neighbour to Singapore, I have relatives in Malaysia, I hope to plan some time and visit them again after 2+ years of global pandemic lockdown. I am also keen to revisit Sabah again for wildlife photography and trekking.

Vietnam/Taiwan/Indonesia/Thailand 

They are a short flight away from Singapore, making them pretty accessible for short getaways. 

Europe and beyond

I have been chatting and discussing on TTOT community chat that I am planning to visit Europe. They are in my travel plans, probably in the next phase after visiting ASEAN and APAC regions first.

Guiding/Leading travel photography trips

In conjunction with my photography consultancy, photography training/coaching and photo walks, would all these lead me to guiding/leading travel photography trips overseas? I shall leave it here as it is for now, if and when the time is ripe, there might be some news.

Goals Setting for Q4 2022 

First and foremost, I have set myself a number of goals setting for Q4 2022. I recalled that there were a few years whereby I didn’t want to reveal them. For this Q4 2022, I am aligning myself to change my approaches and way of doing things, not the old school way though of writing specific and detailed goals, objectives and plans for Q4 2022.

Goals for Q4 2022

• Officially launch and publish my 2nd photography zine
• Make a breakthrough in my travel photography/writing/related segments
• Kickstart my analogue MF photography journey 
• Rebrand and realign my commercial photography services 

Last but not least

This Q3 2022 reflection and plans for Q4 2022 somehow feels pretty lengthy with quite a lot of personal thoughts, feelings, and emotions in the areas of my photography and travel.  

Last but not least, thank you for taking the time to read it till the end of my personal ranting (in some ways).

The post Reflecting Q3 2022 and Plans for Q4 2022 (Photography and Travel) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography 

Business 

Economic situation is still challenging, no doubt some had it better than others. That’s how running a business is like, the competition, not everyone is on the same level or pace. It had always been tough and difficult, it had got even harder over the past few years and the global pandemic situation threw in extra weight into it.

From previously diversifying back into certain photography genres, I would relook again, and make the strategic changes if necessary. 

Social Media Marketing 

At the start of the year 2022, social media marketing had moved up as part of business services provision along with my photography services. I had good hopes for this segment as I started off doing social media marketing for a food business. However, things didn’t go to plan, I would have to continue rebuilding up this services again. 

Training & Consultancy 

A growing photography business segment, that would an area that I would look into more in-depth, beyond training & consultancy for photography for corporate side of things, I can look into photography education/training for learners too.

Personal

A constant reminder to myself that not everything about my photography is about commercial work, I have to remind myself of my own personal photography projects.

I need to finish up with the tweaking and editing of my second photography zine, thereafter I can discuss with my local printer to get it published. During Q2 2022, I met with some delays, procrastination (again), time management issues, it’s high time for me to get it completed. 

As for personal projects, I would keep you all posted on my website! It’s time to finish up documenting and photographing some districts in Singapore, they would be changes to their physical landscapes and surroundings. 

Travel 

An area whereby I didn’t put much expectations and goals at the start of the year, that wasn’t any disappointments that I didn’t fulfil any of my travel goals. I had been observing and following the travel and tourism industry changes over H1 2022, they are moving forward, from both demand and supply side of things. It would still take time to ramp up as the world starts to fully restart travel and tourism, I am running an ongoing Special Theme Q2 2022 – Fully Restarting Tourism, sharing travel and tourism stories and happenings taking place around the world.

On a personal note, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I am able to go for a short personal travel holiday in Q3 2022 (if not Q4 2022) whereby airfares and the levels of the travel and tourism industry are back to a more normalised level. 

From a travel writing/photography/content creator perspective, not many opportunities in this segment, I have to continue networking with different sectors of the travel and tourism industry, maybe opportunity would arise in the near future.   

Please be kind, Please do not Judge!

The world is getting more difficult to live and work in, we are not helped by the world economic situation as well as our social media driven and instant gratification glamorous lifestyle. The world needs more kind and understanding citizens, less judgemental people. 

Please be kind, Please do not Judge! A reminder to myself too.

What’s next for Q3 2022 and H2 2022?

Just when we were working towards exiting a global pandemic situation that had caused so much disruptions to our economy and daily living from 2020 to 2022, the world entered into another crisis situation, the world is facing high inflation, ongoing conflict situation in Europe, a recession is looming above us, throw in possible stagflation too. Not to forget that we are not officially out of this global pandemic situation. 

From a set of uncertainties to another different set of uncertainties, we have to be fluid and nimble that we can adapt should the need arises. While I am restricting and pivoting my photography business into a balanced mix of photography and content creation/social media marketing, I have to be nimble, be ready for changes and opportunities that might pop up.

What’s next for Q3 2022 and H2 2022? Let’s see where this journey brings me in the next quarter and 2nd half of 2022. Do check out my Reflecting H1 & Q2 2022 (Other Business, Technology and Personal) article as well!

Anyway, in this era of instant gratification of showing off photos and videos, who still reads?

The post Reflecting H1 & Q2 2022 (Photography and Travel) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

The month of January always seem to be hectic since it’s a short turnaround time from Christmas weekend to New Year weekend, followed by 4 more weeks to Chinese New Year festive holiday. It takes a while to get up to speed while there were ongoing adjustments, adapting and settling into new gig/role, on top of getting my business back on track.  

Round Up Jan 2022 (Photography and Travel)

Photography (Business)

I am working on gaining more traction, getting my business back on track after transiting and switching my photography services genres last year. 

Photography (Personal)

The month of January is like a month of arts, culture and heritage for me. I covered local Singapore artists in action, artist Yip Yew Chong and his mural paintings, Wei from Very Small Exhibition/Bring Love Everywhere and LiteWerkz at Light to Night Festival 2022.  

Meanwhile, I am planning to get some new photographer profile shoot for Year 2022, need a new banner cover photo for my social media pages and websites as well. 

In the year 2022, I am planning to do more personalised photography projects with fellow local artists from other creatives, other interest areas include history, heritage and culture documentation and nature/green spaces. 

NFT Photography 

This is an area that I am keen in, still learning and exploring. There are quite a lot of discussions on the NFT field, both pros and cons. I am reading both sides of the NFT equation, I believe in its potential and future prospects. I would be doing more research before embarking on this platform  and share more updates on my NFT photography journey along the way. 

Videography/Vlogging/Filmmaking

I am learning and developing this field, on a personal basis to produce my own videos/short films, this would be crucial and important for my social media marketing gigs as well. 

Travel – Explore My Own Backyard 

While we are waiting for international travel to open up more, in a safer and less restrictive manner, I shall continue to explore my own backyard. I would start doing documentation and photography works again on a few nature/green spaces since the month of January was taken up by arts, culture and heritage.   

Short Break for CNY 2022

I am planning to take a short break for CNY 2022 from my photography and travel media news coverage, content creation and writing. Do check out my Round Up Jan 2022 for my (Technology and Business) segment too!

Even though I am not publishing content and articles, that does’t mean I am having a holiday. I would take this time to start off on some of my photography projects, product shoot, editing photos from a recent assignment and finishing up my photography therapy zine and playbook (editing and finally layout).

Wishing all a Happy Chinese Lunar New Year 2022, good health, happiness, luck and prosperity in the Year of the Tiger! 

May the Year of the  Tiger be the year whereby we can truly and surely lift ourselves up from this global pandemic situation and embark on a route to economic recovery and a more normal way of living. 

The post Round Up Jan 2022 and Short Break for CNY 2022 (Photography and Travel) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Inspired by Fernando Gros “How to choose a Yearly Theme”, this is my 3rd year writing a Yearly Theme (you can check out my 2020 Yearly Theme and 2021 Yearly Theme), an approach that I personally feel that it’s more forward looking for a new future, a new era of working, thinking and how we connect as an individual, as a collective, society and the world. It’s not that goal settings or setting resolutions are no longer popular or useful, they still have a purpose and it still works for some people or industries. I also published a Yearly Theme 2022 (Technology, Business and Personal) on my other website TGH Technology and Business Portal/Blog. 

Let me introduce my Yearly Theme 2022 for my photography and travel: “Onward”.

Theme for Year 2022 (Photography and Travel) – Onward

Onward – What is the reason behind this theme?

Why “Onward”? This is actually my alma mater school motto. Let me introduce my alma mater, Gan Eng Seng School (founded in 1885), I am also an old boy from the Gan Eng Seng Dragon Scout Group (founded in 1922) where I spent some of my best and fun years learning Scouting skills, knowledge, in the the great outdoors, life skills and camaraderie. 

Dragon Scout Group (DSG) is celebrating its centenary milestone in Year 2022, this is no mean feat! The DSG extended family is going to celebrate DSG100 Years in Scouting! 

Onward – Strive forward as we work our way out from this ongoing global pandemic mess, it’s not just an economic and financial crisis, the world is facing other crisis in the areas of healthcare, mental health, emotional health, psychological and sociological issues.

The whole world is trying its best to move forward, with setbacks and hiccups that are going to be a common sight for this year 2022. Hopefully, our lessons learnt in Year 2020 and 2021 would come in handy for us as the world move Onward in the journey to recovery. Let’s hope the world can really start to see the true light at the end of the tunnel. 

Photography – Goals and Plans

This is not the usual way of doing goal settings that you would normally learn or see in your job/training. What I am doing is a bit of a hybrid format sharing of my goals and plans for my photography segment. 

Photography (Business)

Year 2021 provided me huge business lessons, adapting, pivoting and changing my commercial photography services portfolio. It’s not immediate, taking a bit longer than I am expected. In this Year 2022, I hope to grow those few segments below in a very competitive field, through my networks and connections. 

– Portraiture: Individual / Family / Corporate 

– Pre-Wedding/AD wedding 

NFT/Digital Arts

A new segment that I am entering into, I mentioned about this in Q4 2021. This is a field that I would be threading with caution while optimistic on its potential and viability for creatives such as photographers like myself. 

Digital Marketing + Social Media Marketing + Photography + Videography 

A digital agency or social media agency format of doing business, going to work/pitch for campaigns/projects and commissioned work. Although I established TGH Digital Studio in 2021, I wasn’t able to kickstart it properly, the time is now.

Year 2022 also marks the start of TGH Digital Studio with a new gig in the food industry. Hope this paves the way for further opportunities in other industries such as travel, tourism and hospitality,  as well as heritage, history and culture.

Photography (Personal/Leisure)

Away from my business/commercial photography, I must, and I need my time and space for my personal photography and leisure/fun photography. In Year 2022, I have some ideas and plans for my personal photography, videography and creative projects.

New photographer profile photos as well as new photographer in action theme shoots are on my plans too. 

If you are not a good photographer or find something missing in your photos you can always rely on some travel photograph editing to enhance your photos.

Personal projects 

– Complement and support my alma mater DSG100 Years in Scouting celebrations

– A new zine or a new photography book? Or both? 

– Building up my videography/filmmaking for both personal and commercial segments. Follow my YouTube channel for more updates on this segment!  

Travel – Goals and Plans

We all miss our travels, whether it’s to short-haul or long haul destinations. This ongoing global pandemic has thrown the world travel, tourism, hospitality and aviation industries under the bus for a very prolonged time, and maybe 1-2 more years of downtime. 

International 

I have no plans for now, I would review this in Q3 2022, keeping my fingers crossed. I am just being cautious, I am also not setting any expectations, I don’t wish to be badly disappointed  and get hurt again. 

When can we restart tourism, I am looking into this area, networking and chatting with travel and tourism networks of friends around the world, with a follow up on this area in my 3rd instalment article on the topic of “Restart Tourism”. 

This quote, shared with me by Sonja, one of the co-hosts of TTOT (Travel Talk on Twitter) Chat community every Tuesday, that “Travel can be a privilege”. During this ongoing global pandemic situation, it’s even more evident and true. 

Domestic / Local / Explore your own backyard 

Since traveling out for a holiday still has its challenges, fears, concerns and restrictions. This is actually a good time to explore your own backyard again for me. I am going to continue re-exploring my local neighbourhoods, with an emphasis on green spaces / places that might/will be gone soon.

I always have a strong interest and passion in those fields, documenting the changes and losses over time due to changes in national development, growth and renewal.  

Last but not least – Onward in Year 2022

Last but not least – Onward in Year 2022. After some harsh lessons from Year 2021, I decided to be cautious, not fearful, be brave, Be Prepared, ready to take on more challenges, hiccups and changes as I trek my way Onward in Year 2022. 

I really hope this Year 2022 would truly be the year where we can see some light at the end of the tunnel. 

The post Yearly Theme 2022 (Photography and Travel) 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.

Photography by Ryan Cheng

Before I go into my planning, goals and objectives for Q4 2021. First, let me take a short trip back in time to Q1 to Q3 2021.

Reflecting Q1 to Q3 2021

Entering into time machine mode, let’s go back in time to a few months back in 2021. 

Q1 2021

In Q1 2021, I was secretly and cautiously optimistic about 2021 that it would be a year of recovery albeit at a much slower pace. Looking back at this point, it wasn’t this scenario at all, more of a complete opposite instead. 

Q2 2021

Moving into Q2 2021, I was celebrating and marking 15 years of TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog in April 2021. Things look pretty alright until May 2021 when I got myself into a sticky and messy situation that is not helped with Phase 2 Heightened Alert (P2HA) situation. I was lost , shared through my reflections, thoughts and feelings during June 2021 with fate and time. I was kind of depressed, my mental and emotional health wasn’t in a good shape, I spiralled downwards to the bottom, got stuck in a rut, reaching a tipping point. I had a few dark periods in my life till date, this period would be right up there with my other dark periods.

Q3 2021

Moving from Q2 to Q3, I slowly got myself out, thanks to a few friends who pulled me out from the rut. This started a period of making further pivots and changes. This was followed by Reflecting H1 2021, new themes for photography and travel in H2 2021 and some photography, travel and updates in August 2021. 

During this period as I pivoted, changed and reorganised, those changes needed some time too. Opportunities come and go, sometimes you get them, sometimes you lose them. 

Photography by Isaac Ong

Plans for Q4 2021

Entering into Q4 2021, what are plans, goals and objectives for Q4 2021? My main theme that I wrote down earlier in my introductory paragraph above is, “Survival”. I am pulling all my brains, mind, soul, as well as pulling strings, networks, connections to survive. Just by saying it’s very tough is an understatement of the predicament and ground level situation that some small and medium sized businesses are facing. 

Photography

In my area of commercial photography services, I made a switch into other photography genres in the portraiture segments, covering leisure, family, pets as well as corporate portraiture. Although there is a school of thought that teaches us to specialise in one or two genres, the fallout from this global pandemic has shown that specialising in one or two genres have its pitfalls too. Having a few more specialisations will be very helpful for future-proofing, not just in the photography industry, in other industries as well.   

I have also made a move back into doing wedding photography, both pre-wedding and actual day wedding photography. When the economy returns back to a more normal and stable level, I would  relook into my photography services portfolio again. 

Zine 

Initially, I have plans for what I want to produce and achieve in publishing zines, an outreach for my photography, writing and content creation. At the forefront, I wanted to publish a zine commemorating 15 years of TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog milestone and a special project to seek funding on a segment of my documentary photography works that I did some years back. Due to unforeseen circumstances, both external and internal factors, those two zine projects were put on hold, I would relook at them in Q1 2022. 

My focus is now on a photography therapy zine, an inspiration that 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. 

NFT / Digital Arts

I embarked on the digital arts journey some time back on Makersplace platform. At that point in time, I didn’t do enough homework/research and preparation before entering into this space. While NFT has recently received quite a lot of limelight and attention from the creatives industry, I am doing more homework/research before I go more full in-depth into this platform to showcase my curated photography works.

Keep a lookout for my updates in the NFT / Digital Arts segment in Q4 2021! 

Travel and Tourism

I would love to travel out again, just like pre-covid time for my travel photography and holiday. While I don’t have a timeline on when we can safely travel again, I would have to wait patiently for the time to arrive while I concentrate on my photography business and building up my digital agency business. 

When can we restart tourism? I asked myself again on World Tourism Day 2021. Many of us wanderlusts are searching for this answer too. Meanwhile, I am networking with travel and tourism folks, from travel agencies, Travel Talk on Twitter (TTOT) community and travelers from all over the world. When it’s safe to travel again, I would share more on them if the universe and stars alignment for my travel photography fall into place.  

Emotional / Mental Health

To be honest with everyone reading this article, I am still, and have been mentally and emotionally very fatigued for a lengthy period of time, the worst period was probably in May and June 2021. We are all exhausted battling this ongoing global pandemic, its economic, social, emotional and mental fallout and onslaught on our work and daily living. 

Running your own small sole-proprietorship photography business is already very challenging and tough. Throw in a global pandemic situation and it just magnifies many times more. 

How many would really know, feel and understand how small and medium sized businesses are feeling and coping right now in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic? 

When can we see the light at the end of the tunnel?

When can we see the light at the end of the tunnel? We have been asking ourselves this question all these time during this ongoing global pandemic. 

Help local small and medium sized businesses by referring clients to them, through word of mouth or do a shoutout for them on your social media platforms. Please don’t judge, please be kind, everyone one of us is trying and working very hard to survive this global pandemic situation. 

All of us, just want to survive and get out of this ongoing global pandemic situation, returning back to a more normal life during pre-covid days, although we will most likely unable to return back to those days. 

That’s basically in a nutshell, my main theme, my plan, my goal for Q4 2021 – Survival. 

The post Reflecting Q3 2021 and Plans for Q4 2021 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography by Ryan Cheng

In the month of April 2021, I would be making announcements of my upcoming partnerships and collaborations, zine/book projects, doing some rebranding and expansion on my photography business side of things. Do keep a lookout for my announcements as well as my regular photography, travel and food articles.

To all those brands, organisations, public relations agencies, creative and marketing agencies that I worked with over the past 15 years, thank you so much for your enormous support and encouragement over all those years. I truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!

If you would like to be collaborate, partner or be a sponsor for my upcoming projects/zine/book, drop me a mail and let’s chat! 

15 years, not out, still going strong, photographing, writing, documenting and sharing. An amazing personal journey of photographer, visual storyteller and (newbie videographer/filmmaker) of many ups and downs. 

Photography by Ryan Cheng

Come with me, follow me as I reach my 15 years milestone in the month of April 2021 on another new explorer and artistic series adventures of my photography, visual storytelling and short videos/films. 

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