Having a passion for the outdoors, nature, wildlife and travel, I would like to help spread the theme for Earth Day 2021. Everyone of us can play a part, to make a difference in the world we are living in today and for our future generations. 

As we mark Earth Day 2021, I am sharing my wildlife and nature photographs that I shot in Singapore over the years with more recent photographs that I shot in the first quarter of 2021 and last year 2020. Although Singapore is a small country by land size, we do have an abundance of nature and wildlife among us here in Singapore, co-existing and living together. 

More photographs of the wildlife and nature areas that I photographed and documented in Singapore can be viewed inside my Flickr photography collections, shot with various Canon cameras that I owned, the Canon EOS RP, or reviewed, the Canon EOS R5, EOS R6 and EOS M6 Mark II, part of my Canon Explorer Series Production.  

It’s a delicate balance between preserving and protecting our nature and wildlife versus a country’s economic development and growth. Not just preserving and protecting, let’s reduce wastage of resources and up our game on recycling and upcycling. 

Not just today on 22nd April 2021 for Earth Day 2021, let’s all begin to mark the start of a new era whereby we restore our Earth, making a difference to the world that we live in, transforming it to become an even better home for the world to live in. 

The post Earth Day 2021 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Where it all began

It all began in 2006 when I wanted to start a photography blog. During that era, having a blog was not only something that I wanted to do for myself, I wanted to produce and publish visual stories, just like a National Geographic Magazine photographer and journalist (I grew up reading National Geographic Magazine and kind of follow their visual storytelling style). 

At that juncture in time, it was kind of cool to own a blog, social media had not really “exploded” into the scene at that time. I started on blogspot platform before migrating to my own domain name and hosting, setting up my own brand name/domain name, my own frontal space. Huge credits to Jack who helped me to setup my photography blog at that time, as well as Brian who helped me with IT technical support over all those years. 

As the years progressed, it transformed and grown from a small and humble photography blog into my TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog of today, covering my visual stories, travel adventures, documentation works, photography topics, cameras, lenses and accessories review,  sports, wildlife, hospitality and food adventures. 

15 years adventure – Many ups and downs

My 15 years adventure writing and publishing visual stories wasn’t exactly a smooth and stable journey, it was full of ups and downs, from reaching the heights of recognition in 2015, to the lows from setbacks and departure of loved ones/close folks from 2016 to 2017. 

When you are in the creative sector, there will definitely be scrutiny and criticism, my website was deemed messy and not suitable to be a photography portfolio website. I reflected on it, established a separate photography portfolio website, thus allowing this to continue its visual storytelling journeys as a portal/blog and supplementing my photography portfolio website. 

There were others who questioned the value and relevance of my photography and travel portal/blog in today’s social media trends and usage. One even created their own blog after questioning my website, that is probably a compliment to what I have accomplished for my website over the past 15 years.

I learnt and grow old together with my website, visual storytelling, gaining more photography skills and knowledge, producing and publishing photography prints, photo books and zines.  

Revamp and Rebrand

Revamp and rebrand, the time is now to introduce TGH Digital Studio, comprising of my TGH Photography business, my TGH Photography and Travel portal/blog, my TGH Technology and Business portal/blog and working closely with my partnerships and collaborations. 

Photographer | Visual Storyteller | Content Creator | Technology Writer | Digital Artist 

I started TGH Photography as a sole proprietorship business in 2017. It was a very difficult start for me as I learnt the hard truths and brutal realities of running and managing a business, let alone a business in the creative industry. 

The amount of emotional and mental stress took a toll on me as I was also hurting from the loss of my loved one/closed ones during the period 2016 to 2017. Not many knew about it, I don’t talk much about it, the world we live in, sometimes just judge you by dollars and cents.  

During this short period of time from 2017 till date, I also learnt that providing standalone photography services is not going to be sufficient in this fast moving social media and internet driven world that we are living in. I started to learn videography/filmmaking from scratch, having photography knowledge and skills does shorten my learning cycle. This is still an ongoing learning  process, I have so much more to learn, improve and add on new skills and knowledge, adding to my expanded scope of professional services.

Just when I thought things would get a bit more stable, the world was hit by the global pandemic COVID-19 in 2020. In a nutshell, this global pandemic threw everything out of the window. This was almost like back to square one, back to ground zero. This was like a reset switch – Adapting, adopting, changing and re-strategising. During that circuit breaker period, the acceleration to adapt, adopt, change, strategic changes and directional changes was fast. 

Although I started solo in my photography business, I am glad that I now have a small team! I have Isaac helping me in photography/videography/video editing/editor and JingYi for creative design/digital artworks/illustrator/layout artist/.

Partnerships and Collaborations

I have been partnering and collaborating with other friends/content creators/photographers over the years. Some have been ongoing for a while, some are new on board.

Hpility SG

One of my first partnerships and collaborations (we started off in 2017) that I worked with in a few areas, from photography, videography and digital marketing. 

Easy Travel Recipes

Easy Travel Recipes is my travel and food partnership and collaboration. We are still discussing on how to expand and combine our strengths and resources in the travel and food segments moving forward.  

3 Blind Mice

This is a foodie consultancy, photography, videography, food tasting/cooking media production and regular feasting partnership and collaboration, founded and established after our foodie trip to Vietnam in 2018 by Chef Keith Crackling Roast, Chef Jude and myself.   

Meow Mixed Media Production

A mixed media photography and digital artwork collaboration co-founded by Isaac, JingYi and myself, borne from a passion of photography, cute cats and digital artworks combining together. 

More details and information would be shared when I make an announcement and share more information and details on what we are doing.

CryptoIKI

I am entering into the digital arts space with CryptoIKI, exploring the world of NFT and see how I am able to bring my photography works and mixed media artworks into this space. Keep a lookout as I explore and share my digital artist journey here. 

Upcoming projects/works

I have embarked on a number of different personal projects over the years, from documentary photography, publishing photography book and zines, photography prints. For this 15th year milestone year, I have embarked on a few personal projects. 

Books/Zines

Currently, there are three books/zines being planned on my timeline. 

1. Mixed media photography and digital artwork collaboration zine with Meow Mixed Media Production

Coming soon, I would keep it under wraps for now! Stay tuned and keep a lookout for our official announcement! 

2. A zine to celebrate my 15 years milestone (2006 to 2021)

I am still working on my zine, I have yet to decide whether i am going for a photo book magazine style approach showcasing a selection of photographs shot from 2006 to 2021, or short visual stories of key events with photographs from each year.

3. Publishing a book from one of my heritage and cultural personal works/documentations 

I have been documenting and photographing history, heritage and cultural fields/interests over the past 15 years. This would be an ideal time to bring one of my personal heritage projects that I documented to the next level, publish into a book and bring it to life in both physical print and electronic book format.  

A few other artwork projects with Meow Mixed Media Production are in the planning/discussion stages. We are a very new creative start-up collaboration, when the time is right, I would make the announcement with the team members and share with everyone on my website.

15 years milestone, what’s next? 

I will continue to produce more higher standards visual content stories with my photography and videography for my photography and travel portal/blog. When the global pandemic COVID-19 is under control, I hope to resume my international travel adventures coverage.

Life is an adventure, it will never be smooth sailing. Who knows where my visual storytelling with my photographs and videos can bring me to, beyond greater heights or faraway destinations?

Last but not least

I would like to thank my family, relatives, loved ones, old friends, supporters, followers and readers for following, reading and supporting my TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog over the past 15 years. I really appreciate the support and encouragement that you gave me over all these years. 

To all the various brands and agencies that I worked with, thank you very much for believing and trusting in me to work together, helping me to grow and expand over the past 15 years. 

Last but not least, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for reading this lengthy story of how I started my humble photography blog in 2006 over a 15 years (not out and still going strong) time frame in 2021, marking its milestone celebration of my TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog. 

The post 10th April 2021 – Celebrating 15 years of TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

As I looked back in time on my stories that I wrote, “Start of Circuit Breaker in Singapore – 7th April 2020” and “Begun the Circuit Breaker has in Singapore”, there were so much things happening and taking place during that time when we entered into Circuit Breaker mode. It was a very difficult and stressful time for everyone of us here in Singapore. 

I didn’t take many photographs outside during that period due to the circuit breaker. Most of the photos were shot at home or from my window looking out and around my neighbourhood. I was reviewing the Canon EOS M6 Mark II during that Circuit Breaker period.

What do you remember from your circuit breaker period in Singapore? Here were some of the photographs that I took during the Circuit Breaker in Singapore that started on 7th April 2020. 

We are not out of the woods yet in our fight against COVID-19, not just in Singapore, around the whole world too. While the situation here in Singapore has improved over this one year time frame from 7th April 2020 to 7th April 2021, we cannot let our guard down against our battle against this ongoing global pandemic. 

One last message, we DO NOT WANT another Circuit Breaker! Everyone of us here must play our part and continue our fight against COVID-19. Slowly, we can get back to a more normal lifestyle again soon. 

The post Do you remember 7th April 2020 – Circuit Breaker in Singapore? 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. 

The post April 2021 – Reaching a 15 years milestone for my website and Celebrating it! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Ever since I was inspired by Fernando Gros article on having a yearly theme (his yearly theme for 2021 is Imagination) instead of our usual goals settings and objectives, I wrote and published two articles, Theme and Goals for Year 2020 (Photography and Travel) and  Theme and Goals for Year 2020 (Technology and Personal). I can’t imagine how much it would have changed just two months after that when the global pandemic COVID-19 started to hit the whole world. 

If you are interested to learn and know more about setting a yearly theme, you have to check out “How to Choose a Yearly Theme” by Fernando Gros. 

My approach to the yearly theme is slightly different, I have two themes for Year 2021 and they are Recovery and Rejuvenation. How would these two themes come into my photography and travel segments? 

Photography

Photography Business

On my business side of photography, another challenging year looms ahead. Basically, adapt, adopt and change, rebranding and repositioning. Photography training is on the cards too. 

Personal Photography 

On my personal side of photography, I am planning to produce and publish more zines since the launch of my first zine – TGH Photography Zine Vol 1 – SG55 Special Edition, they could be special themes or projects based zines from my personal projects. 

15th Anniversary photography blog milestone 

April 2021 would be the 15th anniversary of this photography portal/blog! More information and details on this milestone celebration coming soon. 

On both business and personal photography fronts, if there are suitable collaborations and partnerships to build up on top of my existing ones, I am open to discussions. At the current moment, I have build up networks of videographers, video editors, editors for my content writing, digital marketing and social media marketing partners. 

Travel

International Travel 

Based on the current global situation and pandemic status at this juncture in time, international leisure travel is not likely to open soon. An optimistic view would be international travel reopening in the third quarter of 2021, the harsh reality is most likely 2022 instead. 

Meanwhile, I just prepare my travel research and travel networking on destinations that I highly want to visit when international travel and tourism recovers. 

SingapoRediscovers a.k.a. Explore your own backyard

No doubt that Singapore is really a small country by land size, we do have our own nature areas, heritage, culture and outdoors areas. I have started revisiting places in Singapore that I haven’t visit for some time. Now is the time to be a traveler in my home country, to continue my SingapoRediscovers a.k.a. Explore your own backyard. 

Stay tuned for more local travel photography stories (and pocket travel guide) of Singapore!

Why these two themes “Recovery” and “Rejuvenation”?

Recovery

Year 2021 to me would be the year of recovery from the impacts and damages by the global pandemic COVID-19 to the world. This is not going to be straight forward or linear, it’s likely to be turbulent, roller coaster ups and downs. With the vaccines in place, the world has started its recovery mode, this is going to take time, it’s not going to recover immediately with the snap of a finger. 

Rejuvenation

There are many a times whereby I had been emotionally and mentally drained last year 2020 during the global pandemic situation. Going hand-in-hand with recovery is rejuvenation, putting new energy to what I am doing in this year 2021. 

As we start the slow journey in recovery in the year 2021, rejuvenation is also crucial, we need  to inject new energy into our heart, mind and soul as we start our recovery journey.

Please also visit my Theme and Goals for Year 2021 (Technology and Personal) article! 

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

“Lots of couples ask, ‘Can travel guide websites really help us?” says Co-founder, Hong Peng. “Since it’s launching in April, we’ve helped thousands of customers make improved choices for honeymoon destinations. We also knew we could provide an answer by creating a resource that shares how many delicious dishes are put together. And that’s what Easy Travel Recipe is all about. It’s a place where our readers—and, really, anyone interested in traveling, get professional tips on recipes, choice destination, lifestyle, etc.” 

The couple blog compiled a variety of detailed destinations and tourist attractions in different countries for couples looking for the perfect honeymoon. The website is dynamic, accessible to all users, with a visually stimulating interface—replete with relevant engaging content born out of great research. The website has 3 major sections to look out for, which is Lifestyle Guides for Couples, Food Guides for Couples, Travel Guides for Couples. 

According to Co-founder, Alyssa: “A couple on a mission to spend every day like it’s Valentine’s Day and every travelling holiday like it’s a Honeymoon. Therefore, we will be sharing all our experiences and tips with you from where you can go with your loved one to what you can cook for him/her. Only one rule: Enjoy it together!” 

Having read their travel, food and cooking tips, Easy Travel Recipes is an interesting and diverse website with resources and information for travelers and foodies, ideal for couples to gather information, ideas and inspirations to do and enjoy those travel, food and cooking together. I have also contributed an article “Couple fun time photography and prints with Canon” to Easy Travel Recipes, perfect for couples, taking photos together and of each other when they are traveling, having fun, enjoying food or cooking!

Follow Easy Travel Recipes, a one-stop lifestyle portal/blog for travel guides and cooking tips from Singapore, check out their website and social media channels below:

Website: https://www.easytravelrecipes.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/etravelrecipes 

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

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

YouTube: Easy Travel Recipes

* Information and picture courtesy of Easy Travel Recipes *

The post Easy Travel Recipes: One-stop Lifestyle Portal for Travel and Cooking appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

On my technology, business and personal portal/blog, I published an article on “Singtel Celebrates Singapore Majulah Spirit with National Day film tribute”, titled “This is the year”, this film acknowledges the pressures and strains that the pandemic has placed on Singapore society, yet this film also pays tribute to the tireless Majulah spirit that is pushing Singaporeans through this storm to emerge stronger.

I was encouraged by this National Day film tribute by Singtel that I decided to Pay It Forward and Pass It On here on my photography and travel portal/blog, through photographs from my own circuit breaker period to National Day Parade 2020 rehearsal photographs, saluting our healthcare and frontline heroes.

Celebrate Singapore Majulah Spirit this National Day 2020, let’s all be #SGUnited together in this battle against the global pandemic Covid-19, let’s celebrate our Majulah spirit and continue our unity during this unprecedented times and turbulent challenges ahead as we countdown towards National Day 2020 on 9th August.

Do share this Majulah spirit National Day film tribute “This is the year”, by Singtel with your family, loved ones, relatives and friends, Pass It On and Pay It Forward.

As a #SGUnited nation with #OurHeartforSG, we can be #TogetherStrongerSG through solidarity and unity, overcoming and navigating our way out of this turbulent crisis.

The post Celebrate Singapore Majulah Spirit this National Day 2020 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

First quarter of 2020 was cautious, start of a new era, a new decade, cautious on how the economy would pan out with potential slower growth and concerns for market downturn. As for my photography business, it was a slow start and I was realigning business plans and strategies. On my personal/leisure photography front, there were a few major community events (Chinese New Year 2020 at Chinatown, Light to Night Festival 2020, River Hongbao 2020, Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2020, Battle for Singapore 2020 tours, Arts in Your Neighbourhood 2020) that I attended before Covid-19 spread changed the whole landscape.

As we all knew, second quarter was circuit breaker plus extended circuit breaker in Singapore. In a nutshell, working from home (WFH) and home based learning (HBL) were a new normal, some businesses took a huge hit, closure of businesses, job losses, retrenchments, pay cuts were commonly heard during this period. For photography businesses, we experienced the impacts and we were not able to conduct our business. This period was really stressful and difficult, on both professional and personal level.

Moving out from extended circuit breaker, phase 1 of post circuit breaker in June followed by phase 2 shortly after, this marked the start of a slow and much needed recovery to kickstart the economy again. Things are not and will not be the same as before pre Covid-19. Safety measures and strict regulations are in place for businesses to follow and implement. On the other hand, the severity of this current downturn has affected the whole economy, any business deals and transactions will not be back up fast and furious as businesses are looking at budget cuts and cost saving measures during this very difficult and challenging period. Personal and leisure photography during that period was pretty much confined to home and they could be viewed inside my Canon EOS M6 Mark II review article.

On the topic of travel, international travel is not in any of my immediate plans, I can only dream and plan for H2 2021, keeping my fingers crossed that a vaccine for Covid-19 would be available and the world can slowly start to return back to normal, although it will be a new normal for the world. I would leave the discussion on impacts and changes to world tourism and travel for another day, in another article dedicated to this discussion. 

Domestic travel, in the context of Singapore and its land size, doesn’t really ring a bell at all probably for many people, versus countries that have different states, prefectures and their citizens can travel interstate or across the country to visit.

However, while Singapore is really small in land size, we can do something about our own domestic travel/tourism, it’s just not domestic tourism per se, reference to other parts of the world. I am looking at doing my own “Explore your own backyard” theme instead, basically, it’s a continuation of my years of exploring my local neighbourhoods, just to compile, update and present in a manner that I would need to plan first.

Back to the my photography business in the post circuit breaker period, some changes are taking place, plans and strategies have gone back to the drawing board to navigate and manoeuvre during this very difficult and challenging waters ahead. The Covid-19 pandemic has definitely open up the case for business diversification that some people may not agree even in this modern and constantly changing world, they still believe in only specialising in one industry/skill/business.

Some keywords for you to ponder, digital agency and content creation, travel marketing, digital marketing, filmmaker.

The post Reflecting H1 2020 (Photography) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

For fellow photography industry professionals, we can resume our photography business and please observe all the authorities rules and regulations in the running of your photography business operations. Professional Photographers Association (Singapore) [PPAS] has a resource page for photography production in Singapore during COVID-19, photographers, please read this throughly before starting to operate your photography business in Phase 2 post circuit breaker in Singapore.

How we conduct and operate businesses, our working environments, leisure spaces etc are going through a massive change, we are going into a new normal, not just for Singapore, the whole world is going through this as well. The whole world is moving into a new era of a new form of normal, changes to both work and leisure are inevitable.

I would like to urge the people of Singapore not to rush out, swarm the shopping malls and dining venues, and totally forget about safety measures and personal hygiene. Please remember to practice safety social distancing, practice good personal hygiene, no big group gatherings yet.

We are still some time away from a vaccine being available for COVID-19, let’s not let our guard down, the fight against this pandemic is still ongoing. Yes, we would love our life to return back to normal pre-COVID19, that is not possible, we will enter into a new age of normal instead in this new decade.

Moving forward in Phase 2, the world economy is facing a very challenging and difficult time ahead. It has been a very tough time and it’s not going to get easier, I am taking steps to rebuild  my photography business during this economic crisis and pandemic.

It’s a long road to recovery ahead, we all need to be united together in this recovery journey and define our new era.

A special TGH Photography x Canon EOS M6 Mark II Explorer Series Production. Photos were shot with Canon EOS M6 Mark II, check out my review article!

For more information and articles links relating to Phase 2 post circuit breaker, check out the articles below

• https://www.gov.sg/article/moving-into-phase-2-what-activities-can-resume
• https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19
• https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/
• https://www.mti.gov.sg/Newsroom/Updates-on-COVID-19
• https://safedistparks.nparks.gov.sg/
• https://www.spaceout.gov.sg/

The post 19th June 2020! Phase 2 Post Circuit Breaker is here! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

A few things happened prior to this, I was chatting with friends on Instagram, some have given up, some are not even on Instagram, some are still there and going strong. In recent months, I haven’t been posting as many photographs on Instagram while I am posting more Instagram stories instead. During that time, I was looking back at my time and reflecting on my posts, some were really crappy, I am wondering how and why did I post them? A recent article published by The Phoblographer titled, “Here’s How I’m Changing  The Culture of Instagram” resonates with me a lot, for photographers who are into Instagram, do visit and check it out!

Instagram used to be fun, it was instant photography, Instagrammers used to tag “latergram”, should the photos were not instant or at the moment. Posting photographs from cameras were frowned upon, it was mobile/smartphone photography. It was carefree for me, I didn’t bother with curation at that time, something which I have some regret that I didn’t take action to make some changes at that point in time.

Over time as Instagram grew, the platform changed dramatically and drastically, from being sold to Facebook, brands coming in, people just uploading from cameras to their smartphone before posting (Yes, I also joined in on this part), influencers coming onboard and “ruling” the norms, portraying the supposed Instagram lifestyle. I didn’t play the so-called Instagram game and I didn’t join some photographers with their fanciful filters editing.

Nowadays, some brands don’t look at your content anymore, they just look at follower numbers, how glamorous you are, how you brand and showcase yourself in the Instagram and social media world. The chase for fame and status resulted in some unethical and unorthodox methods on Instagram, well documented and covered over the years.

As I started to review and reflect on my Instagram, a love and hate relationship with Instagram. I got to know many more people via Instagram. I do admit to falling into the trap of getting jealous with follower numbers, fame and status. However, it dawned upon me to stop chasing the likes, follower numbers, fame and status.

I want to return back to the fun of Instagram photography, I am also going to be more selective of my photography postings thus you might see more Instagram stories in between posts. I am not planning to do a reset and delete my past Instagram posts, they would be my history to constantly remind me that I need to be more selective in my posts and producing quality posts as well.

Maybe it’s time to bring back the smaller photography group outings again and go out exploring our backyard, our neighbourhood, outdoors, parks, nature reserves etc, instead of challenging our egos to beat or outshine others.

The time has come for the return of TGH Photography x Canon EOS RP Explorer Series Production.

The post My Love and Hate Relationship with Instagram appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.